BSc Psychology (Leicester) ; MEd Child Development (Institute of Education); PGCE (Oxford Brookes); BPhil Special Education: Visual Handicap (University of Birmingham); PhD (University of Birmingham).

Profile

Mike joined the University of Birmingham as a Lecturer on the Visual Impairment Programme in 1994. Prior to that he worked as a Research Fellow at the University on an externally funded project investigating the development of literacy in children with visual impairment and additional needs. Mike is a qualified teacher of children with visual impairment (QTVI) and prior to starting work at the University worked in a wide range of educational settings supporting children and young people with special needs. Since 2007 he has been the joint Director of Education (Deputy Head) for the School.

Research interests

Mike's research interests have been concerned with the identification and reduction of potential barriers to learning and participation for children with sensory impairment and more complex needs. Particular themes within this focus have included:

• Early literacy/communication (including Moon, objects of reference etc)
• Role of touch in teaching and learning
• Role of LVAs for children with visual impairment and additional needs.

As Co-Director of VICTAR (Visual Impairment Centre for Teaching and Research) he is also engaged in a range of funded research projects that relate to education and visual impairment. Recent projects within VICTAR include:

• 'Network 1000 project'
• 'Routes to literacy through Moon'
• 'Inclusion of children with visual impairment in developing countries'
• 'Development on online enquiry-based learning resources'

Details of other funded projects are available on the VICTAR homepage:

http://www.education.bham.ac.uk/research/victar/

He also has a broad research interest in professional learning and pedagogy and has been involved in a number of funded pedagogical projects in partnership with colleagues in APOD. This includes the development of a web resource to showcase how enquiry-based learning (or EBL) approaches can be used to enhance the learning experiences of students at the University of Birmingham in line with the institutional Learning and Teaching Strategy: http://www.ebl.bham.ac.uk

Teaching and administration responsibilities

As joint Director of Education he has have strategic overview of all learning and teaching activities within the School of Education. His main teaching role is joint Programme Coordinator for the BPhil/PGDiploma Mandatory Qualification (MQ) for Teachers of Children with Visual Impairment and for the Ad Cert/PG Cert in VI (FE). Further information about these programmes can be found on the following links:

http://www.education.bham.ac.uk/programmes/cpd/courses/visual_impairment.shtml
http://www.education.bham.ac.uk/programmes/cpd/courses/visual_impairment_in_further_education.shtml

Other teaching responsibilities include input to SEN modules on programmes within the School of Education, as well as the supervision of MEd and PhD students.

Other professional appointments

Since 2006 he has been joint Editor of the British Journal of Visual Impairment, an international peer-reviewed journal for professionals concerned with children/adults with visual impairments:

http://www.uk.sagepub.com/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal201712

Publications (selection)

McLinden, M., McCall, S., Hinton, D. and Weston, A. (in press). Developing Authentic Online Problem-Based Learning Case Scenarios for Teachers of Students with Visual Impairment in the United Kingdom Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness

McLinden, M., McCall, S. and Hinton, D. (2007) Embedding online problem-based learning case scenarios in a distance education programme for specialist teachers of children with visual impairment. European Journal of  Special Needs Education, 22 (3): 275-293

McLinden, M., McCall, S. and Hinton, D. (2006) Participation in online problem-based learning – insights from postgraduate teachers studying through distance education. Distance Education,  21, (3): 235-249

McLinden, M., McCall, S., Hinton, D. and Douglas, G. (2006) Developing online Problem-based learning resources for use in the professional development of specialist teachers of children with visual impairment studying through distance education. Open Learning, 21 (3): 235-249

McLinden, M. (2004) Haptic exploratory strategies and children who are blind and have additional disabilities. Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness, 98 (2): 99 –115

McLinden, M. and McCall, S. (2002) Learning Through Touch. David Fulton: London

Publication 2001 - 2009 [complete, pdf, 292 KB, opens new window]