News story

Learning Light’s fourth anniversary sees a change of direction

Sheffield, UKLearning NewsLearning Light

Learning Light, a company limited by guarantee that focuses on promoting the use of e-learning and learning technologies, has revised its mode of operations.

Launched some four years ago (on 16th March) Learning Light originally had a nationwide – and international - remit to provide bespoke and individual services to help both buyers and suppliers of learning technologies. While still remaining true to the spirit of this remit, Learning Light has now adopted a number of operational changes in emphasis, in the light of developments in the UK’s corporate e-learning sector as well as recent developments in the British and global economies.

David Patterson, of Learning Light, explained: “Learning Light’s new approach is summarised by the mnemonic ‘COMPeL’. This means that we aim to foster Collaboration; Opportunities; Market intelligence; Promoting e-learning; the e-learning centre website, and Leadership from the industry.”

To help it with this approach, Learning Light has instigated a steering group comprising key figures from the e-learning sector in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. These include representatives from the e-learning companies Peakdean Interactive (of Sheffield), MyKnowledgeMap (York), I am learning (Doncaster) and PTK Learning (Sheffield).

The steering group is chaired by Dr Maggie McPherson, senior lecturer in ICT in education at Leeds University – and she is also deputy chair of the Board of Learning Light. Other members of the steering group include Steve Knowles, formerly chair of the governors at Sheffield College, and Richard Lukey.

“We have a strong steering group which provides helpful leadership and an on-going relationship with Yorkshire Forward,” said Dr McPherson. “We’re now collaborating with key companies, not just in Yorkshire but around the UK – and this is helping us not only to facilitate business connections for e-learning companies around the UK but also in Europe and, in some cases, the USA too.

“Our aim is to be a force for good not only by promoting e-learning and e-learning technologies but also by crusading to allow these products and technologies to enable ‘hard to reach’ people – such as prisoners and unemployed young adults – to learn skills which will help them to develop worthwhile careers,” she added.

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