Sharon Tonner-Saunders

Sharon Tonner-Saunders is lecturer in Technologies-ICT and Music in the School of Education. She joined the University in August 2008 after working for seven years as a primary school teacher, where the last four years were spent teaching ICT to all primary pupils. During this time, Sharon was awarded the British Council's eTwinning Award for Excellence due to using innovative methods to connect children with their peers around the world. This followed shortly with Sharon becoming a British Council Ambassador where she shares her knowledge and expertise of intercultural learning with educators around the world. Since 2018, Sharon has led an innovative intercultural project called Voices of the World (VOTW) that uses a range of communication forms (Music, Makaton and Art) to connect learners together to develop their intercultural awareness of others and preserve their linguistic identities. This project has won eTwinning Quality Labels from countries around Europe, the European eTwinning Quality Label and the prestigious British Council National eTwinning Award for best project in the UK (2019 and 2020). The success of Sharon's intercultural work has led to her being invited to be the keynote speaker at conferences around the world where she shares her passion for creating educational opportunities that enable young people to be connected with their global peers whilst preserving their identities.

Sharon's innovative approaches to using technologies in education has been acknowledged at the University where she has been awarded:

• The School of Education and Social Work's Innovation in Teaching Award - Oct 2019
• CASS Award for Professional and Public Research Graduates - Jan 2012
• DUSA Innovation in Teaching Award - May 2011
• Honorary Graduates Award for Innovative Teaching - May 2010

Her work is also recognised by students where she was nominated for four student-led teaching awards in 2023 and short-listed for Innovation in Teaching.

Sharon's innovative and forward-thinking approach to using technologies has also been acknowledge by a wider community where she was awarded the prestigious titles of:

• Apple Distinguished Educator - Jan 2011
• SMART Exemplary Educator - March 2011

Sharon is also a trained Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Ambassador, where she delivers workshops pertaining to protecting young people online.

Sharon's work evolves mainly around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 which states that:

4.7 By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

Sharon works closely with local schools to share her knowledge and expertise and is currently working with Birkhill Primary School to model ICT and music lessons that use Taskmaster as a context to create engaging lessons.

She has also been part of the MA (Hons) and PGDE management teams since 2008 through her roles as Placement Convener, Assessment Convener and Group Lead. She is currently Admissions Convener for the MA (Hons) Programme.

Qualifications

• 2011-2012: Postgraduate Module (Research Methods & Design) - University of Dundee
• 2009-2010: Postgraduate Certificate in Learning & Teaching in Higher Education - University of Dundee
• 2006-2007: Postgraduate Module (Progressive Enquiry & Knowledge Building Society) - University of Strathclyde
• 2005-2006: HNC ICT (Web Page Design & Internet Services) - Dundee College
• 2003-2005: Postgraduate Modules - (Computer Based Learning & Teaching, Internet Resources and Emerging Technologies) - University of Aberdeen
• 1999-2001: BEd (Hons) Primary Education - Dundee Northern College (First Class Honours Degree)