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Staff profile

Overview

Professor Sam Nolan

Director

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Director in the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD)

Biography

After growing up in the rural North West of England, Sam went to study for his MSCi in Physics at Imperial College, University of London. Followed by a Ph.D. in Gamma-Ray Astronomy at Durham. After graduating, Sam worked through NASA funding for 12 months, based at Purdue University, USA.

After this time, Sam returned to Durham where he has been based since. Sam initially worked as a PDRA in Physics before moving into an Associate Fellow in Astronomy role in 2007. Sam then moved to a post as Head of Scholarship at Durham University's Foundation Centre, as well as working for the Cherenkov Telescope Array project as an outreach associate, based at the University's Department of Physics in 2010. Over this time Sam's research interests have grown from High Energy Astrophysics, through Science Communication to the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL).

In his role as as a Head of Scholarship Sam developed a national profile and in Physics Educational Research (PER). From 2012-2018 Sam sat on the Higher Education Committee of the Insitute of Physics.

Sam sits on the editorial board of the HEA journal New Directions in the Teaching of Physical Science and the journal Practice and Evidence of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in HE. In 2014 Sam was awarded a University Excellcence in Learning and Teaching Award. 

Sam created and developed the Transitions into HE project, which utilises funding from the Enhancing the Student Learning Experience Awards at Durham to develop an innovative e-learning course to support incoming first year undergraduate students develop a range of study skills prior to arrival at Durham. With 90% approval and with over 4000 students using the course annually, in 2016 Sam led the development of a similar program for PGT students.

In 2015, Sam created the Enhancing Student Learning Through Innovative Scholarship meeting, the first international interdisciplinary meeting of teaching track staff which took place at Durham. Sam chairs the conference which attracts over 150 staff annual and has been held in UCL, Sheffield, Bristol and Edinburgh since. In 2019 the conference will take place in Keele University.

In 2016 Sam was a co-editor and contributing author of the book Widening Participation, Higher Education and Non-Traditional Students published by Palgrave i.

At the end of 2015, Sam took up a new role as Assistant Director at the Centre for Academic, Researcher and Organisation Development (CAROD). At CAROD Sam led the skills development program for PGR students, postdoctoral researchers and Academic Staff, where he secured the HR Recognition Award from Vitae and led Durham through successful reaccreditation with the HEA.

In 2016 Sam was awarded a National Teaching Fellowship, followed in 2018 by the award of Principal Fellowship of HEA (now Advance HE) for his strategic leadership of staff and PGR development at Durham. 

In June 2018, Sam took on the role of Assistant Director of the Durham Centre for Academic Development (DCAD). DCAD brings together UG, PG and Academic Development, with English for Academic Purposes, Academic Communication, 2 MA Programs in English Language Teaching and a Foundation Programme for Mature Students. 

In 2021 Sam took on the role of Deputy Director (Academic Excellence in DCAD) where has oversight of Academic and Researcher Development and Digital Learning as well as leading DCAD's research element the Education Laboratory.

In 2023 Sam took over as DCAD Director and has oversight of all DCAD activities. 

Sam is an active keynote speaker on a broad range of topics including academic leadership, creativity in education, learning through simulation, game-based learning, and supporting the transition of students between school and University. 

Citations

Google Scholar Profile

Committee Membership

2022-

TEF Steering Group

Support development of the Institutional Submission for the Teaching Excellence Framework. 

2020-

Member of Decolonise Durham Working Group

Supporting development of a definition of Decolonisation that works for Durham departments and faculties.

2019-2020

Deputy Chair, Teaching and Learning Committee, Sub Committee of Education Committee

I acted as deputy chair of this committee which explores issues and challenges in teaching delivery and co-develops solutions. 

2021-

DCAD Strategic Advisory Group

I am a member of this group which works with key stakeholders and sets strategic priorities for DCAD.

2021-

DCAD Faculty Consultation Groups

I chair four Faculty Consultation Groups and work with Deputy Executive Deans (Education) to provide solutions to challenges identified by departmental representatives. 

2021-

Education Lab Steering Group

I lead on the Education Lab and work with colleagues to fund Collaborative Innovation Grants and coordinate its Special Interest Groups.

2018-

Scholarship and Ethics Committee

I chair this committee, which offers a pathway to ethics approval for projects in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning from across the University and has oversight of scholarly activity at DCAD including ethical approval of projects.

2021-

Education Committee

I am a member of this committee which has oversight of DCAD’s taught programmes (Foundation, MA, Pre-Sessional and PGCAP), where I represent the PGCAP. 

2012-2017

Chair of Teaching Focussed Academic Network (formerly Teaching Fellow Network)

I started and chaired this network, which offers Durham staff a chance to share their Scholarship beyond their departments. This network played an active role in the development of the teaching track promotion criteria. In 2020 I was a founding member of the Teaching Track Academic Development Network, the natural successor to this network.

2018-2019

Lead Researcher Development Task and Finish Group

Review and recommend enhancements to researcher development programme.
Funding to support Scholarship Activities, Awarded as Principal Investigator

 

  • Developing Pre-Arrival Virtual Experiments for Physics Dept, 2009, E-Learning Fund (DU), £5,000
  • Enhancing Interactive Screen Experiments for Physics Depts, 2010, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £4000
  • Breaking Barriers for Foundation Science Through E-Learning, 2011, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £6,000
  • Developing Augmented Reality Students for Foundation and Chemistry Depts, 2012, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £6,000
  • Developing Pre Arrival E-Learning Course for Foundation Science, 2013, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £ 5,000
  • Developing Pre Arrival E-Learning Course for Foundation Social Science, 2014, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £ 5,000
  • Virtual Experiments to Support Level 3 Quantum Theory, 2015, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £ 5,000
  • Developing Transitions into HE course for all Durham Freshers, 2015, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £35,000
  • Developing Transitions into PG course for all Durham PG Students, 2016, Enhancing Student Learning Experience Fund (DU), £34,000
  • Sharing as OER resources developed at Durham with Universities of Liverpool and Leicester, HESTEM Funding £2,000
  • Leading Workshop for HEA on Virtual Laboratories, 2012, HEA Funding £1,200
  • Building Bridges, Using Lego® Serious Play® to support student well-being and mental health, 2019, Disability Premium (government funding via DU), £10,000
Scholarship Publications (2013-)
  • Nolan, S., & Hutchinson, S. (Eds.). (2022). Leading Innovation and Creativity in University Teaching: Implementing Change at the Programme Level. Taylor & Francis.

  • Nolan, S., & Newton, D. P. (2022). Exploring the Potential of Scholarship to Drive Teaching Innovation. In Leading Innovation and Creativity in University Teaching (pp. 71-85). Routledge.
    Chicago

  • Fawcett, T., & Nolan, S. (2022). Collaborative Leadership towards Innovation in Teaching and Learning. In Leading Innovation and Creativity in University Teaching (pp. 137-153). Routledge.
    Chicago

  • Nolan, S., & Hutchinson, S. (2023). Agile Futures: Where Will You Go from Here?. In Leading Innovation and Creativity in University Teaching (pp. 169-177). Routledge.
    Chicago

  • Newton, D. P., Nolan, S., & Rees, S. (2022). Creative thinking in physics. In Creative Thinking in University Physics Education. IOP Publishing.

  • Marshall, Catherine A., Sam J. Nolan, and Douglas P. Newton. Widening Participation, Higher Education and Non-Traditional Students. London: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.

  • Nolan, Sam J., Simon Rees, and Carole Rushall. "Breaking Barriers: Overcoming Anxieties in Practical Science." Widening Participation, Higher Education and Non-Traditional Students. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2016. 73-88.
  • Nolan, Sam J., Megan Bruce, and Steve Leech. "Engendering an online community: Supporting students on the transition into university life." Widening Participation, Higher Education and Non-Traditional Students. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2016. 119-131
  • S.J. Nolan, M. Szablewski, T.J.L. McComb and I.G. Hughes: (2013) ‘Using Interactive Screen Experiments as Pre-Laboratory Tasks to Enhance Student Learning’. New Directions 9(1), 24-27. DOI: 10.11120/ndir.2013.00011
  • Sam Nolan: (2013) Book Review of Electricity and Magnetism, 3rd Edition, by E. Purcell & D. Morin. New Directions 9(1), 109-110. DOI: 10.11120/ndir.2013.00016
  • S.J. Nolan: (2013) ‘Using Interactive Screen Experiments as Pre-Laboratory Tasks to Enhance Student Learning’. Open Educational Research Journal, http://www.oerj.org
  • Simon Rees, Megan Bruce, and Sam Nolan: (2013) ‘Can I Have a Word Please – Strategies to Enhance Understanding of Subject Specific Language in Chemistry by International and Non-traditional Students’. New Directions 9(1), 8-13. DOI: 10.11120/ndir.2013.00012
  • Megan Bruce, Sam Nolan and Simon Rees: (2013) Can I have a word please – strategies to enhance understanding of subject specific language in non-traditional students, Emerge, 5, 17
Scholarship Workshops and Conference Talks (2012-)
    • Leading SoTL Based Change at the Programme Level, International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference (ISSOTL22), University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada, 2022
    • Curiosity Leads: Recognising and Rewarding the Impact of SoTL in Research-Led Universities, International Society for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Conference (ISSOTL19), Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Kennesaw State University, Atlanta, USA, 2019
    • Building bridges or barriers? A critical examination of the playfulness of serious play, Society for Research into Higher Education 2019 Conference, 2019
    • Enhancing Well Being Through the Use of Structured Writing Retreats for Students and Staff, 3 Rivers Conference, 2019
    • Working with students as partners to enhance the Transition into HE, ESLTIS 17, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, 2017
    • “Technology to Sustainably Support Laboratory Learning: Two Perspectives on Screen Experiments, Institute of Physics, University of Edinburgh, October 2013
    • “Supporting Student Learning with Screen Experiments”, HEA STEM: Developing the virtual laboratory, Durham, March 2012
    • “Overcoming Misconceptions: Testing the Conceptual Understanding of Mechanics with Mature Learners”, Foundation Year Network Conference, Keele University, July 2012
    •  “Overcoming misconceptions: testing the conceptual understanding of mechanics with mature learners”, HEA: What can higher education contribute to improving social mobility in the UK?, Manchester, March 2013
    •  “Overcoming misconceptions: testing the conceptual understanding of mechanics with mature learners”, Universities Association for Lifelong Learning, Durham University, March 2013
    • “Opening up the Laboratory”, Three Rivers Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, Teesside University, March 2012
    •  “Nurturing a Community of Learners: Creating a Cost Effective Online Pre-Arrival Portal”, Blackboard Users Conference, Durham University, January 2013
    • “Nurturing a Community of Learners: Creating a Cost Effective Online Pre-Arrival Portal”, Three Rivers Annual Learning and Teaching Conference, Teesside University, March 2013
    •  “Interactive Screen Experiments – Using Technology to Make Science Labs Less Scary”, Foundation Year Network Conference, Keele University, July 2012
    •  “Foundation Centre: Pre-Arrival: Enhancing Student Learning from Day One”, Foundation Year Network Conference, Durham University, July 2013
    •  “Flexible e-Learning to Sustainably Support Laboratory Learning?”,Blackboard Users Conference, Durham University, January 2014
    • “Conceptual Understanding in Physics”, Prof. Derek Raine, Dr. Sam Nolan, Dr., Antje Kohle & Dr. David Sands, Variety in Chemistry & Physics Higher Education Conference, Edinburgh University, August 2012

    Invited Talks

    • Getting Published in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Herriot-Watt University, Scotland, 2022
    • Using Game Based Learning to Enhance Student Engagement, Malta Information Technology Agency, Erasmus Funded Project, 2020
    • Breaking Barriers: Working with Students as Partners to Develop Innovative Virtual Laboratories, 20th International Conference on Multimedia in Physics Teaching and Learning, Ludwig Maximilians Universitat, Munich Germany, 9thSeptember 2015
    • Technology to Sustainably Support Laboratory Learning: Two Perspectives on Screen Experiments, Institute of Physics, University of Edinburgh, 2013
    • Three Case Studies in Student Generated Physics Learning Content, Institute of Physics, University of Manchester, 2012

                                    Research interests

                                    • Astroparticle Physics
                                    • Gamma-Ray Astronomy
                                    • Neural Net Development
                                    • Physics Higher Education Research

                                    Esteem Indicators

                                    Publications

                                    Chapter in book

                                    Conference Paper

                                    Edited book

                                    Journal Article

                                    Other (Digital/Visual Media)

                                    Presentation

                                    Supervision students

                                    Jake Burdis

                                    Assistant Professor

                                    Nicola Fern

                                    Postgraduate Student