Dr Tony Liversidge: Learning and Teaching Fellowship Profile

Background

I began my ‘career’ in learning and teaching as a secondary high school science (biology) teacher in the North West and during my fourteen years in school I was a head of lower school science and a school-industry liaison coordinator.

I moved on secondment to Edge Hill in 1993 to act as Course Leader for the newly validated PGCE Secondary Science course.   In 1995 I was responsible for coordinating the writing and validation of a new BSc Secondary Science ITT course and also became its Course Leader.  In 2001 I was appointed Programme Leader for the BSc (Hons) Secondary with QTS programme, with responsibility for the overall co-ordination of secondary undergraduate courses (Science, Maths, D&T and ICT) in the Faculty of Education.

From January 2007 to September 2009 I held the post of Research Development Coordinator in the Faculty where I provided both support for colleagues in relation to achieving research development targets and supported new and existing developments in relation to research and scholarly activity.

The focus of my current post as a Senior Lecturer in Science Education and University Teaching and Learning Fellow is the pursuit of research into doctoral supervision, mentoring in ITT and creativity in teaching and learning, supervision of PhD and MA students and teaching on PGCE Secondary and BSc Secondary QTS programmes.

Academic & Research Interests

Throughout my teaching career I have had an interest in creative approaches to teaching and learning.  In relation to this field, in 1987 I completed an MEd in Science Education at the University of Manchester, with a dissertation looking at effective worksheets and in particular their inclusion of DARTS (directed activities related to texts).  Subsequently, whilst in post at Edge Hill I completed an MA in Education (1998) with the Open University and this is where my interest in mentoring began.  It led me on to study for a Doctorate in Education with the OU, with a final thesis completed in 2002 entitled ‘Perceptions of Effective Mentoring’.  This research examined the school-based mentoring of the PGCE Secondary Science trainee teachers that I was working with and this area continues to be one of my research interests. 

Interestingly, in 2003 this study led to one of the most ‘unusual’ presentations that I have ever given, entitled ‘The Poisoned Chalice of Success: Perceptions of Effective Mentoring’ which was billed as a keynote after-dinner conference speech for CUPOD, the E. Sussex Mentoring Consortium.  If you have ever tried to deliver the findings of an academic study blended with after dinner humour about toxic mentors and trainee teachers, you will know what I mean!

In addition, I have now begun to study effective mentoring as part of doctoral level supervision and I have recently (2009) presented my initial findings at Edge Hill-based symposia and the CLTR Conference and also at the BERA Annual Conference 2009 at Manchester University, with a paper entitled ‘Supervisor as Mentor:  Lines in the Sand?’

Returning to my interest in creative teaching and learning in science education, I  have given a  number of INSET presentations for the Association for Science Education (ASE) including; ‘Grossology’; ‘I’ve Started so I’ll Finish’; ‘Magic Science’; ‘Science a la Carte’ and ‘Exciting Science’, all of which have had a focus on offering creative strategies to teachers and engaging pupils’ learning.  I have supplemented this by delivering many of these sessions to ‘real’ pupils with ages from 3 to 16!

The session entitled ‘I’ve Started so I’ll Finish’, which offered a range of lesson starter and plenary activities acted as a precursor to a series of three CDROMs of Interactive Starter and Plenary Activities for the Hodder KS3 Science scheme, that I worked on as lead author and which were published by Hodder Murray in 2005. 

Latterly, I was part of the secondary science team from the Faculty that collaborated to write a text book entitled ‘Teaching Science’ which is part of the ‘Developing as a Reflective Secondary Teacher’ series published by Sage in 2009.

I am also currently supervising two PhD students, one of whom is researching e-learning and the other is studying police training.

Fellowship Foci for 2010-11

• Supervision of doctoral students and in particular how a mentoring dimension can support this demanding role
• Further research into mentoring in initial teacher training (ITT) – looking at the changes in the school-based mentoring of PGCE Secondary Science students since 2000
• Creative teaching and learning in higher and secondary education.  Further delivery of creative workshop sessions as INSET (e.g.) grossology, science a la carte, magic science, with subsequent articles in professional journals.  Continuation of a project starting in the autumn term 2010, working with a post-doctoral student , AD&T tutors and school-based mentors  on creativity in design and technology secondary education
• Continuation of a project to look at perceptions of oral digital feedback on assignments for secondary UG trainee teachers

Other 'Academic' Information

I recognise the importance of professional affiliation and membership and have played an active role as a member of the Association for Science Education since 1979 as noted earlier in my profile.

I was awarded a Fellowship of the College of Preceptors/Teachers (FCollP) in 1998 for my contribution to teaching and learning in secondary and higher education.  I am also a member of the Society of Biology (MSB) and have achieved Chartered Biologist status (CBiol) through the Society.  Most recently, in 2007, I became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA) for my work in higher education. 

In addition, I have held a number of Examinerships.  These have included:

• Assistant examiner, GCSE Science (NEAB) 1992 - 2006
• External examiner, PGCE Secondary Science (UWIC) 1999 - 2002
• External Examiner, BSc Science and Education, Bishop Grosseteste College 2003 - 2007
• External Examiner, PGCE Science, Bishop Grosseteste College 2004 - 2007
• External examiner, PGCE Secondary Science (University of Sussex) 2005 - 2009

Contact:

E: liversia@edgehill.ac.uk
T: 01695 584552