Research Groups

The School's research activity can be mapped into Research Groups and Research Centres.

Research Groups are the hub - broad-spectrum inclusive groups meeting to exchange information, monitor progress, develop collaborations/funding bids, and provide apprenticeship for new researchers.

Research Centres are tightly focused and have a track record of international significance. Professional Development Centres deliver evidence-based professional development on a large scale, disseminate research stemming from other operations, and aim to develop into Research Centres.

Community and Policy Studies

The Community & Policy Studies research and scholarship group focuses analytically on the intersection of 'community' and 'policy' in relation to a range of theory and practice issues related to (but not exclusively) those subsumed within the parameters of community learning & development which are distinguished by voluntary participation, non-formal learning and participative change orientated methodologies. We aspire to operate as a 'community of practice' (after Wenger 1998); academics interacting regularly with a commitment to engage with and enhance our scholarly interests and research inquiries.
Convenor: Terry Barber

ePIC: e-learning and Professionalism in Context

The work of the ePIC group will focus on the continuum of professional learning - professional qualification is no longer seen as an end point but as the starting point for ongoing development. There will be several strands to the group's scholarship and research activity: constructing and deconstructing models of professionalism within diverse and dynamic contexts; e-learning and epedagogy - exploring the efficacy of this mode of delivery and developing models for individual and institutional development, implementation and improvement; a exploration of the utility of both generic and subject-specific models of educational and academic development and associated inter-professional learning across a range of disciplinary backgrounds; and the development of leadership as part of situated learning within the workplace.
Convenor: Brian Hudson

Pedagogy

The Pedagogy group considers all research and enquiry into pedagogy (to include work which looks at our own students' development, since this relates directly to prospective teachers' own role in the classroom and hence pedagogy). The aims: to increase knowledge within the school of the work recently done in this area; to attract speakers (internal and external) who have interesting work or ideas to talk about; to develop the research skills of those members of the group who wish to become more active as producers (as well as consumers) of research.
Convenor: David Miller

Psychology in the Community

The focus of the Psychology in the Community research and scholarship group is to apply psychological principles and theory to research carried out in a wide range of contexts within the community, as well as to the training and preparation of professionals for work within these contexts. This will involve engagement in both practice-led research and research-led practice. Topics include transitions, disabilities and learning.
Convenors: Divya Jindalsnape and Elaine Smith

Resiliency, Risk and Vulnerability

The Resiliency, Risk and Vulnerability research and scholarship group focuses on understanding risk and vulnerabilities across the life course. It also seeks to develop and evaluate practice approaches to increase individual and collective resiliency and protective factors.
Convenors: Ian Barron and Murray Simpson

Science, Mathematics & ICT

The focus of the Science, Mathematics and Information and Communications Technology group is to provide opportunity for scholarship and research in the area of science, mathematics and digital literacy education. The group will also adopt various dissemination strategies in order to establish and maintain a national profile in the area of science, mathematics and digital literacy in education.
Convenor: Brian Hudson