As PebblePad celebrates its 21st year, we were excited to attend and present at the annual Western Australia Teaching and Learning Forum (WATLF), an event that has become a cornerstone of our sponsorship activities.
Held in February, this two-day conference continues to be an essential part of the educational landscape, attracting thought leaders, educators and innovators who come together to explore the future of education. With the overarching theme of ‘Future-Focused Education: Innovation, Inclusion, and Impact’, this year’s forum resonated deeply with PebblePad’s commitment to supporting the student learning journey and promoting well-being from start to finish.
One of the most compelling aspects of the conference was the continued emphasis on Generative AI (GenAI). As the technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, its role in education remains both an exciting opportunity and a complex challenge.
Throughout the event, many workshops and showcase presentations explored how institutions can harness the power of GenAI to enhance teaching and learning while addressing the risks associated with its misuse (a common theme of many conferences we attend). This focus aligns with PebblePad’s philosophy of helping educators adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape and ensuring students have access to the support and learning technologies they need to thrive in the digital age.
Learning journey success
A significant highlight of the conference was the honour of co-presenting alongside two of our esteemed partner institutions in Western Australia. The University of Western Australia, a recent addition to the PebblePad family, shared insights into the remarkable success of implementing PebblePad custom templates and harnessing the power of the reporting analytics at its Dental School.
During the first semester’s PebblePad pilot, over 7,000 submissions were processed, a statistic that underscores the platform’s impact on streamlining assessment and evaluation in higher education. Our session – ‘Get Your Teeth into It: Online Clinical Assessment in Dentistry’ – provided a comprehensive look at how PebblePad can be leveraged in clinical settings, highlighting its potential to enhance the quality of education and assessment for learning in professional programs.
Programmatic assessment focused
Additionally, we were thrilled to present alongside Edith Cowan University, one of our longest-standing customers. In our session, ‘Programmatic Assessment: Transforming Course-Wide Learning with Digital Workbooks’, we explored the concept of programmatic assessment and its relevance in today’s educational environment, especially in the age of AI.
Co-presenting with Senior Learning Designers and longtime PebblePad advocates Rebecca Scriven and Heather Pate, we engaged a packed audience. Some attendees even opted to stand or sit on the floor to ensure they didn’t miss out on one of the most popular sessions of the conference.
During the Q&A, an attendee raised their hand and, after admitting they had hundreds of questions, chose to ask just one to allow others a chance to speak. This moment of engagement underscored the impact of the programmatic assessment model and highlighted the excitement and enthusiasm surrounding the direction we’re taking with PebblePad’s future. The response from the audience affirmed that our approach is not only timely but also essential for the evolution of assessment and evaluation in higher education.
Valuable opportunity
As the Customer Success Manager for all Western Australia-based institutions, this conference remains one of the most valuable opportunities for connecting with our extensive PebblePad community. It’s always a pleasure to engage with educators, share ideas and gather feedback on how we can continue to evolve and enhance our offerings.
The Western Australia Teaching and Learning Forum is truly a professional highlight of the year and PebblePad looks forward to many more years of partnership and innovation.
