About Me
Hi, I’m Colette, thank you for looking at my website… so here is my story so far…
In 2008 I was working as a receptionist in a local hotel in St Anne's On-Sea, I gave birth to a beautiful little girl, I remember thinking …this small bundle of joy is going to depend on me for the rest of my life. I was not the brightest at school, I left with poor GCSE grades but regardless of my past, I still applied to Blackpool and The Fylde College, hoping that it would mark a first step on my career ladder in teaching. I decided that I would enrol on a Computing course, being an adult student, I was worried I wouldn’t fit in, however, I was pleasantly surprised as the course was for only people over 19.
Research Interests
Technology Enhanced Learning | Students-as-producers / The 5C's 21st Century Skills
PhD E-Research & Technology Enhanced Learning
I am keen to disseminate this research in order to create a ritualized community of practice and build a professional social community.
I successfully completed my level 3 qualification and progressed onto the Interactive Media development degree that was offered as a path for progression. The course beyond challenged me but only further confirmed that I wanted to pursue a career in Interactive Media Development. Throughout my time on my courses, the tutors were helpful to me; I began to see them more as friends than just tutors and knew that this was the department that I wanted to have a career in.
In 2016 I achieved the status of HEA Fellow for my evidence and reflection of work in higher education
This recognition gave me motivation to push myself and I decided to apply for a Master’s in Technology Enhanced Learning with Huddersfield University. This course was great for me as I was working fulltime and I only had to attend four taught sessions per year, these sessions were delivered on a Saturday making it alit more flexible for me to learn.
After achieving my MSc. I secured a Senior Tutor for Teaching and Learning position in Computing at Blackpool and the Fylde College. This has inspired me to sign up to a new challenge, I am now studying towards a PhD in E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning with Lancaster University.
Awards & Accolades
These are some awards and accolades that I have achieved, on my academic journey so far...
Teaching Excellence Award (2020)
Microsoft Innovative Educator Trainer
Microsoft Innovative Educator
Collaborative Framework - 5Cs 21st Century Skills (2020)
EBI Award Outstanding use of IT and/or Technology (2019)
Excellence in Learning and Teaching (2018)
Presenter: EDULEARN (Spain) (2019) 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies Palma, Spain. 1-3 July, 2019. ISBN: 978-84-09-12031-4 / ISSN: 2340-1117 doi: 10.21125/edulearn.2019 Publisher: IATED
Timeline
- Act as mentor for new teachers in the area of teaching and learning.
- Contribute to staff development within the School in teaching and learning.
- To disseminate good practice.
- Develop and use a range of teaching and learning techniques.
- Maintain and improve the quality of the School’s work within the and improve the quality of the School’s work within the College’s policies and procedures relating to teaching and learning.
- The delivery and management of Student Learning within the curriculum area.
- Carry out teaching observations and give appropriate feedback.
- Participate in internal audits/inspections of teaching and learning.
- Support the development of Equal Opportunities within teaching and learning.
- Work collaboratively across the college.
- Assist with the annual School self-assessment exercise in order to monitor and evaluate School performance.
- Work collaboratively across the college.
- Assist with monitoring student recruitment, retention and achievement and take remedial action where necessary.
Working closely with the relative module leaders and the course tutors, I am responsible responding to feedback from students, external examiners, Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRBs) and industry. I am required to ensure student representatives are allocated to the programme board, and that all students have access to a personal tutor. I have good communication with colleagues across the university and collaborative partners, and with external bodies.
Further to this I was invited to attend the Education Technology Development Group which looks to connect new ideas and technology and identify the most effective and efficient methods of including these in everyday teaching practice. Working as part of Blackpool and The Fylde Colleges’ technology team is a great opportunity and will allow collaboration of research projects with professionals in other departments. More recently my scholarly research has been published internally at Blackpool and The Fylde College in the scholarship review 2016; this research has additionally been submitted to the Research in Learning Technology for consideration for publication.
As a HE/ FE lecturer I pursue my own research to contribute to the wider research activities of my department. My aim is to have my scholarship published externally in books or scholarly articles. My academic practice and scholarly research (which typically investigates using technology to improve the student experience) has included contributing to a variety of Blackpool and The Fylde College conferences. At the Second Annual Learning and Teaching Conference in 2015 (Scholarship Informed Teaching and Learning) I presented a workshop that demonstrated good practice in using collaborative environments to enhance student participation. Additionally I contributed to Blackpool and The Fylde Colleges’ Third Annual Learning and Teaching Conference (Technology Enabled and Enhanced Learning) where I presented my research into pedagogies that can assist technology enhanced learning.
The programme in E-Research and Technology Enhanced Learning builds on the expertise of the members of the Centre for Technology Enhanced Learning in the Department of Educational Research and their long experience in running Masters Degrees in advanced learning technologies and networked e-learning.
Media
- All
- HEA
- EBI
- Video
Recommendations
Jordan Randles
Colette was Jordan's teacher
I have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Colette for the past four years throughout my education at B&FC. she is an incredibly approachable, friendly and understanding person who is always available to listen and offer help and advice. Colette is a hard working, dedicated educator with a passion to understand how different people learn and adapt a teaching style to suit them. I personally appreciate the amount of effort Colette puts into her work as it has helped me understand how to learn and adapt to different situations. I wouldn't know where to begin explaining how much Colette has helped me build my knowledge and confidence throughout the time I've known her. She has always encouraged me to stretch my understanding of how the web works and thanks to her persistence in me, I now confidently work in the web industry as a front end web developer. Colette is an incredible person and an amazing friend. I wouldn't be where I am without her.
Declan Tate
Colette was Declan's teacher
Colette has been an extremely helpful tutor during my 3 years at university. During my honours agree, it was obvious that Colette was the right person to choose as my dissertation supervisor due to her extensive knowledge of my chosen topic of content management systems. The feedback and assistance provided by Colette during my dissertation helped make the process a lot easier and clearer, especially in the difficult areas such as my academic writing struggles. I cannot stress enough how engaging and informative Colette makes her classes.
Terrie Carmody
Colette was Terrie's teacher
I met Colette during my final year of study for my foundation degree in network engineering, Colette was my subject lecturer for project management. This was a tough class but Colette always went the extra mile to ensure we thoroughly understood the subject, she tailored classes to suit our individual learning styles to ensure we got the most out of the lessons. Fast forward a year and Colette has been my rock throughout my dissertation, she has constantly supported me and given advise and guidance no matter how silly the question or how overwhelmed I was about the task in hand. She has instilled confidence in me from the very beginning and has become a role model to whom I look up to. Thanks for everything Colette!!
Antony Gray
Colette was Antony's teacher
Through my time at Blackpool and The Fylde College, Colette has been a great inspiration to my learning and has helped me to engage with the subject that has improved my academic grade. Colette is extremely informative and explains the subject in various ways to suit others learning styles. Colette makes the time for everyone she teaches and that makes her very approachable.
Anthony Parkinson
Colette was Anthony's teacher
Colette is a fantastic tutor who is intelligent, enthusiastic and has a warmth that enables me to approach her for help whenever I need it. Starting my Foundation Degree was a huge undertaking and initially, I didn't think I was capable. I went to Colette and she assured me that she would help with anything that was troubling me. This has made my time at university enjoyable as I know that Colette will always be there to help in any way she can. The teaching methods Colette employs enable me to digest and take in what she is teaching. Colette makes learning fun and I have enjoyed her sessions on coding. Her teaching methods are also very flexible because if something isn't working, she switches it up very quickly which makes for a fresh and interesting learning experience. I hold Colette in high esteem as a tutor and I don't think I would still be studying were it not for her.
Fox Redman
Colette was Fox's teacher
Colette is one of my favourite teachers I have been taught by, I have known her for around two years and since then I have never had a bad thought about her. She is talented and smart and she delivers lessons to an excellent standard. She has that approachable trait to her which is brilliant where she can offer advice and evaluate what needs to be done to improve, whilst also having a smile. She has shown true hard work by teaching an entirely new unit without knowing the subject fully, and she delivered this to a better extent than most teacher's I have had in the past. Colette guided me throughout this unit and got me an A grade. To do that shows that Colette can be chucked into the deep end and still excel.
Rob Sims
Colette was Rob's mentor
I have worked with Colette for a while now within the Computing department at Blackpool and the Fylde College, most recently with Colette as my mentor in developing my teaching and pedagogy while I have undertaken my PGCE training. Colette's enthusiasm and passion for teaching shines like a beacon in what can often be an oppressive profession and serves to elevate the whole department. Dedication to student achievement and excellence is continuously demonstrated by Colette with meaningful and heartfelt interactions that ensure every (and I mean every) student has a fulfilling and worthwhile experience. Personally, Colette has been an outstanding mentor, always willing to offer advice when needed, let me find my own way when appropriate or letting me assume responsibility which showcases Colette's excellent interpersonal skills. Exemplary pedagogy and teaching theory underpins all of Colette's teaching which has certainly assisted me this year in my training while I have been observing and been guided by Colette. Should Colette ever seek to move to a new organisation, they would be very fortunate to have such an excellent teacher and academic on their rolls.
Frazer Wilson
Colette was Frazer's teacher
Colette is an exceptional tutor / teacher, she really helped me come to grips with the basics of web design and made it fun whilst doing it! One of the most down to earth, honest and caring tutors out there.
Hollie O'Reilly
Colette was Hollie's teacher
All of the tutors that delivered the Interactive Media Development degree were amazing but Colette really stands to me as a tutor that was really personable, inspiring and supportive. Every session that Colette delivered was made so enjoyable and so interesting and I think this was due to how well each session was prepared and structured. Colette was my dissertation supervisor and really motivated me, from choosing a topic that I found interesting to helping me overcome each hurdle along the way. It's so refreshing to enrol onto a course where tutors are personable and talk to students on their level. Colette is no exception and her friendly personality made approaching her for advice really easy. Colette inspired me to attend events that my confidence would have usually haltered me from doing. I honestly believe that the successful completion of my dissertation is mostly down to the guidance and support offered by this amazing tutor. Thank you so much for everything Colette and good luck with your doctorate!
Donna Cheltenham
Colette was Donna's teacher
Colette is a dedicated tutor who clearly enjoys teaching and inspiring students with her unique teaching style. When studying a computing degree, lessons can become dull and repetitive, however, Colette's lessons over the past three years have consistently been engaging and enjoyable. Colette learns from the students how they feel the lessons went, tries new approaches, and adapts to keep students interested and on task ensuring that every student takes part by inserting fun group tasks, discussions, debates, games, and presentations into her lessons. Whilst all the tutors have been great, Colette has constantly pushed me to leave my comfort zone and believe in myself, lifting my confidence and inspiring me to try new things such as presenting my research at a conference, this is something that I would never have done without her support and encouragement. I am looking forward to returning to Blackpool and the Fylde College next year to complete my PGCE training with Colette as my mentor.
David Seddon
David works with Colette
Having worked with Colette for several years I have found her to be a very enthusiastic and passionate lecturer. Colette always provides her students with a high level of support and is specialised in enhanced learning technology. She always puts 100% into anything she undertakes ensuring students get the best experience possible.
Luke Brockbank
Colette was Luke's Teacher
I had the absolute pleasure of achieving my First Class Honours Degree with the tutelage of Colette, who constantly proved her extensive knowledge of pedagogy practices and web design. Apart from Colette's vast knowledge of these fields, one of the key aspects that draw people to her is her amazing personality, a truly motivating and inspiring person, consistently driving people to meet their full potential. Any team would be privileged to have Colette as a member.
Josh Soer
Colette was Josh's teacher.
Throughout my three years studying at Blackpool and the Fylde College, Colette was always very supportive and was a huge factor to the reason I was able to achieve a 1st class honours degree. Colette's teaching style would encourage me to think outside the box with both written and practical work ensuring I was able to improve on myself module after module year on year. Thanks again Colette, all the best for the future!
Kyle Minto
Colette was Kyle mentor
I was taught by Colette at Blackpool and the Fylde College over the course of five years where I achieved an honors degree and eventually obtain my dream job as a web developer for a successful company. Her teaching style encouraged all students to partake in all lessons to further aid our understanding of the subject and she always made a huge effort to keep lessons interesting throughout the course. Colette was also my personal tutor for my dissertation and she always pushed me to ensure I achieved my best. I appreciate all of the work you did for us students Colette!
Thomas Wilson
Colette was Thomas's mentor
I have the great privilege of being taught and working with Colette for almost five years now at Blackpool and the Fylde College. In which I was able to achieve my Honours degree, an achievement I would not have been able to achieve if not for Colette. Colette's enthusiasm towards teaching helps drives students to get the best grade that they possibly can. Her teaching style allows her to pass on her knowledge and helps students learn in different ways by looking at tasks and problems in new ways. Colette is one of the main reasons that I started my PGCE and I look forward to working with her more in the future.
Contact Us
Lytham St Annes
cmaz@blackpool.ac.uk
01253 504453