Science Communication & Outreach Experience
I am a multidiscipinary science communicator, translating research and placing it into context for the purpose of developing meaningful public engagement activities. This role builds on my experience in designing and delivering innovative public engagement events and outreach sessions. These activities may take place on campus coordinated via the Schools and Colleges Liaison team, offsite in association with local partners such as Thinktank Museum in Birmingham, nationally at events or within the classrooms of regional schools. I have been registered with STEMnet since 2009 and my portfolio includes science busking, public lectures, cafe scientifiques, 'Meet the Scientist' sessions, careers interviews, schools interactive workshops and local, national and international festivals.
Teaching and Support Aspects
I am actively involved in the teaching and delivery of the undergraduate and postgraduate Psychology programmes and also support the research of the neuroscience team based in the Aston Brain Centre.
I have turned a technical support role at Aston into one of innovation and creativity, openly suggesting that the role of technician is more one of technical teacher. This allows me to encourage people to interact with technology and become inspired by its possibilities. This approach has resulted in my receiving the Technician/Demonstrator of the Year 2009 Award from the Higher Education Academy Psychology network.
Taking an active role in the delivery of taught material at Aston University, my teaching portfolio, undertaken as part of the Aston Certificate of Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, led to me receiving a Teaching Excellence Award in 2006. As such, I am associated with the Higher Education Academy and am a member of the Teaching Award Recipients' Network.
I am a member of The Association of Technical Staffs in Psychology. ATSiP exists primarily to share knowledge between technicians working in Psychology and Psychology related departments in academic institutions. This network of technicians is an essential resource for useful techniques, new approaches and help on some of those tricky problems. The Association holds an annual conference at different academic institutions throughout the UK and Ireland. Members participate in talks and presentations, see local research and teaching facilities and meet socially to disseminate best practice.
Research Interests
Jon specialises in innovative, sustainable pedagogy by revisiting technology from a novel perspective, in a way that inspires both students and academics. Principal research activities focus on the efficacy of innovative practices in learning and teaching.
The
Virtual Pedagogy Initiative also aimed to heighten the student learning experience by bring to them opportunities that were not previously possible. One innovative measure was the delivery of a first year undergraduate lecture on Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) together with a live scan being conducted, which utilised a two-way video communication link and outside broadcast. This was broadcast regionally on BBC Midlands Today
(Viewable here). The VPI project was shortlisted for the ‘Outstanding ICT Initiative of the Year’ Award, sponsored by JISC, at the Times Higher Awards 2007.
Academic Publications
Parson V, Reddy PA, Wood JB, Senior C (2009). Educating the IPOD generation: Undergraduate attitudes, experiences and knowledge of vod and podcast use. Learning, Media & Technology, 34, (3): 215-228
Senior C, Butler MJR, Wood J, Reddy PA (2009). The Virtual Pedagogy Initiative? Aston Business School Good Practice Guide in Learning and Teaching. (Green J, & Higson H, eds). Quality Unit, Aston Business School. pp 31-49.
Reddy P, Parson V, Wood J, and Senior C (2007). Podcasting trials in a UK psychology degree. Paper at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning conference, Sydney, July 2007.
Senior C, Reddy PA, & Wood JB (2007). Virtual Pedagogy? The Psychologist, 20 (70), p439.
Senior C, Reddy PA, & Wood JB (2007). The Virtual Pedagogy Initiative. Psychology Network Newsletter. 40 (1): 6
Conference Presentations/Posters
Hoban, SL & Wood, JB - "Elizabeth Stockdale Wilkinson, 1799-1871 and early photographic practice in Birmingham". Paper at The Emergence of the West Midlands: Culture, Communities and Change 1779-1918 conference. Centre for West Midlands History, University of Birmingham, April 2012.
Wood JB & Reddy PA – “Learning Analogous to Virtual Adventuring”. Poster at LHS learning and teaching symposium, Aston University, March 2009.
Wood JB & Reddy PA “Virtual Pedagogy at Aston – reflections on three years of tinkering”. Presentation at 7th annual eLearning conference (Supporting the iGeneration) University of Ulster, January 2009.
Silber K, Bignell S, Parson V, Wood J, Reddy P, Senior C – “Second Life: another world in which to teach and learn”. Workshop at Psychology Learning & Teaching (PLAT), University of Bath, July 2008.
Reddy P, Parson V, Wood J, and Senior C (2007). “Podcasting trials in a UK psychology degree.” Paper at the International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning conference, Sydney, July 2007.
Wood JB – “MRSA: A New Possibility in Streamlining Block Design fMRI Analysis with AFNI”. Poster at Methods in Mind conference, Aston University, September 2005. (MRSA, a script to semi-automate the pre-processing of Siemens Trio fMRI datasets using a script called MRSA (MRi-SemiAutomatic). was presented at the “Methods in Mind” conference held at Aston University, 12th -16th September 2005 (poster available here) (pdf format). The script and information pertaining to its use with AFNI and SPM are freely available by contacting the author.)
Grant Awards
An intervention to demonstrate the potential of video recording lectures. Flexible Learning Development Centre, Aston University. [with Dr. C Senior & Mr. PA Reddy]. (2006; £3000).
The Virtual Pedagogy Initiative. Flexible Learning Development Centre, Aston University. [with Dr. C Senior & Mr. PA Reddy]. (2006; £4812).
Using video examples in teaching and assessment of psychological research methods. Flexible Learning Development Centre, Aston University. [with Mr. PA Reddy, Dr. C Senior & Dr. R Cooke] (2006; £4,056).
Evaluation of e-Zine podcasts to promote student engagement and academic community. JISC-Academy Distributed e-Learning Program II. HEA Psychology Centre. [with Dr. C Senior & Mr. PA Reddy]. (2007; £19650).
External Links of Interest
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