Regan Shaw

Biography

Regan Shaw is a lecturer in Community Learning and Development. She has moved to the University of Dundee after twelve years in practice in the community. As well as generic community education work, Regan has worked on projects such as The Adult Guidance project, 'Alternatives to Exclusion' and a social inclusion project working to improve the experiences of young people leaving care. She has also led teams of community workers in Adult Learning and generic community education work. Regan's passions lie with the community and the power of change and personal growth.

Regan's research interests have grown from her belief that critical reflection is a central force in professional practice and that learning must be a positive, transformative process and she is completing her professional doctorate in this area. Regan teaches across the professional Community Learning and Development programme.

Degrees & Qualifications

• MA (Hons) Psychology
• PG Diploma Community Education
• MSc Applied Professional Studies in Community Learning and Development
• Professional Doctorate (ongoing) (Dundee)

Research Interests

Regan's area of expertise has developed from her experience of providing supportive and effective communications with Communities. She is interested in research that links both her areas of specialism: Psychology and Community Learning and Development and is particularly interested in:

• Transformative Learning
• Critically Reflective Practice
• Professional Development
• Dialogue
• Critical Pedagogy
• Reflexive Practice
• Lifelong Learning

Research Groups and Collaborations

Regan has recently taken part in the ESRC funded series of seminars, 'Critical Reflection in the Professions' which will develop international research networks.

Regan is a member of the National Training and Development Network for Community Learning and Development run by Education Scotland which is about developing CPD opportunities for the field.

Regan has recently become a member of proPEL: Professional Practice, Education and Learning. This is an international, collaborative and inter-disciplinary network for research and knowledge exchange in issues of professional education, practice and learning.

Research Funding

• Scottish Funding Council
• Insights Institute

Teaching

• Professional programme in Community Learning and Development.

Administration

• ESWCE School Disability Support Officer
• CLD Admissions Tutor
• BA1 Coordinator
• Module Leader

Publications

Journal Papers
Shaw, R., 2012	Shaw, R. (2012) A Model of the Transformative Journey into Reflexivity: an exploration into student’s experiences of being Critically Reflective practitioners. (Under review, Reflective Practice Journal)
Conference Presentations
Shaw, R., 2011	Shaw, R. (2011) A model of the transformative journey into reflexivity: an exploration into student experiences of being a critically reflective practitioner. Scottish Educational Research Council (SERA), November 2011, Stirling, Scotland.
Professional Publications
Shaw, R., 2007	Shaw, R. (2007) Raising the Standards in Scotland: A Report on Perspectives of Practitioners, Trainers and Students on qualifying training in Community Learning and Development. Commissioned by Communities Scotland.