Current and recent research
Several national Teacher Training Agency (TTA) Research and Development Awards on aspects of initial teacher training have been or are being carried out within the School: developing trainee teachers' understanding of pupils with special Educational Needs; enhancing the quality of trainee teachers' reflection; and using mentors' metacognitive strategies to aid trainees' development. Externally funded projects on the role and skills development of school governors from the business community have had national impact. Research consultancy and evaluation in national and regional projects on understanding slavery has recieved external funding from UNESCO, DCMS and DfES, and in the field of holocaust education from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research. Research into doctoral education in the UK and worldwide has led to national reports on aspects of doctoral programmes.
Other projects have contributed to local and regional developments, for example projects on professional development of teachers through Continuing Professional Development and the role of teaching assistants.Local authority funding supports research in the field of education for sustainable development.
Key themes in department research activity are:
- Professional learning of teachers, lecturers and others;
- Impact of professional or work-related study on practice;
- Pedagogical basis of mentoring and supervision;
- Role of narrative and imagery in professional and work-related learning;
- Developments in e-learning;
- Reflective practice in initial teacher training and other professions;
- Doctoral programmes;
- Equity and deversity issues;
- Teaching and learning in higher education;
- School governors.
Through the Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities Research Institute there is interdisciplinary research activity in these and other areas, for example in the fields of children's literature and experiential knowledge. In both of these fields there are research conferences.