Dr Neil Witt

Dr NEIL WITT
Dr Neil Witt is Technical Director of the Higher Education Learning Partnerships Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (HELP CETL) at the University of Plymouth. Neil is has been seconded to the HELP CETL from the Faculty of Science, where he has been Senior Lecturer in Navigation Systems, Marine Communications and Telematics since 1995.

His current role allows him to share his expertise in technology-enhanced learning with colleagues in partner colleges across the South West. He has been responsible for major initiatives, both in terms of development and leadership, such as the implementation of a Community of Practice (CoP) methodology with colleagues in 18 partner institutions. By introducing a Knowledge Management System specifically designed to support multiple CoPs combined with a network of 17 regional videoconferencing centres, he has been instrumental in developing and delivering a mechanism that allows students and staff across multiple institutions to meet, discuss, work together and build relationships. Such sharing of teaching expertise directly enhances the student experience and enhances communication between partner college and university staff.

Neil’s innovative use of technology uses a philosophy of striving for inclusivity for all students. Embedded into his practice is the ethos of employing user needs analysis, focus groups and continuous feedback when creating, organising and presenting resources, to ensure they meet learner needs.

Since 1993 Neil has published widely, covering subject specific areas such as Navigation Systems, Knowledge Management and Communities of Practice, teaching and learning areas such as Managed Learning Environments, distance learning, Continuing Professional Development issues, and Web accessibility. Recent published work includes the JISC funded UsPaCe and UPlaCe projects, and eLearning repositories. He has been publishing online for many years, enabling him to disseminate to thousands of people internationally.

Dr Anne McDermott

Dr ANNE MCDERMOTT
Dr Anne McDermott is a Research Fellow with the HELP CETL. Her role includes support and evaluation of the CETL’s knowledge management and communities of practice research, and helping to develop its videoconferencing provision.

After leaving school she spent 12 years as an administrator for a London Borough before undertaking an Access course. This lead to a Psychology degree and qualification as a Mental Health nurse followed by time working with people with hearing and sight impairments. Taking the opportunity to embark on a PhD, she researched the use of technology enhanced learning (TEL) to deliver CPD for marine engineers.

She has since built on her interest in TEL by acting as Joint Principal Investigator for a range of projects at the University of Plymouth, including the JISC funded Shell-fish online student feedback tool, UsPaCe Web2.0 work-based learning support tool and the UPlaCe UPC Repository projects. She now has the same role in the PINEAPPLE project.

Dr Harriet Dismore

Dr Harriet Dismore
Dr Harriet Dismore is a Research Fellow at the University of Plymouth, currently working for the Higher Education Learning Partnerships (HELP) Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). She is particularly interested in working in the areas of progression in education, young people’s experiences of transition and accreditation of prior learning. Her main role on the Pineapple project will be to review APL activity and coordinate the APL survey across the South West partnership.

Rob Stillwell

Robert Stillwell
Robert is a Senior Learning Technologist at the University of Plymouth. He has worked within new media and e-learning for the last 8 years. Roles include working as an e-learning developer for PCMD and a Faculty Learning Technologist in the faculty Health & Social Work at the University of Plymouth.

He currently works for the Higher Education Learning Partnerships Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (HELP CETL) focusing primarily on JISC funded projects research projects. Recent projects include UsPaCe a web2.0 toolkit project, UPlaCe a repository start up project and Web2Rights – an IPR and copyright toolkit.

Mark Stone

Mark Stone

Mark Stone is a University of Plymouth Teaching Fellow with an interest in people management; leadership; organisational learning and change; knowledge management; communities of practice, learning technology, interactive, reflective and distance learning. Between 2001 & 2004 Mark led the HEFCE TDTL (3) Student Progression and Transfer Project (SPAT). He is also a non executive director of a University of Plymouth web technology spin-out company ICO3 limited (www.ico3.com). Mark is the director of the Higher Education Learning Partnerships [HELP] Centre for Excellence in Teaching & Learning [CETL] – www.help-cetl.ac.uk. The HELP CETL is part of a national network of 74 CETLs which are funded by HEFCE to reward excellence in learning and teaching and to promote educational research. HELP is built on the excellent record of the University of Plymouth Colleges faculty partnership and also seeks to work with individuals, groups and institutions in the development of HE in FE practice. APL is a strategic issue for UPC and investigative work into how take up APL could be improved within UPC has been funded by the HELP CETL.