Honorary Life Membership of the Association for Learning Technology awarded to Professor Hawkridge

Honorary Life Membership of the Association for Learning Technology awarded to Professor David Hawkridge of The Open University and University of Leicester : Outstanding contribution to the field of learning technology

Seb Schmoller, Chief Executive of the Association for Learning Technology (ALT), said, “ALT awards Honorary Life Membership only occasionally, and only to individuals who have made an outstanding and sustained contribution to the advancement of ALT’s aims for the development of learning technology in a national or international context through research, practice, policy-development, leadership, or a combination of these. During his long career at the Open University, and subsequently, David’s contribution has comprehensively spanned all four areas, both nationally and internationally.” Professor Hawkridge is only the third recipient of the honour and received his award at the Association’s annual conference held in September. After working at the American Institutes for Research in Palo Alto, California, he became founding Director of the Open University’s Institute of Educational Technology. While at the Open University he directed research and development, and led the creation of the OU’s international MA in Open (now Online) and Distance Education. He advised universities and governments in many countries on educational technology and distance education. He is an Emeritus Professor of The Open University and a Visiting Professor in the Beyond Distance Research Alliance at the University of Leicester. His research publications cross the disciplines of education, the psychology of learning, learning technologies and media. Professor Hawkridge commented, “I really appreciate what ALT has done in making me an Honorary Life Member, because it will enable me to keep in touch even better with current research. When Jonathan Darby and others founded ALT, I was an early joiner and I’m very happy to now have this strong connection with hundreds of colleagues here and abroad. I hope to be able to put something back into ALT, too.” www.alt.ac.uk - ends - Notes to editors: Association for Learning Technology, Gipsy Lane, Headington, Oxford, OX3 0BP Tel: +44 (0)1865 484 125 Fax: +44 (0)1865 484 165 Email: admin@alt.ac.uk URL: http://www.alt.ac.uk/ ALT is a Registered Charity in the UK, number: 1063519 For media information on ALT, images, or to apply for a press pass for ALT-C 2010, please contact: Catherine Dhanjal, TheAnswer Ltd Tel: 01883 650434 or 0794 166 9925 Email: Catherine.dhanjal@theansweruk.com

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About ALT ALT (the Association for Learning Technology) is a professional and scholarly association which brings together all those with an interest in the use of learning technology. There are over 230 organisational members from higher and further education institutions, private and public sector organisations and over 650 individual members. Sponsoring members include Becta, JISC, HEFCE, Sun, the Scottish Funding Council, Adobe, and the Learning and Skills Council. ALT organises an annual conference. In 2010 the theme will be: "Into something rich and strange" - making sense of the sea-change. It will take place in Nottingham, UK from 7-9 September 2010 and will discuss the structural and pervasive shift in the nature of the Internet and its impact on education.