About me

Hi,

I’m Kit, a learning technologist and established academic. I’m also a freelance photographer and do a lot of youth and children’s work in my spare time. It makes for an eclectic mix 🙂

I’ve been studying and working with educational and learning technologies since 1999. Initially for my PhD then at the UCL Institute of Education where I am a Learning Technology Fellow (My profile at UCL).

I am interested in how technology is used to support all types of learning, and have a specific interest in the technologies and pedagogies involved with:

• Distance & online education
• Blended and flipped learning approaches.
• Self-regulated learning (SRL) and support of SRL through the use of online technologies.
• Bring your own device (BYOD) learning environments.
• Web-based collaboration.
• Interactive learning environments.
• Accessibility and GDPR
• Use of AI in education (e.g. its value and detection of use.)

It’s an ever changing environment and because I am frequently dealing with the practicalities and user experience of the tools that deliver these experiences, I find many of the problems that users face are because of unexpected changes to the interface or functionality of a software programme.

Technologies and specialist areas that I work with on a very regular basis as a learning technologist include:

• Moodle CMS
• Media servers like Panopto
• Website design, maintenance and functionality
• Creation of media eg
  • Images photographic and graphics.
  • Videos
  • H5P
  • Photography and editing

Photography

I discovered photography in my teens – starting out with a film SLR and appreciating how much a single photograph could capture emotion and atmosphere, in a frozen moment of time, or within the power of a good portrait. For those of you who ever used a film SLR, you’ll understand the unique skills that comes from using these, as unlike with today’s camera’s, you would have to wait days for your results to be developed and returned. Only then would you discover what had worked. And being a student, there was a cost aspect to it as well.

I don’t hold to a particular style. Most of my work is reportage of events and general life, taking advantage of different points of view, locations and using the natural lighting to create the images I want. However, if the situation demands it, like in dance and sports photography, I do use strobes (on and off camera flash units as) as this can create some very striking images.

Youth and children’s work and the value of play

I was introduced to youth work in my teens and been working with young people through youth and children’s work in voluntary and paid roles ever since. Something like 40 years now. Mostly running and organising youth clubs, summer play schemes. Central to this has been the value of play and empowerment, giving young people opportunities to be themselves, explore, discover and develop their skills. Particularly where I can encourage interest and skills in the STEM subjects.