Staff
Dr Jan Smith
Contact Dr Jan Smith (email at jan.smith@durham.ac.uk)
Biography
Jan is a lecturer in the Centre for Learning, Teaching and Research in Higher Education where she teaches on the Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice. Before joining Durham in April 2012, Jan
co-ordinated a project implementing PBL in the electronic engineering curriculum at UCL (2002-05) and then taught on the PGCert in the Centre for Academic Practice at the University of Strathclyde (2005-2012).
Her research interests are in qualitative approaches to the fields of academic practice and development, academic identities and socialisation to the profession; the effects of higher education policy on practice; and threshold concepts. Other interests include problem-based learning, academic writing and learning technologies. She would be keen to hear from potential doctoral students with an interest in these areas.
Jan is associate editor (Europe) for the International Journal for Academic Development (http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/1360144x.asp), and vice-chair of the SEDA Papers Committee (http://seda.ac.uk). In the latter role, Jan is happy to hear from colleagues of any suggestions for timely publications.
Research Groups
Selected Publications
Journal papers: academic
- Smith, J. (2011). Beyond evaluative studies: perceptions of teaching qualifications from probationary lecturers in the UK. International Journal for Academic Development 16(1): 71-81.
- Smith, J. (2010). Academic Identities for the 21st Century. Teaching in Higher Education 15(6): 721-727.
- Smith, J. (2010). Forging identities: the experiences of probationary lecturers in the UK. Studies in Higher Education 35(5): 577-591.
- Mitchell, J., Canavan, B. & Smith, J. (2010). Problem-based learning in Communications Systems: student perceptions and achievement. IEEE Transactions on Education 53(4): 587-594.
- Mitchell, J. & Smith, J. (2008). A case study of the introduction of problem based learning in electronic engineering. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education 45(2): 131-143.
- Kenyon, A.JU., Mitchell, J. & Smith, J. (2007). Introducing problem based learning in electronic and electircal engineering. Journal of Materials Education 29(1-2): 79-86.
- Mitchell, J., Smith, J. & Kenyon, A.J. (2005). It's not for lazy students like me. International Journal of Electrical Engineering Education 42(1): 41-51.
Books: sections
- Flanagan, M. & Smith, J. (2008). From playing to understanding: the transformative potential of discourse versus syntax in learning to program. In Threshold Concepts within the Disciplines. Land, R., Meyer, J.H.F. & Smith, J. Rotterdam: Sense Publishers. 91-106.
- Colole, G.T., Smith, J. & White, S. (2007). A critique of the impact of policy and funding. In Contemporary Perspectives in E-Learning Research: Themes, Methods and Impact on Practice. Conole, G. & Oliver, M. London: Routledge. 38-54.
Supervises
Current vacancies
