Discipline of Education

Dr Jan Smith

Bsc., PhD

Contact Details

LECTURER ABOVE THE BAR
T: Ext. 3481
E: jan.smith@nuigalway.ie

Biography

I joined the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching as a lecturer in August 2019, where I contribute to the PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and the PGDip/MA in Academic Practice. I have 12 years' experience teaching on and leading equivalent programmes in the UK (at Durham and Strathclyde) and have supervised Ph.D and professional doctorate students studying aspects of higher education.

I hold a B.Sc. (Hons) in New Technology and Education (UEL) and a Ph.D in Higher Education (Strathclyde) and am recognised as a Senior Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy.

Research Interests

Academic Identities - exploring enculturation processes in academic life.
Academic Practice - tracing change in academic work and conditions.
Threshold Concepts - the utility of a transformational theory of learning.
PGT student experience - an under-represented group in the HE literature.

Peer Reviewed Journals

	Year	Publication
	(2011)	'Beyond evaluative studies: Perceptions of teaching qualifications from probationary lecturers in the UK' 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 [Details]
	(2000)	'Academic development: A framework for embedding learning technology' Smith, J; Oliver, M. (2000) 'Academic development: A framework for embedding learning technology'. International Journal for Academic Development, 5 (2):129-137 [Details]
	(2019)	'Friend or Foe: the complexities of being an academic and a doctoral student in the same institution' Clouder, L; Billot, J; King, V; Smith, J. (2019) 'Friend or Foe: the complexities of being an academic and a doctoral student in the same institution'. Studies In Higher Education, [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Juggling competing activities: academic staff as doctoral candidates' Smith, J; Billot, J; Clouder, L; King, V; (2019) 'Juggling competing activities: academic staff as doctoral candidates'. Higher Education Research & Development, [DOI] [Details]
	(2019)	'Homeliness meant having the fucking vacuum cleaner out: The gendered labour of maintaining conference communities' Burford, J; Bosanquet, A; Smith, J. (2019) 'Homeliness meant having the fucking vacuum cleaner out: The gendered labour of maintaining conference communities'. Gender And Education, [DOI] [Details]
	(2017)	'Target-setting, early-career academic identities and the measurement culture of UK Higher Education' Smith, J. (2017) 'Target-setting, early-career academic identities and the measurement culture of UK Higher Education'. Higher Education Research & Development, 36 (3):597-611 [Details]
	(2016)	'Reflections on teaching research ethics in education for international taught postgraduate students' Smith, J. (2016) 'Reflections on teaching research ethics in education for international taught postgraduate students'. Teaching in Higher Education, 21 (1):94-105 [Details]
	(2010)	'Problem based learning in Communications Systems: student perceptions and achievement' 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 [Details]
	(2010)	'Forging identities: the experiences of probationary lecturers in the UK' Smith, J. (2010) 'Forging identities: the experiences of probationary lecturers in the UK'. Studies In Higher Education, 35 (5):577-591 [Details]
	(2008)	'A case study of the introduction of problem based learning in electronic engineering' 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 [Details]
	(2005)	'Exploring behaviour in the online environment: Student perceptions of information literacy' Smith, J; Oliver, M. (2005) 'Exploring behaviour in the online environment: Student perceptions of information literacy'. Research in Learning Technology, 13 (1):49-65 [Details]
	(2005)	'From Flowers to Palms: 40 years of policy for online learning' Smith, J. (2005) 'From Flowers to Palms: 40 years of policy for online learning'. Research in Learning Technology, 13 (2):93-108 [Details]
	(2005)	'It's not for lazy students like me' 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 [Details]
	(2002)	'Towards effective practitioner evaluation: An exploration of issues relating to skills, motivation and evidence' Harvey, J; Oliver, M; Smith, J. (2002) 'Towards effective practitioner evaluation: An exploration of issues relating to skills, motivation and evidence'. Educational Technology & Society, 5 (3):3-10 [Details]

Book Chapters

	Year	Publication
	(2016)	'Preface: Mapping the terrain of identity-work research' Smith, J; Rattray, J. (2016) 'Preface: Mapping the terrain of identity-work research' In: Identity-Work in the Contemporary University: Exploring an Uneasy Profession. Rotterdam: Sense. [Details]
	(2016)	'On the conduct of concern: exploring how university teachers recognise, engage in and perform ‘identity’ practices within academic workgroups' Peseta, T; Kligyte, G; Maclean, J; Smith, J. (2016) 'On the conduct of concern: exploring how university teachers recognise, engage in and perform ‘identity’ practices within academic workgroups' In: Identity-Work in the Contemporary University: Exploring an Uneasy Profession. Rotterdam: Sense. [Details]
	(2008)	'From playing to understanding: the transformative potential of discourse versus syntax in learning to program' 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. Rotterdam: Sense. [Details]
	(2006)	'A critique of the impact of policy and funding' Conole, G; Smith, J; White, S. (2006) 'A critique of the impact of policy and funding' In: Contemporary Perspectives in E-Learning Research: Themes, Methods, and Impact on Practice. London: RoutledgeFalmer. [Details]

Edited Books

	Year	Publication
	(2016)	Smith, J; Rattray, J; Peseta, T.L; Loads, D (Ed.). (2016) Identity-Work in the Contemporary University: Exploring an Uneasy Profession Rotterdam: Sense. [Details]
	(2008)	Land, R; Meyer, J.H.F; Smith, J (Ed.). (2008) Threshold Concepts within the Disciplines Rotterdam: Sense. [Details]

Conference Contributions

	Year	Publication
		Academic Identities Conference 2010, Smith, J. International conference exploring key concepts in academic identities from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Academic Identities Conference 2010, Glasgow . [Details]
		SEDA/SRHE Scholarship of Academic and Staff Development Conference 2003, Hall, J; Smith, J; Yorke, J. Practitioner Networks to Support Academic Development. [Oral Presentation], SEDA/SRHE Scholarship of Academic and Staff Development Conference 2003, Bristol . [Details]
		Academic Identities Conference 2012, Smith, J. International conference exploring key concepts in academic identities from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Academic Identities Conference 2012, Auckland . [Details]
		Academic Identities Conference 2016, Smith, J. International conference exploring key concepts in academic identities from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Academic Identities Conference 2016, Sydney . [Details]
		Academic Identities Conference 2018, Smith, J. International conference exploring key concepts in academic identities from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Academic Identities Conference 2018, Hiroshima . [Details]
		Threshold Concepts within the Disciplines 2006, Smith, J. International conference exploring Threshold Concepts in the curriculum. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Threshold Concepts within the Disciplines 2006, Glasgow . [Details]
		Threshold Concepts in Practice 2014, Smith, J. International conference exploring Threshold Concepts in practice. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Threshold Concepts in Practice 2014, Durham . [Details]
		Writing Development in Higher Education 2008, Smith, J. International conference for those supporting writing development activities in universities. [Conference Organising Committee Member], Writing Development in Higher Education 2008, Glasgow . [Details]
		Academic Identities Conference 2018: The Peaceful University, Smith, J; King, V; Clouder, L; Billot, J. Blurring the boundaries: academic staff as doctoral candidates. [Oral Presentation], Academic Identities Conference 2018: The Peaceful University, Hiroshima . [Details]
		Academic Identities Conference 2018: The Peaceful University, Bosanquet, A; Burford, J; Smith, J. Who cares? Gendered care-work and the limits of care at the “friendliest conference in the world”. Contribution to Symposium ‘A decade of dialogue: early deliberations from a cultural history of the Academic Identities conference’. [Invited Oral Presentation], Academic Identities Conference 2018: The Peaceful University, Hiroshima . [Details]
		The Purpose of the Future University Conference 2017, Smith, J. Exploring the values of academic life. Contribution to Symposium ‘A Dance with Ambiguities: Teaching in Unprecedented Times’. [Oral Presentation], The Purpose of the Future University Conference 2017, Aarhus University, Denmark . [Details]
		International Conference for Educational Development 2016, Smith, J. Managing ethical paradoxes in educational development. [Oral Presentation], International Conference for Educational Development 2016, Cape Town, South Africa . [Details]
		HERDSA 2016, Smith, J. Teaching excellence – what counts?. [Oral Presentation], HERDSA 2016, Fremantle, Australia . [Details]
		Academic Identities Conference 2016, Smith, J. The measured subjectivities of academic careers. [Oral Presentation], Academic Identities Conference 2016, Sydney, Australia . [Details]
		SRHE Annual Research Conference 2014, Smith, J. Empty signifiers: the march to ‘excellence in everything’. [Oral Presentation], SRHE Annual Research Conference 2014, Newport, Wales, UK . [Details]
		HECU 2014, Smith, J. The ethical challenge: changing constituencies, shaping future rules. [Oral Presentation], HECU 2014, Lancaster . [Details]
		Academic Identities Conference 2014, Smith, J. International conference exploring key concepts in academic identities from a range of disciplinary and methodological perspectives. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Academic Identities Conference 2014, Durham . [Details]
		SEDA Annual Conference 2003, Bostock, S; Bailey, P; Smith, J. Values in the ELT Programmes: Their Role and Assessment. [Oral Presentation], SEDA Annual Conference 2003, Birmingham . [Details]
		SEDA Spring Conference 2006, Smith, J. Lost in translation: Staff and students negotiating liminal spaces. [Oral Presentation], SEDA Spring Conference 2006, Liverpool . [Details]
		2nd Threshold Concepts Symposium 2008, Smith, J. I don't know yet... Exploring the liminal space of becoming academic. [Oral Presentation], 2nd Threshold Concepts Symposium 2008, Kingston, Ontario . [Details]
		SEDA Annual Conference 2009, Smith, J. Threshold concepts and disciplinary thinking: a useful tool for every context?. [Oral Presentation], SEDA Annual Conference 2009, Birmingham . [Details]
		ICED 2010, Smith, J. Investigating the role of teaching qualifications for probationary academics in the UK. [Oral Presentation], ICED 2010, Barcelona . [Details]
		SRHE Annual Research Conference 2010, Sinclair, C; Smith, J. Questioning the wisdom: students and staff looking backstage. [Oral Presentation], SRHE Annual Research Conference 2010, Newport, Wales, UK . [Details]
		SEDA Spring Conference 2013, Smith, J. What’s the point of probation?. [Oral Presentation], SEDA Spring Conference 2013, Leeds . [Details]
		SEDA Spring Conference 2014, Smith, J. Explorations in how learning, teaching and curriculum knowledge practices permeate the academic workgroup. [Oral Presentation], SEDA Spring Conference 2014, Newcastle . [Details]

Professional Associations

	Association	Function	From / To
	SEDA	Member	/
	Higher Education Academy	Senior Fellow	/

Committees

	Committee	Function	From / To
	SEDA Papers Committee	Member	/

Other Activities

	Description
	Deputy Editor, Innovations in Education and Training International https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/riie20/current

Employment

Employer	Position	From / To
University College London	PBL Co-ordinator	/
University of Strathclyde	Lecturer	/
Durham University	Lecturer	/

Honours and Awards

	Year	Title	Awarding Body
	2001	SRHE Newer Researcher Award	Society for Research in Higher Education

Teaching Interests

Professional development programmes for staff.

Modules Taught

Term/Year	Module Title	Module Code
1/2019-20	An Introduction to Teaching and Learning	CEL260
1/2019-20	Reflective Practice & Professional Development	CEL262
2/2019-20	Course Design, Assessment and Evaluation	CEL261
2/2019-20	Developing your Research Supervision	CEL6103
1-2/2019-20	Research Methods and Contemporary Issues in Higher Education	CEL274
2/2019-20	MA Dissertation	CEL275
1-2/2019-20	Learning and Teaching in Context	CEL266

External Collaborators

Name	Organisation / Institute	Country	Description of Collaboration
Dr Tai Peseta	Western Sydney University, Learning Transformations	AUSTRALIA	Cultural History of the Academic Identities Conference: A Decade of Dialogue
Dr Jeanette Fyffe & Dr James Burford	La Trobe University, RED Centre	AUSTRALIA	Cultural History of the Academic Identities Conference: A Decade of Dialogue
Prof. Catherine Manathunga	University of the Sunshine Coast	AUSTRALIA	Cultural History of the Academic Identities Conference: A Decade of Dialogue
Dr Agnes Bosanquet	Macquarie University	AUSTRALIA	Cultural History of the Academic Identities Conference: A Decade of Dialogue
Dr Machi Sato	Hiroshima University, Centre for Research in Higher Education	JAPAN	Cultural History of the Academic Identities Conference: A Decade of Dialogue
Prof. Lynn Clouder and Dr Virginia King	Coventry University, Centre for Global Learning: Education and Attainment	UNITED KINGDOM	Research project on dual-status academic staff.
Dr Jennie Billot	Auckland University of Technology, Researcher Development Centre	NEW ZEALAND	Research project on dual-status academic staff.