Mr David Wells
Head of Department
Teacher Education
Department of Teacher Education , School of Education and Communities
David Wells is the Head of Initial Teacher Education at UEL.
Areas Of Interest
- Gamification and the use of game dynamics to improve pupil motivation in non-digital secondary school classrooms
- ICT/ Computing curriculum change
- The impact of ICT and technology in enhancing learning
OVERVIEW
David was awarded a BA Hons in Business Studies at the Polytechnic of Wales (now University of Glamorgan) in 1992, before undertaking a PGCE in Business Education at Sheffield Hallam University in September 1992. David has taught in secondary schools since achieving qualified teacher status in 1993. He has held a variety of roles and taught a variety of subjects. His main subjects have always been ICT and Business Studies. From 1997 - 2010 he led the ICT and Business Studies Faculty in a large secondary school in West Essex. David took up his post here in the School of Education and Communities in September 2010.
David is also Deputy Editor for the School of Education and Communities' "Research in Teacher Education" journal.
CURRENT RESEARCH
David is currently studying for a Professional Doctorate in Education. The research area being explored is centred upon gamification and the use of game dynamics to improve pupil motivation in non-digital secondary school classrooms.
David's current research is exploring the impact of gamification pedagogies in English secondary schools. In particular, he is investigating how the dynamics of video games can be applied in a classroom where learning is not situated within a digital environment, in improving disaffected pupils' interest, engagement, challenge, motivation, learning and satisfaction.
PUBLICATIONS
- Book Review of: Fautley M, Savage J. (2010) Achieving QTS: Meeting the Professional Standards Framework: Secondary Education Reflective Reader, Exeter, Learning Matters 2010. Wells, D. 2011. Management in Education, January 2011 (25). 42.
- Book Review of: Fink D, (2010) The Succession Challenge - Building and Sustaining Leadership Capacity Through Succession Management, Sage Publications. Wells, D. 2011. Management in Education, July 2011 (25). 131-132.
- Computing in Schools: Time to move beyond ICT? Wells, D. 2012. Research in Secondary Teacher Education, Vol 2 (No.1). 8-13.
- Editorial: Wells, D. 2014. Research in Teacher Education, Vol 4 (No.2). 3-4.
- Embedding Information and Communication Technology across the curriculum – where are we at? Wells, D. 2014. Research in Teacher Education, Vol 4 (No.2). 11-16.
- 21st century creative pedagogy: its importance in teacher education. Wells, D. 2017. Info-Ted.
- Game-Based Learning in Schools: Trainee Teacher Perceptions on Implementing Gamified approaches. In Proceedings of the 11th European Conference on Games based Learning, Wells D. 2017.
- Pre-service teachers as agents of change in the new Computing curriculum. Wells, D. 2017. Info-Ted.
- Augmenting the learning experience in primary and secondary school education: a systematic review of recent trends in augmented reality game-based learning. Pellas N, Fotaris P, Kazanidis I, Wells D. 2018. Springer 23. 329 - 346.
TEACHING
BSc (Hons) Computer Science with Education and Qualified Teacher Status
This is a highly practical course which combines a thorough understanding of Computer Science with a carefully supervised programme of education theory and practice - involving regular stints in schools.
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PGCE Secondary Computing
This course leads to the award of Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) for the 11-to-16 age range, which qualifies you to be a teacher in secondary schools in England and Wales.
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Subject Knowledge Enhancement programmes
A Subject Knowledge Enhancement programme offers you the chance to prepare for teacher training by building up or refreshing your existing knowledge.
Find out how to build on or refresh your current teaching knowledge