Rex Wingate's Profile Description

I am a graduate of Anglia Ruskin University with a BSc(Hons) in Multimedia Systems. I have worked in many departments of the University in my student days as a temp, and know much of the systems and many of the people that go to make it work. This has informed my current work as a Technical Researcher into the systems and infrastructure that student researchers and facilitators in the Ultraversity Project need.

The nature of the pathway dictates that our students will join us with varying levels of IT Literacy, and with differing specification machines. I have also played a key role on developing an IT support system which when coupled with the Ultraversity model of delivery is efficient, sustainable and accessible around the clock.

The Ultraversity research project, encompassing the BA (Hons) Learning Technology & Research pathway, has a unique student population and pathway delivery. As a result, our Action Research has indicated that the usual administrative systems and processes do not suit our 100% remote students, and largely remote teaching Staff, which in the past, has had a negative impact on student retention. Through my experience with traditional university systems and my experience of designing online systems, I have been able to co-implement with Pathway Leader Tim Williams new processes to ensure that our pathway conforms to University QA procedures whilst offering an improved service to our student researchers.

This is valuable research at a time where the cost of obtaining a degree is rising and many potential students are unable due to their personal circumstances to access Higher Education. This degree and our research provides a real solution to these challenges and puts Anglia Ruskin University in a good position to be a leader in remote study.

My continuing research interests are in transferring existing paper-based University administrative processes into an online environment and collaborating with Mark Constable, Greta Mladenova and Lindsey Wingate in developing our virtual learning environments and online multimedia resources.

I am currently collaborating on a publication with colleagues Stephen Powell, Greta Mladenova, Mark Constable and Lindsey Wingate that will demonstrate how the Ultraversity degree has furthered the Government's agenda on Widening Participation in Higher Education.

I have also previously worked on the Creditlink project, helping design and build a website for a consortium of FE and HE Colleges around the Eastern region and the Colbayns School Mentoring project, assisting students with web design, videomaking and animation.

E-mail: rex@ultralab.net