Ben Atkinson

May 11, 2023, by Helen Whitehead

Five minutes with… Ben Atkinson

What is your job role?

Learning Technology Consultant for the Faculty of Science.

What 3 words describe you?

Creative, passionate, inquisitive.

Tell us something ‘unusual’ about yourself

I’ve presented a country music radio programme weekly for the past fifteen years. It is broadcast on stations around the UK and in Ireland, Australia and the US. It was through my radio show that I embarked on my PhD study in Music, researching the experiences of women in country music in the 21st century. I’m a keen musician myself.

What excites you about learning technology?

I love getting to know colleagues in different areas of the University and finding out about their research and teaching. I enjoy delivering workshops and training and helping colleagues to understand more about how technology can complement what they’re already doing to make their practice more engaging.

Do you have any top tips for our users?

Don’t be afraid to think outside the box – I’m always keen to hear from colleagues in the Faculty of Science about what interesting ideas they might have. You never know, it might be something we can bring to Moodle or another platform and improve the experience for everyone!

What do you think will be the most important thing in learning technology at the University of Nottingham this next year?

The big thing on our agenda is the upgrade to Moodle 4.1 which will be happening this summer. Along with lots of accessibility improvements, the new version of Moodle introduces a different look and feel which colleagues may find daunting at first. But don’t worry, most of the functionality remains the same and some things are even better – such as the toggle switch for editing your site and the new colourful icons.

What have you learned recently?

As I am new to Nottingham, having joined the team in February 2023 after six years at another local University, I am still learning about the different processes and terminology here. Lots of things are familiar, but they have slightly different names. I’m also keen to explore the opportunities in Moodle 4.1, to help staff improve their module sites and deliver technology enhanced teaching and learning.

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