Overview

I am a Lecturer in Education working across a broad range of programmes including the MA Education Online, MA Technology, Creativity and Thinking in Education and the Primary PGCE. Before becoming a lecturer I worked as a postdoctoral research fellow on two externally funded projects to to develop curricula and pedagogy around computing and technical education: the Institute of Coding and the South West Institute of Technology. I have also worked as a teacher of English, Media and Film in secondary school and FE, and as a producer of factual television programmes for Channel 4 and BBC.

Qualifications

PhD Education, University of Exeter, 2018

MSc Educational Research (Distinction), University of Exeter, 2013

MA European Literature, Culture and Thought (Distinction), Queen Mary University, London, 1995

BA Hons Modern European Languages (First), University of Cambridge, 1994

Career

2021 - Lecturer in Education

2019 - 2021 Postdoctoral research fellow, Institute of Coding/South West Institute of Technology

2018-2019 Public engagement officer, Global Systems Institute, University of Exeter

2013 - 2018 PhD

2006-2013 Secondary school teacher of English, Media and Film Studies

1998-2006 Television producer for Channel 4 and BBC

Research group links

• Centre for Research in STEM Education (CRISTEME)

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Research

Research interests

My research focuses on the role of educators in both responding to and shaping evolving socio-technical practices. In particular I am interested in conceptualizing and developing pedagogies which support criticality and creativity in relation to digital practices, platforms and data. My interests include: critical digital literacies, data literacies, equality and diversity in the development of disruptive technologies, public perceptions and media representations of big data, AI and machine learning, changing futures of work, makerspaces, new literacies and the teaching of coding.

Research projects

'A matter of wording: Building a transversal skills taxonomy' (ESRC-NPIF-Accelerating Business Collaboration, 2021): In this project I worked with Geek Talent, a data analytics company, to develop a novel way of identifying and categorising emerging transversal skills, particulary those that are digital and data-related

South West Institute of Technology Observatory (2020-2021): In this role I worked with employers and education providers across the South West to develop new curricula in data science and other technology-related areas.

Institute of Coding (HEFCE, 2018-2021). With partners around the UK and within Exeter University we developed and evaluated a summer school to teach data analytics and coding to humanities and social science students. In addition we developed a machine learning driven career guidance tool for students to develop skills in data analytics and science.

'Making space for wellbeing: an exploration of the affordances of a library makerspace for young people with disabilities and their carers' (Wellcome Centre, 2018): In this project I worked with community arts organisation the Pelican Project to explore the potential of the Fab Lab in Exeter Central Library as a creative space for supporting wellbeing

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Publications

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External Engagement and Impact

External positions

Member of the West Country Computing Hub steering group

Member of the Turing Society Data Science Pedagogy SIG

Member of the UKLA Digital Literacies SIG

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Teaching

Modules

2023/24

• EFPM200 - SoE Success for All

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Office Hours:

I work 8.30-3.30 Monday to Friday

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