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Section 4a: Communication and Working With Others

| 12 min read

Section 4 highlights how I communicate and collaborate with others in my professional practice. It includes examples of teamwork, peer learning, stakeholder engagement, and the ways I share knowledge through presentations, publications, and informal channels.

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Description

Effective communication underpins my work as an ICT Learning Technologist at Imperial College London. I prioritise clarity, empathy, and inclusivity, translating between academic, administrative, and technical groups so that shared goals are understood and achievable. In hybrid and remote settings, I use shared documentation, structured updates, and active listening to keep projects moving and to make contributions visible.

My communication strategies vary according to audience and purpose — from producing accessible written guides and visual technical documentation, to delivering departmental presentations and preparing structured meeting summaries. This adaptability is essential when collaborating across cross-functional groups such as DEPP's technical and academic teams.

Collaboration is central to my role. I work with colleagues across faculties and support teams to co-design learning experiences and advise on the use of Canvas LMS and related technologies. A significant part of my current work is within the Digital Education Platform Project (DEPP), supporting Imperial's transition from Blackboard to Canvas. Within the Platform Integration and Migration and Testing and Evaluation groups, I help surface technical dependencies, coordinate feedback loops, and ensure actionable outcomes are captured in Asana so they can be implemented by the right teams.

In 2024, I delivered a department-wide presentation on DEPP, outlining milestones, testing processes, and feedback mechanisms. This improved shared understanding and aligned timelines between technical and academic teams. In June 2025, I collaborated with colleagues in the Business School on a Proof of Concept data-cleaning exercise, identifying and annotating discrepancies to streamline downstream work.

Ahead of this Proof of Concept, I completed the Understanding Manual Testing course on LinkedIn Learning (5 November 2024) to strengthen my approach to testing and communication. Coming from a developer background, I was more familiar with automated testing frameworks such as unit and integration tests. This training helped me appreciate how manual testing complements automation by capturing the user experience and uncovering usability or accessibility issues that scripted tests can miss. It also improved how I communicate findings—translating technical observations into practical recommendations for non-technical stakeholders.

I also disseminate practice through documentation, practical guides, and blog posts. Examples include:

My portfolio site serves as an open record of these materials, helping colleagues and the wider community access concrete, reusable guidance.

My professional development is sustained through internal learning sessions, self-directed study (for example, LinkedIn Learning courses on accessibility, JavaScript/TypeScript, and APIs), and engagement with technology blogs and YouTube channels. I regularly share useful resources with colleagues, contributing to a culture of collective learning.

Reflection

Working across multi-stakeholder projects has sharpened my communication practice. I have learned that plain-English explanations, clear documentation of decisions, and explicit next steps are essential for maintaining momentum and trust. In DEPP, this has meant translating complex platform evaluations and test findings into concise updates that productively guide technical and academic teams.

Through my involvement in DEPP meetings, I have learned the value of structured preparation and documentation from colleagues who model effective facilitation practices. Project owners consistently share agendas in advance and follow them closely during meetings, which helps maintain focus and ensure that all voices are heard. On two occasions, I prepared the meeting notes myself, adopting the same format — an agenda-linked structure with a brief executive summary and clearly marked Action: points. This approach, also informed by accessibility guidance from GOV.UK's Inclusive Communication resource, supports clarity and inclusivity by making information concise, scannable, and easy to follow for all participants.

The DEPP Proof of Concept also reinforced the communicative value of manual testing. Through collaboration with technical and academic colleagues, I learned that effective testing is as much about clear dialogue and documentation as it is about functionality. Different users engage with systems in different ways — some explore every feature, while others only use what they need — so structured feedback and observation are essential for understanding pain points and adoption barriers. This insight continues to inform how I test and present my own digital tools, ensuring that findings are framed in accessible, actionable language for all audiences.

Producing guides and blog posts has likewise refined how I structure information for different audiences — from technical walkthroughs to accessibility-aware resources. In both meetings and published materials, I apply the same inclusive design principle: keep it simple, make it concise, and emphasise what matters most. I've also strengthened interpersonal skills central to collaborative work—framing feedback constructively, negotiating priorities when timelines compete, and closing the loop with clear, written next steps.

These experiences have also developed my interpersonal and professional skills — active listening, empathy, and diplomatic communication. By clarifying ambiguity, synthesising perspectives, and moderating between pedagogical and technical needs, I have built trust and fostered a supportive environment within hybrid teams.

Looking ahead, I will continue sharing effective practice through internal channels and my professional portfolio, while further developing facilitation and knowledge-sharing approaches that make communication consistent, scalable, and inclusive.

Summary

This section demonstrates how I:

  • Practise clear, inclusive communication to connect academic, administrative, and technical teams.
  • Contribute to DEPP through Integration/Migration and Testing/Evaluation groups, translating findings into actionable Asana tasks.
  • Delivered a department-wide DEPP presentation (2024) to align timelines, testing, and feedback processes.
  • Supported a Business School Proof of Concept (June 2025) by annotating data discrepancies and clarifying follow-up actions.
  • Use structured meeting agendas, executive summaries, and accessible formatting to enhance clarity and inclusivity.
  • Disseminate practice via documentation and blog posts (Teams FAQ, Postman guides, Blackboard API article, Accessibility resources).
  • Maintain currency through internal CPD, LinkedIn Learning courses, and curated tech/media sources, sharing highlights with colleagues.

Evidence

Collaboration and Communication

Documentation and Dissemination

Professional Development

Further Reading

Questions about this section?

Contact me for clarifications or further evidence.

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