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What we do

The Centre supports the wide range of research work within the Department of Educational Research that is concerned with teaching and learning with digital technologies and with widening digital participation across a range of populations.

The work of the Centre builds on the previous methodological and philosophical approaches to research undertaken through the world-renowned centre, CSALT, with its focus on networked and collaborative learning. The Centre brings together the many areas of expertise of current staff and students in the department, and the extensive studies we have carried out into a variety of aspects of technology enhanced learning in the UK and abroad.

For example, in recent years, current staff researched and reported on:

• ways technologies support pupil motivation for the UK government agency,
• the Intel Teach-Advanced online and collaborative programme,
• uses of technologies by young people not in employment, education and training,
• the learning needs of trade union educators,
• testing parameters of online word-level language learning support software,
• uses of technologies by migrant women,
• those who support young people who are not in employment, education and training,
• simulation-based learning in medical contexts.

Our main activities include:

Research

We adopt appropriate and selected e-Research approaches for Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) research within qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods studies; small and large scale projects; participatory research; linking research and practice (for example working with practitioners, students, etc. to develop their own research skills); policy-related research; collaborative links with researchers in a number of countries including Ireland, Canada, Germany, Australia, Chile, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Publication

We publish our research in a range of formats, including journal articles, book chapters, reports and practitioner guidance. Through our publications we seek to inform and support a policy and practitioner audience, as well as specific and wider research communities.

Evaluation

We use evaluative approaches for TEL studies that are illuminative, formative and summative; for international, national and local projects; working with organisations to develop research skills and building their capacity; developing policy-related research and evaluation of individual initiatives and to meet specific concerns.

Consultancy

We advise on TEL research approaches to policy and practice groups, commercial and non-profit groups, on a wide range of learning and pedagogical approaches and delivery methods, and on research, evaluation and quality issues.

Conferences

We organise conferences on themes related to the Centre's main areas of work, and contribute keynotes and presentations on our current research to international, national and regional conferences.

Teaching

We integrate aspects of our TEL work into our postgraduate teaching; specifically our part-time, distance learning, taught PhD Programme in E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning.