About the Author

I am Co-ordinator of e-learning at the University of Wolverhampton, based in the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching (CELT).

I have been in teaching for all of my career. My first posts were both teaching English as a Foreign Language (EFL) for the British Council. The first was for four years in Cuidad Guyana (Puerto Ordaz) in Venezuela, a city situated where the river Orinoco joins the Carioni. Following this I taught in Dubai in the UAE, again for the British Council.

I took my first post as Lecturer in EFL at the University of Wolverhampton in 1992 following completion of an MA in TEFL at the University of Birmingham. My PhD thesis, completed in July 2000 investigated the effectiveness of multimedia for different aspects of the language learning processes. The thesis is available on the Work page within this website.

In 2000, I joined the Centre of Excellence in Learning and Teaching at the University of Wolverhampton as the University’s e-Learning co-ordinator. This was, at the time, a small central unit tasked with implementing the University’s Learning and Teaching Strategy. It was an exciting time with the roll out of the new institutional Virtual Learning Environment – WOLF. As I write in 2005, WOLF is now embedded in the learning culture of our learners and staff with over 80% of learners and staff using it.

Interests & Skills

My main interest is in the use of computers to assist in learning and in particular in the use of multimedia applications to enhance language learning. I have been responsible for creating six multimedia CD-ROM titles for learners of Business English. I have also worked as part of a team of writers to develop a series of four CD-ROMs "Citizen of the World" - for General English. Both series were originally commissioned and published by Philips and are now published by the French company Edulang.

My research interest is in the use of computer technology and especially multimedia for language learning and there is a list of publications on the Work page on this website. I was the coordinator of the IATEFL Computer Special Interest group from 1995 to 2000.

e-Learning
Multimedia for learning
Second Language Acquisition
Computer Assisted Language Learning

Consultancies

I have undertaken consultancies for a wide variety of organisations and institutions on computer assisted language learning. In particular I advise on the most appropriate ways of using a variety of computer applications which will be effective in a specific setting.
Please see the Consultancies page for further information.