Overview

The members of the Psychology Learning and Teaching Group (PLATRG), co-ordinated by Professor Christine Dancey, carry out research and scholarly activity in the area of teaching and learning in Higher Education. Members of PLATRG have undertaken several projects funded by the Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF). The first major project PLATRG embarked upon was to develop a strategy aimed at creating a pedagogical research infrastructure that could benefit our students and staff in the long term and ensure a legacy of learning and teaching enhancement in the school of psychology. The strategy led to two major development projects for the school: the creation of a learning and teaching research lab, and the design and implementation of a pedagogical research database. We want our research into Learning and Teaching to have practical applications: to improve our students’ performance and make the learning experience more enjoyable. The group includes staff who are interested in using new technologies such as Second Life and Virtual Learning Environments (e.g., Christine Dancey, Joy Coogan, Chris Pawson and colleagues), the effects of drinking water in exams on students’ performance (Caroline Edmonds and Chris Pawson); students’ expectations and experiences of HE (Pippa Dell) and research into the student experience (Anna Stone and Elizabeth Attree).

Current Projects

    In 2009/10, PLATRG were pleased to welcome the new vice-chancellor to a lunchtime meeting to present their research and discuss future projects.

• Rachel Mulvey and Christine Dancey are developing and evaluating an online game designed to improve student employability.
• Elizabeth Attree, Christine Dancey and Chris Pawson are exploring the impact of Second life on students engagement and achievement.
• Pippa Dell and Winston Morgan received LEO funding for two projects exploring BME attainment/academic integrity/student expectations.
• Ian Wells has been evaluating the use of pod- and vod-casting lectures on student engagement and achievement.
• Anna Stone and Liz Attree are investigating the factors that predict student engagement at undergraduate level.
• Caroline Edmonds and Chris Pawson were awarded RAE funding and have conducted two studies exploring the effect of hydration on students’ exam performance.
• Joy Coogan and Chris Pawson have conducted an evaluation of a Second Life/Twitter/mentoring initiative at level zero.    

Recent Publication

Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., Painter, J., Arroll, M., Pawson, C., & McLean, G. (under review). Real benefits of a Second Life: development and evaluation of a virtual psychology conference centre and tutorial rooms. Psychology Learning and Teaching Review.

Edmonds, C.J. (in press). Does having a drink of water help children think? A summary of some recent findings. School Health.

Dancey, C.P., Attree, E.A., & McLean, G. (2010). Second Life Conferencing for students. HEA Psychology. Learning and Teaching Conference, 2010.

Dell, P., Burton, E., & Ram du Sautoy, S. (2010). Investigating Psychology Students Engagement and Achievement. Presentation at the UEL Learning and Teaching Conference, 2010.

Coogan, J., & Pawson, C.J. (2009). The use of debating as an aid to effective widening participation in psychology. Psychology Learning and Teaching, 7(1), 23–27.

Edmonds, C.J., & Jeffes, B. (2009). Does having a drink help you think? 6–7-year-old children show improvements in cognitive performance from baseline to test after having a drink of water. Appetite, 53, 469–472. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2009.10.002

Edmonds, C.J., & Burford, D. (2009). Should children drink more water? The effects of drinking water on cognition in children. Appetite, 52, 776–779. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2009.02.010

Pawson, C.J., & Cherniavsky, K.I. (2009). Weapons of mass deception: an active learning demonstration of attitudes, persuasion and the value of critical thinking skills. Psychology Teaching Review, 15(2), 62–73.

Group Members

• Elizabeth Attree
• Esme Burton
• Joy Coogan
• Dr Pippa Dell
• Dr Lara Frumkin
• Dr Rachel George
• Chris Pawson (Group Co-ordinator)
• Professor John Radford
• Dr Anna Stone
• Ian Wells