Mrs Tamsyn Smith
Senior Learning Designer
My career in education began as an adult basic skills tutor before teaching English and Media Studies in local schools and colleges for nearly a decade. I became interested in the potential of Technology Enhanced Learning as Faculty ILT champion in a local sixth form college that was pioneering Moodle in 2003. After several years working as a Learning Technologist in HE, I joined University of Southampton in October 2012.
I work predominantly with Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences to share good practice and facilitate their Technology Enhanced Learning needs.
I have a particular interest in accessibility. I was chairperson of the Staff Disability Network at Bournemouth University, which gave me an insight into the challenges faced by a wide range of users. I am an advocate for Universal Design for Learning.
I work closely with the MLE (Managed Learning Environment) team to provide consultancy and support staff with enhancing their blended courses. I am also a reviewer on the Blackboard Exemplary Course Program.
I am currently seconded to work with Health Sciences to provide specialist expertise in technology enhanced learning, curriculum design, content creation, and development opportunities to enable Health Sciences staff at all stages of technology adoption to:
- be confident and competent users of TEL to effectively deliver the curriculum
- embed evidence-based TEL approaches into their practice
- improve the student experience and outcomes
Helping academic teams to use technology and develop their courses is a key part of my role. I have project managed several FutureLearn MOOCs, including Shipwrecks and Submerged Worlds: Maritime Archaeology and Understanding Money: the History of Finance, Speculation and the Stock Market. Outside of work, I have won several national awards for my blog http://fatgirltoironman.co.uk about my experiences as a triathlete.
I'm on Twitter @TamsynMSmith