IfL launches code of practice and online CPD tool

The Institute for Learning (IfL) launched its Code of Professional Practice at a reception held in London on Monday 7 April 2008. College, work-based and adult learning representatives, council members and sector leaders gathered to celebrate the start of an era in which learning and skills teachers, tutors and trainers belong to a professional body and receive the professional recognition and status that they deserve. The event also marked the official launch of Reflect, an online system for members to record their continuing professional development (CPD) activities.


IfL's chair, Sue Crowley, said, "More than 122,000 teachers, tutors and trainers in the further education and skills sector have registered with us since the new regulations came into force in September last year. Having passed the initial deadline for all FE college teachers to register, it is now time to promote the Institute's Code of Professional Practice, which seeks to protect learners and the public interest and will apply to all members. Our purpose to promote, value and develop the professionalism of all learning and skills practitioners, and the code of practice forms an important part of that.


"A number of colleges and other provider organisations have been working with us in recent months to pilot Reflect, an online tool and personal learning space for members to reflect on their professional practice and record the many and varied CPD activities they undertake to enhance their teaching. The pilot has been extremely successful, and we are delighted to be able to launch it now for the benefit of all our members."


Bradley Albuery, a partner at legal firm Blake Lapthorn Tarlo Lyons, was involved in the development of IfL's Code of Professional Practice. In his address to guests at the reception, he congratulated IfL on the extent of its consultation with members and sector representatives in drawing up the code.


Shane Sutherland of Pebble Learning gave a live demonstration of Reflect, a bespoke version of his company's PebblePad system, developed specifically for IfL.


Sue Rhodes, the development manager for CPD at Knowsley Community College, piloted Reflect. "I was very impressed with the Reflect recording system and its simplicity," she said. "My view is that if we can make the whole process electronic, not only will this streamline everything, save time and make it more efficient, but the reduction in paperwork will also help further our aim to be a greener college."


Lee Davies, acting chief executive at IfL, said, "It is nearly six years since IfL was formed, by the sector, after 70 per cent of respondents to a Natfhe survey indicated their support for the establishment of an independent professional body for FE teachers. There has since been extensive consultation with the sector, and as we move into the next phase of our development as a professional body, I am confident that we continue to be a member-led organisation. This is reflected in the way we have developed and introduced the Code of Professional Practice and the Reflect tool to support members' development."


---About Reflect---


IfL members are given a free and flexible online tool, developed by teachers for teachers, to help them manage their CPD. The Reflect tool, developed by Pebble Learning, is a highly flexible learning tool already used in its PebblePad form by learners in a number of further and higher education institutions.


Reflect provides a personalised learning space where members can reflect on their professional practice and record the many and varied CPD activities undertaken to enhance their teaching. Members can choose to keep all records private if they wish, or can selectively share them with peers, mentors and managers. CPD activity records can be linked quickly and easily to an annual CPD record for submission to IfL if desired.


When records or assets are shared, the user may give others permission to view, comment, copy or collaborate. Permission to share may be time-limited, or rescinded at any time. Comments may be added to shared assets in the form of a professional conversation.


Reflect can be set up so that entries automatically populate the CPD record. As more entries are added throughout the year, the system will automatically recalculate the number of hours' CPD completed.


Reflect also gives IfL members a number of easy-to-use utilities that can be used to support teaching and learning, such as a simple blogging tool, web page builder and the facility to create multiple e-portfolios. It complements a provider's virtual learning environment (VLE), and individual members may use Reflect however they choose, at any time and from any computer with internet access.


www.pebblelearning.co.uk