I have enjoyed working in the University’s TEL team since December 2014. My role is ostensibly to work with staff to help them effectively and appropriately deploy technology to enhance teaching, learning and assessment. This can range from working one-to-one with an individual member of staff to try out a particular tool in their teaching, to helping write a School TEL strategy.
I have specific School liaison responsibilities, working particularly with HUMs, ISLI, SBE and SPPE. I liaise with senior T&L staff in these Schools, helping with strategy, supporting the achievement of STEAP objectives, sitting on steering and working groups, and facilitating bespoke support and staff development to develop digital T&L practice..
Having been a teacher and worked in all stages of the education system, I have a wide-ranging interest in teaching and learning. I am particularly interested in pedagogy and how technology, when used appropriately, can engage students and enrich learning. I have a keen interest in staff development, student engagement, user experience, mentoring/coaching, and technology adoption. I’m more widely interested in history, politics, current affairs, international relations, and education’s role in promoting social mobility.
Having studied International Politics at Aberystwyth University, i qualified as a history teacher and taught for several years in secondary and primary schools, before leaving to work in Further Education – in libraries, IT training, e-learning, staff development and lecturing.
I’m currently completing my application to become a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Outside work, I’m involved in my local community, chairing the Trustees of the charity that runs my community swimming pool, where I also volunteer as a lifeguard and First Aider. I’m also a Trustee of my local Community Centre and chair the Overton Community Spaces Forum.
Qualifications:
- BSc (Econ) International Politics & International History (Aberystwyth University)
- PGCE (Secondary, History) (University of Oxford)
- Dept of Education: Information & Communications Technology Course for Teachers
- NVQ3: Information & Library Services
Publications / Presentations:
‘One Step Ahead: TEL Staff Development at the University of Reading’ [Blackboard European User Group meeting, 8 Feb 2022]
‘Everyone’s invited to the party: Blackboard Ally at the University of Reading’ [Blackboard Users Conference, Durham University, January 2020]
Bailey, A., Holmes, V., McCann, L. and Papaefthimiou, M. [2018] ‘E-submission, feedback and grading: a collaborative approach to University-wide adoption’. Association for Learning Technology Conference, Manchester.
‘TEL – A journey from ‘brave new world’ to business as usual: How do we engage our academics at the University of Reading?’ [Blackboard T & L Conference, Bocconi University, Milan, 2016]