Research Profile
Dr Alexandra Morgan
Career Profile
I began my academic career as a scientist and completed a PhD in Artificial Neural Networks at Cardiff University. I have taught at both Primary and Secondary level gaining QTS through the Graduate Teacher Training Scheme. I have worked as a specialist ICT teacher providing continuing professional development for experienced classroom practitioners. My experience of working with practitioners to support their professional development includes:
- Senior Academic Tutor Primary PGCE Swansea University (2002-2004)
- Lecturer Early Childhood Swansea University (2004-2011)
- Senior Research Fellow Swansea University (2011-2012)
I am currently Programme Co-ordinator for the Masters in Educational Practice programme for Newly Qualified Teachers in Wales.
I have experience of working on successful funded research projects employing mixed-method approaches. I am currently involved with the Supporting Playful Learning with ICT project, SPLICT (Esmee Fairbairn), Evaluation of ‘Pori Drwy Stori’ (Bookstart/WG) and the Evaluation of the Foundation Phase (WG).
Research Grants Awarded
Current
£30,000 Booktrust/WG Evaluation of the ‘Pori Drwy Stori’ Initiative (2012-2015)
£295,915 Esmée Fairbairn Charitable Trust, ‘Supporting Playful Learning with ICT in the Early Years’ (SPLICT) associate project of the Welsh Institute for Economic and Social Research Data (WISERD) 2010-2012
£20,000 Swansea LEA Sustained shared thinking with ICT in the Early Years (2010 – 2012)
Previous
BECTa grant: The impact of technological experiences on children’s approach to developing capability with new ICT tools (with Dr. Steve Kennewell) 2003-4 (£8800)
Cymorth ‘Young Researchers’ Project 2005-6 (£8,000)
ESRC grant (Teaching and Learning Research Programme): ICT and Interactive teaching Co -applicant 2005-2007 (£111,411)
ESRC/WERN (Teaching and Learning Research Programme) Research Fellowship: The application of ICT to support Sustained Shared Thinking in the Home Learning Environment and pre-school settings (with Prof John Siraj –Blatchford) 2008-2009 (£3,250)
ESRC/WERN (Teaching and Learning Research Programme) Research Associate: Review of the TLRP Literature relevant to the Foundation Phase 2009-2010 (with Prof Trisha Maynard, Jane Waters and Jane Williams (£5,000)
Additional Responsibilities
External examiner for BA Primary Education Studies University of Wales, Trinity St David 2010-present
Member of the joint Welsh Institute of Social an Economic Research Data (WISERD)/ WAG Committee for Co-ordinating and Mapping data about children and young people in Wales. 2010-present
Invited member of the Strategic Forum for Research in Education and Evidence informed policy in Education in Europe. 2009-present
Research mentor for Teacher Educators from Trinity St David, Welsh Education Research Network/ESRC 2009-2010
Steering Group Member Looked after Children Project 2010-2012
Steering Group Member Swansea After-School Project 2012 - present
Memberships / External Activities
- Professional Memberships of Professional Associations
- General Teaching Council for Wales
- Early Education Welsh Policy into Practice Group
- Member of the British Educational Research Association 2002- present
- Member of the European Early Childhood Research Association 2005-present
- Association for IT in Teacher Education 2005-present
- Member of the European Association for Research in Learning and Instruction 2008- present
Editing/Refereeing
- Editorial Board Welsh Journal of Education
- Invited to referee : Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood; European Journal of Early Childhood Education; Computers and Education; Education and Information Technologies; Children and Society; British Educational Research Journal.