Implementation Consultant
XpertLearning
Total years of experience :24 years, 7 Months
I help manage, support and implement a wide range of learning and talent management platforms including SumTotal Learning, Blackboard Collaborate, Blackboard Learn, Cornerstone On Demand, Pearson English, Ellucian Quercus student management system and Skillsoft content and solutions to medium to large businesses, government organisations and academic institutions across the United Arab Emirates, GCC and Middle East region. I have built up in a short space of time vast technical and functional knowledge on these systems.
As part of my role I have to confidently and professionally present to, demonstrate functionality of software platforms and liaise with senior c-level executives on a regular basis to understand their business requirements.
I am the Technical Coordinator of the enterprise-wide learning management system, Blackboard, in the Student Systems Team in IT Services at the University of Manchester.
My 13 years of experience of working in this area at the University of Manchester has seen me lead, implement, deliver, administer and support eLearning applications, learning management systems (LMS), and educational technologies to over 10, 000 members of staff and 40, 000 students.
The University of Manchester is the largest campus-based University in the United Kingdom and has one of the largest roll-outs of the Blackboard learning management system in Europe.
I have full working experience of the ITIL approach to IT service delivery and have extensive Project Management experience.
My MA in Online and Distance Education has given me valuable insight into current trends and research of educational technologies both technically and pedagogically, and has given me real focus in enduring that inclusive learning for all students is achieved by providing effective, robust and accessible learning technology systems.
My Main responsibilities in this role are to:
• lead and be responsible for the learning management system (Blackboard) (and other related e-learning systems/services/applications) from an IT perspective
• lead, manage and mentor developers and application analysts assigned to the delivery of day to day operational support of the learning management system (Blackboard) and the other eLearning systems/services/applications
• ensure that planned maintenance and small change work items are delivered in a timely manner to published standards and quality levels
• ensure that service level targets drive performance for the learning management system (Blackboard) service and related eLearning systems/services/applications (ITIL service delivery)
• support, administer and develop the learning management system (Blackboard) and related learning technologies
• support and administer the e-assessment, multimedia and video-streaming services
• provide advanced technical advice and support to staff on eLearning technologies
• lead in the review and selection eLearning technologies and solutions based on customer requirements
• be the technical lead in eLearning technology & IT projects/upgrades and manage and coordinate tasks and processes accordingly (Project Management)
• assist Faculty staff (learning technologists, academics) in developing eLearning materials and online course management
• assist in the provision and professional delivery of training/documentation in eLearning technologies to staff
• liaise with different teams across IT Services and the University (technical and non-technical) to integrate the core learning management service into other systems and processes
• continuously research current trends (attend and present at workshops, international conferences, courses) in eLearning, Web2.0, mobile learning, blended learning, standards etc.
• develop a professional working relationship with external suppliers, stakeholders and customers of the eLearning service
• actively co-ordinate, participate, contribute and lead team, operational, project and external supplier meetings
Working for the largest bank in the world gave me experience of providing professional high class customer service.
Receiving many incoming customer calls from high profile international customers and utilising the BACS system to rectify issues with customer credit card accounts proved I worked well under pressure.
My ability to communicate effectively, my ability to problem solve and my accurate IT skills were vitally important in this role.
Working for several clients of LBM who were developing an online business directory involved liaising with businesses around the UK and obtaining customer contact data via good communication (e-mails, website addresses etc).
I trained other colleagues on the systems we used and guided several of the companies’ clients through the system and the stages of the projects we had been working on.
Whilst working during my University summer break I successfully assisted in a project that implemented MS Exchange server across several company locations throughout the UK. I assisted in the configuration of both client and server side software to enable the server to run effectively.
I also trained members of staff on how to use the new e-mail and communication system and supported staff with their day-to-day IT problems. I assisted in the creation of training material to enable staff to use the systems in the most efficient ways.
The project was successfully completed on time.
I also successfully implemented a large shared network printer set-up within the company which enabled staff to share resources more easily.
Whilst working during the summer break from University I worked within the IT testing team of the online, multi-language version of Quicken 98.
On a daily basis I performed extensive IT functionality and end-user testing on the software (black box, white box, regression, online, multi-language, Year 2000 compliance, SQL).
I also had to ensure the software was tested robustly to satisfy usability and accessibility standards. I also had to document and track ‘bugs’ I found within the software with other testers, System Analysts and Project Manager.
The project was successfully completed on time.
The course provided me with basic Arabic competence in reading, listening, speaking and writing. The course was set up so that I learnt through individual, pair and group work, and via studio-recorded and authentic texts. By the end of the course I am able to understand short, simple messages and announcements, read short simple texts and find specific information, communicate in simple, routine situations and write simple notes, messages and short personal letters in Arabic.
In June 2010 I graduated with an MA in Online and Distance Education at The Open University which has given me valuable insight into current trends and research into educational technologies both technically and pedagogically. This has given me a real passion in ensuring that inclusive learning for all students is achieved by providing effective, robust and accessible learning technology systems. The modules I successfully completed that formed my MA were: Practice-based research in educational technology (distinction) Technology-enhanced learning: practices and debates (pass) Accessible online learning: supporting disabled students (distinction) The elearning professional (pass) Innovations in elearning (pass) My research paper in my final module, Practice-based research in educational technology, was used as an examplar for students taking the module in future years.