Panos Vlachopoulos

Lecturer in Academic Practice

Background

Panos joined Aston University as the Lecturer in Academic Practice in December 2010.  He is the new Programme Director of the Post-graduate Certificate in Professional Practice in Higher Education, and he is currently working towards the development of a new Master Programme in Professional Practice in Higher Education. This will be offered in a flexible/ distance learning mode to academics interested in such qualifications in the UK and globally. He also supports the Aston Certificate in University Learning and Teaching and acts as an advisor for members of staff interested in the development of fully online distance learning programmes.

Panos has several years of experience in higher education, educational research, teaching and tutoring, staff development, and development of traditional and online university programmes. Prior to his arrival in Aston, he has worked as a Lecturer in Technology-enhanced Learning and Teaching at Edinburgh Napier University, as a Lecturer in e-Learning at Massey University in New Zealand and as a Senior Project Fellow (Blended learning) at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He has a contemporary understanding of ‘hot’ topics and issues surrounding higher education both nationally and internationally.

Panos gained a Bachelor of Education in Philosophy and Pedagogy (2001) at Aristotle University in Greece, a Master of Education in Communications, Technology and Education (2002) at the University of Manchester, and a PhD in Education (2008) at the University of Aberdeen. His area of expertise is in adult learning theories and the effective facilitation of student-centred learning in technology-enhanced learning and teaching contexts in higher education.

Research Interests

Panos’ research and supervision interests include:

• Technology-enhanced learning & distance learning

• Facilitation of student-centred learning

• Reflective practice, critical thinking and assessment of higher order skills

• Pedagogic research ( action research and grounded theory)

• Globalisation and internationalisation of the curriculum

Memberships

• Fellow of the HE Academy
• Member of the Staff and Educational Development Association
• Member of the Association for Learning Technology
• Member of the European Distance Education Network

Publications & Conference Presentations

Peer-reviewed publications

Vlachopoulos, P. & Cowan, J. (2010) Choices of approaches in e-moderation: conclusions from a grounded theory study, Active Learning in Higher Education, 11, (3), 1-13

Vlachopoulos, P. & Cowan, J. (2010) Reconceptualising e-moderation of asynchronous online discussions: a grounded theory study, Distance Education, 36 (1), 23-36

Vlachopoulos, P. (2008) The nature of e-moderation in online learning environments. In A. Comrie, T. Mayes, N. Mayes & K. Smyth (Eds.), Learners in the co-creation of knowledge: proceedings of the LICK 2008 Symposium. Edinburgh: Napier University in association with TESEP.

Vlachopoulos, P. (2008) Reconsidering the role of the tutors in asynchronous online discussions, In the Proceedings of the 6th International Networked Learning Conference, May 5th & 6th 2008, Halkidiki, Greece, Pp 401-408.

Vlachopoulos, P. (2006) Reverse Analysis of Online Students’ Interaction and Its Moderation: An Emerging Methodological Approach to Study E-Moderation, In the Proceedings of the Fourth EDEN Research workshop in Castelldefels, Spain, Oct 25-28 2006.

Vlachopoulos, P & McAleese, R. (2004) E-moderating in On-line Problem Solving: a new role for teachers? In the Proceedings of the 4th Hellenic Conference with International Participation ‘ICT in Education’, 29 Sept- 3 Oct 2004, Athens, Greece. Pp.399-406. 

Vlachopoulos, P., Ralph, S. & Davie, M (2002) Using Computer-Mediated-Communication to explore group dynamics online, In the Proceedings of the 2nd Hellenic Conference with International Participation ‘ICT in Education’, 26 Sept- 29 Sept 2002, Rhodes, Greece, Pp.211—217.

Other publications and presentations

Vlachopoulos, P. (2011) Learner-directed learning: shifting responsibilities or developing abilities? UK-PDP Newsletter, The Centre for Recording Achievement, April 2011.

Vlachopoulos, P. (2010) Facilitation Process towards Student-Centered Learning in Blended and Online Education. Paper presented at the Teaching and Learning Innovation Symposium, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 6-8 June 2010.

Kehrwald, B., Vlachopoulos, P. & Atkison, S. (2009) Learning Technologies in Teacher Education: what is changing? What is not? Paper presented at the Teacher Education Forum of Aotearoa New Zealand, Palmerston North, 16-17 July 2009

Vlachopoulos, P. (2009) Designing flexible programmes: the role of virtual classrooms in enhancing online learning.  Virtual paper presented at the Flexible Delivery Symposium, University of Aberdeen,19-20 May 2009.

Vlachopoulos, P. (2008) Ring-fencing 'e-moderation': a suggested framework for understanding moderation of online asynchronous discussions. Poster presented at the Association for Learning Technology Conference, Leeds, UK, 9-11 Sept 2008.

Vlachopoulos, P. (2006), The Impact of e-moderators on students’ online interactions: findings from two case studies. Poster presented at the Association for Learning Technology Conference, Edinburgh, UK, 5-7 Sept 2006.