An update from Ruth Simons (eCPD Programme Regional Lead Facilitator)

Dear colleagues,

With the autumn term well under way and our activity at the eCPD Programme for 2009-10 now commencing I thought you may like to know about  opportunities for new PDAs and Advanced  PDAs in year 2 of the programme and we would like to ask your help with publicising the programme

We have begun advertising recruitment for Year 2 of the programme which now attracts funding for successful applicants to two different programmes; PDA Training and Advanced PDA training. Funding available is  £700 Capital Grant for PDAs and £1,500 Capital Grant plus £1,200 training bursary for Advanced PDAs.

Our target is to recruit 200 PDAs and 30 Advanced PDAs by 25 September. Application details are advertised on the home page of the OLS. This link will take you through to further details for PDAs (http://ecpd.bdplearning.com/ecpd/how_to_get_involved_pda.php) and this link to further details relating to Advanced PDAs (http://ecpd.bdplearning.com/ecpd/how_to_get_involved_pda_advanced.php)

Places on the Advanced PDA programme are limited and will be offered to middle or senior managers who:

• are working in either large multi-sited organisations or are supporting an established network of providers where the need to build e-learning capacity has been identified;
• are responsible for driving their organisation's Information Learning Technology ( ILT) strategy forward at both a strategic and operational level;
• have begun to implement a cross-organisational approach to using technology to enhance teaching and learning; and
• are experienced deliverers of eCPD and who are in a position where they can lead the development of a team of a minimum of 5 PDAs.

The Advanced PDA training will focus on tools and strategies to bring about change and on materials and approaches that that can be used by Advanced PDAs to support the training and development of a team of PDAs. It is a ‘train the trainer' cascade model. You do not need to have completed PDA training to join the Advanced PDA programme but it would be helpful.

Please get in touch if, after reading the information on the OLS you would like any further information about the programmes. Please forward this information to interested colleagues.

With best wishes for every success in 2009-10.