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Phil Spencer

Phil Spencer BSc, MSc, PGCE, PgCert

Senior Lecturer, Course Leader, PGCE ICT/Computing


Summary

As course leader, I am responsible for the design and delivery of the PGCE ICT course (currently) and the new PGCE Computer Science course. I am also responsible for the support of the students on the course, observations, mentor support and guidance as well as recruitment to the course.

I am also a tutor for GPS and currently active within CPD for qualified teachers.

About

I have worked at Sheffield Hallam university as course leader since 2007 and prior to this was a teacher and Head of Department at Yewlands school in Sheffield where, amongst various roles, I acted as mentor for Sheffield Hallam Students who were on the PGCE course.

I have also worked as a subject mentor for ICT on the Teach First route and acted as a mentor for trainees on the Graduate Teacher Programme.

Recent developments in computer/ICT education has meant that there has been a switch from ICT towards computing from next academic year(2013). Consequently, I am currently working on the development of the new PGCE Computing course. I am also currently working on a pilot PgCert course aimed at supporting current ICT teachers who are looking at delivering computer science courses at the moment.

I work closely with the Computer Science department providing support for teachers and schools via outreach work and am the lead for the South Yorkshire Hub for Computing at Schools. Our work in this area also means that we are recognised as the local centre for the Network of Excellence which links the University with schools to help support the provision of computer science in the area.

Like most teachers, I am passionate about my subject area. However, my particular focus is in the pedagogy of the delivery of computer science in schools and also, the role of relationships and behaviour management in motivating students to achieve and exceed their potential within education.

Teaching

Department of Teacher Education

College of Social Sciences and Arts

Publications

Conference papers

Adshead, D., Boisvert, C., Love, D., & Spencer, P. (2015). Changing culture : educating the next computer scientists. ACM Proceedings - Annual Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education, 33-38. http://doi.org/10.1145/2729094.2742610

Other activities

Member of the British Computer Society
Chair, South Yorkshire Hub, Computing at School and Network of Excellence.

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