Tell us a little about yourself
I have taught at the university for over 20 years now. I joined the university as I wanted to help develop students’ skills, knowledge, and capabilities over a three-year period rather than one to three weeks.
I enjoy seeing students grow into independent practitioners who strive to make a change in their worlds to help other people and /or the environment. I enjoy being part of a staff team that are both critical of existing practice whilst being creative to make to make contemporary changes.
What’s your industry background
I worked in both Field studies and outdoor educational centres for 8 years, in the UK and USA. I have also run my own landscaping business. My transition to academic was a logic progression to share my practice whilst allowing myself to stand back and think about what I was doing and evaluate what I now should be doing.
Can you tell us about your research?
My research has looked at how effective our teaching on the course has been over the last 20 years. I have interviewed many past students who are working in so many outdoor and environmental roles.
The students can both recount learning experiences very vividly and apply the ideas they explored during the courses to new scenarios and workplaces. It is great to see that the principles of the course lives on through the future practice of our students.
What might surprise people to learn about you?
I commute to work on my bike. I do so to keep fit, reduce my footprint and to have fun. I am now on my fourth lap around the world in terms of commuting distance. Read more here!
What modules do you teach?
My current favourite module to teach is Exploring Coastal Environments. The students learn the skills to plan and undertake an expedition along the UK coast using sea kayaks.
Whilst they paddle along the coast, the students choose what they are inspired to learn about in and for the environment. This module epitomises how learning and adventures are synonymous. This is a module where I am a student too and every year, I learn more. It is a great privilege to join the students’ learning journeys.
What’s your favourite thing about teaching at Cumbria?
The flexibility to help students determine their own learning journey and to get to know students as individuals not just numbers.
What makes your course different?
The outdoor courses have many unique features. We are lucky to have such a fantastic environment full of different opportunities on our doorstep in Cumbria.
We are lucky to be able to teach in an experiential and emergent way that opens many possibilities for a diversity of learners. We are lucky that our students rise to the challenges we set them to be creative and independent learners. We learn from many great residentials both in the UK and mainland Europe.
What advice would you give to students considering studying on this course?
I would ask the student to consider what they want to learn about the outdoors and the environment? I would ask them how would you like to learn? I would ask the student; do you think your aspirations meet our vision of how and what students learn at the university of Cumbria? Do you have empathy for why we teach and learn about the outdoors?
If the answers are positive, perhaps, we are the course for you.