Paul Catherall

Research home page for Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)

1. Overview.
2. Background to Research.
3. Proposed Development.
4. Working Proposal.
5. Other Files
6. Biography.
7. Publications (and reviews) .
8. Awards
9. Links.
10. Contact Paul.

Overview

My research degree concerns skills requirements for educational technology use amongst stduents studying in a distributed (mixed e-learning and class-based) context. My research project title is: 'What are the skills challenges faced by students in the use of educational technology? Perceptions of undergraduate students studying professional courses in a part-time, distributed study context.'

Background to Research

In recent years, the Higher Education sector has witnessed significant changes in study patterns, client demand and course delivery methods (O' Donoghue et al. 2003). Key features of this changing climate include increasing digitisation of course delivery and support systems, increased levels of demand for part-time and remote study, greater alignment with industry and increased diversity within the student body itself (Catherall 2004).

Existing research has demonstrated a lack of understanding on the role of educational technology skills requirements, assessment and development as a process in distributed study (e.g. Rowland & Rubbert 2001, Newton 2003).

This research project will extend and contribute to existing research, by examining students' perceptions of educational technology skills requirements as a facet of the educational technology skills debate, ultimately comparing these perceptions with government, industry, sector and institutional views derived from the literature review and practical research elements. The research will seek to (a) define generic, discipline-specific and context-based educational technology skills requirements, (b) determine the role and importance of educational technology skills training and assessment, (c) determine the role and importance of continuous development, (d) contribute to the development of a tool to query educational technology skills requirements within a distributed study context.

The research element will be conducted in the context of a Higher Education provider facilitating the UK Government widening participation agenda via innovative strategy, teaching and technology; part-time student groups will be selected across a range of professional-related disciplines, reflecting the trend towards widening participation and the UK Government's aspiration for a demand-led re-alignment of Higher Education.

Proposed Development

Working Proposal

• Short (registration approved) proposal, 2 pages (Word) 23-09-05.

Other Files

• Pilot stage presentation (presented at MMU 13/03/08 and at NEWI 21/04/08).
• PhD Registration Stage Presentation at MMU 17/02/05 (Powerpoint).
• Presentation at NEWI, Wrexham, 13/05/05: Skills Challenges Experienced by Students in the use of Educational Technology (Powerpoint).
• Paper on Grounded Theory in response to GT Conference, London with Barney Glaser, April 2006.

Previous Versions

• Short (registration phase) proposal, 2 pages (Word).
• Detailed proposal, 13 pages (Word).
• My previous proposal (for e-learning) is also available.

Biography

• 1996-2000: Information services assistant at the North East Wales Institute, Wrexham (NEWI) academic library.
• 1999: BA in English Literature with Media Studies - NEWI (2:1).
• 2000: Masters degree in Library and Information Management - John Moores University (JMU), Liverpool (Distinction).
• 2000-Present: Web (and e-learning) developer, NEWI.
• 2001-2003: Part-Time Lecturer (ICT), Deeside College of Further Education.

Publications

• Catherall, Paul (2006). Accessibility Issues for Web-Based Information/Knowledge Management Systems (chapter) in Knowledge Management: Practical, Social, Cultural and Theoretical Perspectives edited by Ruth Rikowski. Oxford , Chandos Publishing, 2006, ISBN 1843341891 (paperback) / 1843341395 (hardback).

• Catherall, Paul (2006). An overview of Grounded Theory following attendance at the London Grounded Theory conference with Barney Glaser 24th-26th April 2006 (internal NEWI paper). Available at: http://draigweb.co.uk/elearning

• Catherall, Paul (2005). The Battle in Seattle : its significance for education by Glenn Rikowski (book review). Information for Social Change, No. 22, Winter 2005, ISSN 1364-694X.

• Catherall, Paul (2004). Career Development in a non-traditional library role: some personal reflections. Information for Social Change , No. 19, Summer 2004 (also published in Ymlaen, Wales CDG newsletter, Autumn 2004), ISSN 1364-694X.

• Catherall, Paul (2005). Delivering E-learning for Information Services in Higher Education. Oxford , Chandos Publishing, 2005, ISBN 184334 0887 (paperback) / 184334095X (hardback).

• Catherall, Paul (2005). Foibles, Frolics and Phantasms: Illustrated Poems (1995- 2005) . Baltimore, PublishAmerica, ISBN: 1424113997.

• Catherall, Paul (2006). Globalisation, Information and Libraries: The implications of the World Trade Organisation’s GATS and TRIPS Agreements by Ruth Rikowski, (book review). Forthcoming for Ymlaen (Issue 8, Summer 2006) and Impact (September 2006).

• Catherall, Paul (2005). Influences in E-Learning : forces for change or confusion? Information for Social Change , No. 19, Summer 2004, ISSN 1364-694X.

• Catherall, Paul (2000). Resource Description and Control on the World Wide Web (dissertation). Liverpool , John Moores University .

• Catherall, Paul (2005). Ruth Rikowski and Anneliese Dodds at GLOBALISATION, LIBRARIES, INFORMATION AND EDUCATION, a Career Development Group Wales and Information for Social Change event at Swansea University , 02/12/05 (conference report). Published in Ymlaen (Issue 7), Impact (Vol 9,2), Information for Social Change (Issue 23).

• Catherall, Paul (2006). Short articles and commentary in Information for Social Change, Spring-Summer 2006 (Available at http://www.libr.org/isc):

  • UN World Press Freedom Day at the North East Wales Institute of Higher Education (NEWI) 03/05/06 .

  • ‘Contestability’ : buzzword that could open academy’s doors to private interest. Overview of an article in the Times Higher Education Supplement, April 28 th 2006 .

  • Watchdog Brands Profits on PFI Scheme 'Unacceptable'.

  • Spain Warns Bolivia over Nationalisation and related articles (by FT journalists).

  • Out on a limb: why Americans see their future as precarious.

• Catherall, Paul (2005). Starting to write for the Information Sector, some experiences. Information for Social Change, No. 22, Winter 2005, ISSN 1364-694X.

• Articles for submission to peer-reviewed journal Policy Futures in Education Spring 2007:

  • E-learning in Post-Statutory education.
    

  • Mapping E-learning to Theories of Learning and Teaching.

Reviews

• Delivering E-Learning for Information Services in Higher Education reviewed by Karyn Meaden. New Library World Year: 2005 Vol : 106 Issue: 9/10
• Delivering E-Learning for Information Services in Higher Education reviewed by Ruth Rikowski. Managing Information

Awards

• Research grant: Arts & Humanities Research Board, 10/99.
• Award by MCB Press in recognition of research project, (for MA awarded by Liverpool John Moores University - Summer 2000.)

Links

• E-Learning Information Portal.
• Delivering E-Learning for Information Services in Higher Education (Chandos Publishing).
• My personal Web site.

Other Links :

• IT Dictionary (FOLDOC).
• Cygwin (Linux OS for Windows).
• W3C (World Wide Web Consortium).
• My personal Web page.
• Hobbes Internet Timeine, history of the Net.
• Elearning on Wikipedia.

Contact Paul

email:
p.catherallnewi.ac.uk

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...or use the feedback form on my personal page.