What do I do at Ultralab?
My current work largely revolves around the Ultraversity project. This is an
innovative, online research degree at undergraduate level. I am cohort leader
for cohorts 4 and 5. I also lead the admissions team and interview many of the
applicants for the degree. I also act as a consultant or e learning advisor
for the Ashcroft International Business School. Work with Creative Partnerships
and the Basildon Schools developing an evaluative tool for self assessment and
writing for BECTA on BECTA on the identification of good practice using ICT
as a tool for creativity in Award winning schools.
Prior to working with Ultraversity, I worked with the University of Lincoln
and the National College for School Leadership (NCSL) developing the Diploma
of School Business Management and the Certificate of School Business Management.
I was involved with developing the online aspects of the course and with the
training of the tutors who were to deliver the course online. This led on from
my work, with NCSL and the Institute of Education developing online Communities
of Practice as a part of the online National Professional Qualification for
Headteachers – now a mandatory requirement for Headship in England. My
role included training all the NPQH tutors, liasing with the regional centres,
writing booklets on e learning and the learning environemtn to support the tutors
and candidates, training the team who were to train the tutors, managing the
national timetable for training. In the year 2000 I was seconded from my school
to work with the DfES and the Talking Heads project. My first involvement with
Ultralab was my secondment to the Tescoschoolnet 2000 project starting in September,
1998.
I had been in teaching for over 20 years. I had been a classroom teacher, working
my way up the ladder for 10 years and then a further 10 years as a Senior Manager
in a comprehensive school in Grimsby where I undertook the whole range of management
roles. I worked in an advisory capacity for the County in the field of ICT,
Child Protection and Business Studies.
I have been a school governor in a small rural primary school for over 10 years
and the Chair of Governors for over 5 years. This is, of course, a voluntary
role but can be demanding, being a Chair of Governors means that I have to keep
up to date with all the changes and challenges facing schools today.
Additionally I have an interest in fostering international relations between
schools at all levels and the pupils. My own three children lived in France
and Germany for six months at a time before they went to secondary schools and
so they are fluent in French and German and I have been a 'foster' mother to
lots of children whilst they lived here for a six month period and learnt English.
