Andrew Edwards-Jones

Mr Andrew Edwards-Jones

Job title: Research Assistant, School of Biomedical and Biological Sciences (Faculty of Science and Technology)
Address: A405, Portland Square, Drake Circus,
Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA
Telephone: +441752584879
Email: andrew.edwards-jones@plymouth.ac.uk

Role
As a Research Assistant, I am currently working on several projects spanning a number of different Faculties and Departments.

I carry out research and development work on, and around, a suite of Plymouth E-Journals, providing opportunities for undergraduates to publish and disseminate their research work. I also continue to provide a journal management and editorial role for The Plymouth Student Scientist, the e-journal for the Faculty of Science & Technology.

I have also recently been involved in evaluation research of a new bioscience final year project module that aims to enhance graduate employability by developing research skills which reflect stakeholder expectations.

Within the Faculty of Education, I am currently conducting the research elements to a project exploring strategies adopted by science education students when tackling a problem-based learning exercise.

I am also carrying out some research and development work within the Directorate of Teaching & Learning, as part of the Educational Development team, involving the Research-informed Teaching Scheme that has been co-ordinated by ED.

Other short-term research projects to which I have been contracted include a pilot study into the assessment of learning outdoors at primary level; and evaluating e-portfolios for personal development planning for new bioscience students .

Qualifications & background
Qualifications

MSc Biological Diversity, University of Plymouth, 2005.

Professional Qualification in Housing, University of the West of England, 1997.

BSc Combined Studies - Geology (major), Gravitational Astronomy (minor), University of Plymouth (then Plymouth Polytechnic), 1985.

Background

My career has involved several significant changes in direction. Following my first degree, a change in priorities saw me entering local government and pursuing a career, first in housing estate management, and latterly in housing needs. A career change in 2004 led to a voluntary return to higher education to complete a masters degree with a view to attempting to forge a second career within a research environment. My current role has enabled me to learn and apply new research methods, including qualitative techniques and analysis, and develop new skills, such as journal publication and editorial work.

My unusual mix of background and qualifications may appear confusing, but it has led to a fairly unique set of skills and experiences that reflect a broad range of situations, circumstances and connections.

Professional membership
Chartered Institute of Housing

Roles on external bodies
Steering Group member for the British Conference of Undergraduate Research (BCUR)

Research interests
Current research interests include pedagogic research, research-informed teaching, linking teaching and research, mainstreaming undergraduate research and enhancement of student learning.

Conference Presentations

Gresty, K. & Edwards-Jones, A. (2012) Research into Practice: An alternative format for final year Bioscience honours projects. Poster presentation at the National Symposium 2012 'Enhancing Dissertations and Final Year Projects: Experiences, Embedding and the Future'. University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK. 29 February.
Available at http://insight.glos.ac.uk/tli/activities/ntf/creativehops/events/Symposium2012/Pages/Activitystaffandstudentexperiences.aspx

Turner, R., Brown, T. & Edwards-Jones, A. (2011) Writing as transformative space? Examining the development of new lecturers through reflective writing. Paper presentation at the SRHE Annual Research Conference 'Positive Futures for higher education; connections, communities and criticality', Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales, UK. 7-9 December. Available at
http://www.srhe.ac.uk/conference2011/

Turner, R., Edwards-Jones, A., Brown, T., Hughes, J., Banks, A., Bardsley, J., Bryan, Y., Gray, C., Isaac, A., Mann, J., Mason, M., McKenzie, L., Osborn, J., Rowe, M. & Wilkinson, R. (2011) Putting the I into Identity: exploring the use of writing groups to develop research practices. Paper presentation at the Vice Chancellor's Conference 'Excellence in Teaching, the Student Experience and Pedagogic Research', University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. 7 July.

Gresty, K. & Edwards-Jones, A. (2011) Making the unknown known: supporting transition into final year science programmes. Paper presentation at the Vice Chancellor's Conference 'Excellence in Teaching, the Student Experience and Pedagogic Research', University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. 7 July.

Pearce, J., Titley, G. & Edwards-Jones, A. (2011) Supporting student transition regarding e-portfolios for personal development planning. Poster presentation at the Vice Chancellor's Conference 'Excellence in Teaching, the Student Experience and Pedagogic Research', University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. 7 July.

Edwards-Jones, A. & Gresty, K. (2010) The Plymouth Experience of Undergraduate E-Journals. Invited poster presentation at the pre-ISSOTL seminar 'International Perspectives on Undergraduate Research and Inquiry: a scholarly discussion'. Co-sponsored by the ISSoTL Advancing Undergraduate Research Special Interest Group. Liverpool, UK, 19 October. Available at http://www.cur.org/pre-ISSOTL.html

Gresty, K. & Edwards-Jones, A. (2010) Making a Difference to Transition From Foundation Degrees into Final Year University Science Programmes. Presentation at 5th International Inquiring Pedagogies Conference 'Conceptualising Impact: Exploring the effectiveness of practice through pedagogic research'. University of Coventry, Coventry, UK. (IPED, 2010).

Gresty, K., Kelly, O., Jones, R. & Edwards, A. (2009) The Plymouth Student E-Journals: Expanding the Vision. Poster presentation at the Vice Chancellors Conference, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. 6 July.

Edwards, A. & Gresty, K. (2009) Enhancing Final Year Projects: A Stakeholder Study. Poster presentation at the Science Learning & Teaching Conference, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK. 16-17 June. Available at http://www.sltc.info/programme.asp

Edwards, A. & Gresty, K. (2009) Using an undergraduate e-journal to support research-informed teaching. Paper presentation at the UPC Joint Subject Forum Event, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. 28 May. Available at: http://staff.plymouth.ac.uk//upcpd/UPCConferenceMaterials/intranet.htm

Gresty, K., Auburn. T., Kingston, K. & Edwards, A. (2008) Using an e-journal to support research-informed teaching. Presentation at the Informing Active Engagement in Learning and Teaching for 21st Century Universities conference, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK.

Gresty, K., & Edwards, A. (2008) The Plymouth Student Scientist e-journal. Workshop and poster presentation at the Vice Chancellor's Conference, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK. 4 July.

Edwards, A, Gresty, K., Kingston, K. & Auburn, T. (2008) The Plymouth Student Scientist. Paper and poster presentation at 'The Full 360°: Mapping the Undergraduate Research Inquiry Landscape' conference, University of Gloucestershire, Cheltenham, UK. 1 May.

UoP Research group membership

Outdoor and Experiential Learning
Researching Higher Education Network

Grants & contracts

I have been employed as the Research Assistant on the following projects (* indicates named applicant):

2011, University of Plymouth PedRIO Award £18, 035. Risk Management in Research-informed Teaching: An interdisciplinary enquiry (K. Gresty, W. Pan & T. Heffernan).

2011. University of Plymouth Teaching Fellowship Award £3,700. Supporting student transition regarding e-portfolios for personal development planning (J. Pearce & G. Titley).

2010. University of Plymouth Faculty of Education Innovation & Research Committee funding. Assessment of learning outdoors (O. Kelly & S Waite).

2009. HEA UK Physical Sciences Centre Development Project £4,300. Trial and error or strategically formulated plan? How our novice and expert students approach problem solving in chemistry (O. Kelly & J. Lovatt).

2009, University of Plymouth TQEF Award £10,000. Embedding and disseminating good practice using the Plymouth e-journals (K. Gresty, A. Edwards, O. Kelly & C. Pettinger).*

2008, HEA Centre for Bioscience Departmental Teaching Enhancement Award, £9,087. Enhancing Final Year Projects: A stakeholder Perspective (K.Gresty & A. Edwards).*

2008, University of Plymouth TQEF Award £13, 969 for the development of two new Plymouth Student e-journals (a research-informed teaching project).(Karen Gresty, Ray Jones, Orla Kelly & Andrew Edwards).*

2007, University of Plymouth TQEF Award £55,000 for a Faculty of Science e-journal to promote student research involvement and research-informed teaching. The Plymouth Student Scientist can be accessed at http://www.theplymouthstudentscientist.org.uk (K. Gresty, K. Kingston, T.Auburn & A. Edwards).

Journals

Articles

Gresty, K. & Edwards-Jones, A. (2012) 'Experiencing research-informed teaching from the student perspective: Insights from developing an undergraduate e-journal.' British Journal of Educational Technology 43 (1), pp 153 - 162

Other academic activities
April - July and October - December 2010: Short-term contracts as Research and Development Officer within the Educational Development team, Teaching & Learning Directorate, to assist with research work and the development and dissemination of educational development resources, particularly those arising from the Research-informed Teaching scheme.

Links
http://www.theplymouthstudentscientist.org.uk

http://www.theplymouthstudenteducator.org.uk

http://www.theplymouthstudenthsw.org.uk

Educational Development

http://www.cur.org/pre-ISSOTL.html

http://www.bcur.org/