Ultralab became part of my life in 1998 when I was seconded from my teaching
post via HTI (Heads and Teachers into Industry) as an adviser for Tesco
SchoolNet 2000. That led to me join Ultralab at Anglia
Ruskin University
in 2000 and work on the Talking Heads pilot, an online community for
headteachers, now part of the National
College for School Leadership's
online provision.
My contribution centred on online communities, specifically headteacher
links with DfES ministers and officials and online network communities of
headteachers and teachers. This included action research projects with the Secretary of State,
the permanent secretary and many other officials.
For the first time thousands of practitioners were in direct contact with legislators
as policy was formulated.
I established a number of localised headteacher communities and networked learning comunities. This together
with the research of other Ultranauts, informed the creation of NCSL’s
Networked Learning Communities and a completely new thrust to continuing professional
development. We demonstrated the potential of online communities for the viral sharing
of tacit knowledge. Tacit knowledge is considered ‘sticky’ and inherently
difficult to move around but our research into carefully formed communities
has shown that need not be true.
Our findings are included in Ultralab’s reports published by Ultralab and
NCSL. The lessons learned have formed the basis of further research both in the
UK and
internationally.
I contribute to papers written by other Ultranauts and they inform my work.
Ultralab is a unique organism, composed of dedicated team all focused on
research and committed to developing ways of making learning delightful with
new technologies.
From 2003 I have been involved in many other Ultralab research projects mainly
associated with online education, continuing professional development and
particularly assessment. These include ICDC, eViva and COGS.
I'm currently
negotiating a collaborative research project in partnership with the Technology Enhancement
Programme, a national CPD provider and others. The focus will be on CPD for practicing teachers involved in innovative e-learning and assessment, initially in
design technology .
Meanwhile my work as a learning facilitator on Ultralab’s BA Hons Learning
Technology Research degree is enabling my experience to be shared and giving me
further insights into research for continuing professional development for
teachers.
Still
teaching, still researching, still learning and still getting a thrill from working with this
unique organisation.
Publications
Personalised Learning - A Failure to
Collaborate?
Eviva - ICT Assessment for Learning at Key stage 3.
Published by QCA
