Ian Chowcat

Ian Chowcat has over fifteen years experience in the field of learning technology, having worked in developing and delivering e-learning for the Open University, including designing and delivering a staff development programme in e-learning for arts and humanities tutors as well as leading teams of online tutors and tutoring online himself; for Ufi/learndirect as part of the team developing online tutoring; and in the National College for School Leadership’s e-learning team designing and delivering online provision within the College’s professional development programmes for serving and aspiring head teachers.Between 2005 and 2008 he was Director of the award-winning South Yorkshire e-Learning Programme, then the largest regional e-learning programme in Europe, leading a partnership of four local authorities in developing the ICT skills of the current and future workforce, and building the e-learning capacity of schools, colleges and the community in partnership with the private sector and with funding from the EU.Since April 2008 Ian has been Head of Learning Innovation for Sero Consulting, an education, skills and economic development consultancy specialising in teaching and learning innovation through use of new technologies and development of digital skills.He is project manager for the CAPITAL Project, a partnership between Sero and the Learning Sciences Research Institute at the University of Nottingham, working in association with Becta on the future development of the UK’s national Harnessing Technology strategy.Ian has also worked as consultant on projects for JISC on support for institutions’ programmes for business and community engagement and on developing Library 2.0 initiatives in universities, for Becta on technology development in further education colleges and learner voice initiatives, and for Sheffield College in implementing a mobile learning transformation programme.He is now engaged in a South Yorkshire ESF project to develop digital outreach trainers in the community.Ian has a doctorate in philosophy and a master’s degree in e-learning.