Cert Ed (QTS) (Mathematics, Primary Education) 1974
Worcester College of Education (now the University of Worcester)
BA (Maths, IT/Computing, Technology) 1986

The Open University

PGDip (Information Systems Engineering) 1998
Wolverhampton University

Profile

08 2001 - : Learning & Teaching Resources Technician, School of Education, University of Birmingham, Selly Oak, Birmingham, UK (see below)

08 1998 - 08 2001: Maths, Science & ICT Technician, University of Birmingham, Westhill / Westhill College of Higher Education (MST Dept.)

09 1997 - 06 1998: Full-time postgraduate student at Wolverhampton University.

09 1974 - 08 1997: Teacher at three primary/middle schools in Dudley Metropolitan Borough. Having trained as a teacher at Worcester College on a three year Cert.Ed. (main subject mathematics) course, I later studied part-time for a first degree with the Open University in the 1980s. My curriculum interests developed in the area of educational technology resources, and when computers started being used in schools I took a year's secondment to study ICT/Computers in Primary Schools at Newman College, Birmingham in 1986/7. For the later part of my teaching career I was an ICT co-ordinator and was also involved as school network manager in a pilot group of Dudley primary schools with networked BBC computers. I left teaching with the idea of developing a new career in IT.

Current Role

Learning and teaching support on the PGCE Primary programme. In particular my areas of day-to-day support lie in the use of ICT across the core curriculum areas. As part of my work with the PGCE Primary team I maintain and develop the PGCE Primary VLE web site delivering online teaching and learning resources.

I am a member of the school's E-Learning Team. As such I do various web-based development and maintenance jobs. Currently I am responsible for the maintenance of various iVLE teaching and learning projects including aspects of training and ongoing support for the programmes. I also maintain the School's staff intranet.

First-Aider. I am a qualified first-aider and as such can be called to any accident/incident on the campus (see contact details above).

I am a Staff Development officer representing the needs of support staff particularly on the Selly Oak campus. I am also Health and Safety Coordinator and Environmental Officer for the School of Education on the Selly Oak campus.

Experience Includes

Software:- MS Windows 9x, 2000 & XP, MS Office 20xx, Publisher and FrontPage, Macromedia Dreamweaver Mx and Fireworks Mx, Adobe Acrobat 5/6, Jasc Paintshop Pro 7/8, Textbridge Pro, various Serif applications and more...

I also have experience of a wide range of primary curriculum software, including titles from Crick Software, 4Mation, Longman/Logotron/Cambridge Software, Granada Learning, Sherston Software, 2Simple Software, RM, Softease etc...

Hardware: I support the use of computer periferals such as scanners, digital still/video cameras, data projectors, printers, interactive whiteboards and data-logging devices. I also have some experience of non-pc computers including BBC and Acorn RISCOS computers, and more recently Apple computers.

As secretary of West Midlands MAPE (Micros And Primary Education) in the 1990s and early 2000s I was involved in voluntary work managing and supporting courses run by MAPE for local teachers in various aspects of ICT in the primary and early years phases.

MAPE became part of Naace, but many of the original key players have formed ICTopus.

Other Interests etc.

Group Treasurer and Webmaster of 4th Stourbridge (Wollaston St.James) Scout Group.

Holidays are often taken caravanning in Europe (usually France, but also Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, German and Italy).

I live in Stourbridge with my wife. We have 3 sons, two of which are currently in higher education (Lancaster and Worcester) while the eldest lives in Nottingham.