LTExChange: an innovative dual-mode approach to sustainable Professional Learning Networks

Teesside University [TU] has showcased its pedagogic activities via its LTE Conferences for many years. Whilst these have provided an excellent platform for dissemination of L&T work, their periodic nature limits the scope for further exploration. Previous attempts to fill this gap via institution-wide communities of practice have had limited success. The authors have previously shown that such communities work best as frameworks that are thematically focused with flexible
engagement modes (Gooneratne, 2021). This paper presents how these findings have been adapted to re-imagine the LTE Conference concept as LTExChange, a community-based initiative with a holistic approach to institution-level L&T innovation and staff CPD.
LTExChange comprises a Network and associated Symposium series. The Symposia resemble conferences but are held quarterly, each with a theme co-developed by Network members. This enhanced focus and distributed format allows deeper interaction, with scope for follow-up within the Network. The Network itself is a community of practice designed to provide relevant L&T-related CPD opportunities, with representation from different L&T roles across TU. The use of MS Teams facilitates the curation of a digital knowledge resource and affords members control over their engagement. The Network thus serves as a forum for equitable, connected heutagogy (Bali and Caines, 2018).
LTExChange’s dual-mode approach supports the showcasing of ongoing work and the development of that work into larger collaborative projects. This talk details the launch of the initiative and demonstrates, through early evidence, that symbiosis between the Symposia and the Network offers a viable mechanism for sustainable professional academic development.

References:
Bali, M. and Caines, A. (2018) ‘A call for promoting ownership, equity, and agency in faculty development via connected learning’, International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 15, 46. Available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-018-0128-8
Gooneratne, S. (2021) ‘The Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert Experience: Lessons from a University Academic's foray into Multidisciplinary Mixed-Level Professional Learning Networks’, Three Rivers Consortium: North East Regional Learning and Teaching Conference 2021: Knowledge Exchange for Learning and Teaching in HE, Virtual conference at Sunderland (UK), 25 June.