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Dr Robert Baker

Dr Robert Baker Dr.Rob Baker EdD, MSc, BSc(Hons), PgCET&LHE, PgCE(P-16), FHEA, MRi, MCP, MCDST, MILT(past), MIfL(past)


Summary

On personal philosophy: Docendo discimus, (Latin "by teaching, we learn"). Seneca the Younger (c 4 BC – 65 AD) back On tactics: To attempt to change understanding in the most interesting ways possible. On inspirational teaching: A lecturer once demonstrated to us Newton's Third Law of Motion ("every action has an equal and opposite reaction") by entering the lecture theatre prostrate on a trolley firing off a CO2 fire extinguisher. How can I ever forget that deep learning experience? I remember well another inspirational teacher; he once said to me: "Baker, if you pass your ‘A’ level Chemistry, little pink pigs might fly…."

Miscellany (the ‘not much known’)            

In 1970, at the Mill Hill Observatory of University College London, I handled some of the first samples of moon rock brought back by the Apollo 11 astronauts.

Played junior club rugby 1970-1975, Club Press Secretary 1975-1983.

Currently restoring a 1967 Triumph Spitfire mark III classic car.

Hobbies: astronomy and cosmology (but from a warm armchair!).

Heroes: my wife, Carole, daughter Alexis, son Adam.  James Clerk Maxwell, Mark Granovetter; John Dewey. Brandon Flowers, Jonny Wilkinson, Sir Isaac Newton,

Favourite food: anything Italian.

What do I know for certain?  Two things.  One: challenge every thing, de omnibus dubitandum est (‘of every thing doubtful be’).  Two: the second law of thermodynamics, entropy tends to a maximum.

 

About

Qualifications

  • 2015: Post Graduate Certificate in Education, Learning and Teaching, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
  • 2012: Doctorate of Education, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
  • 2005: Microsoft Certified Professional, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
  • 2000: MSc Operations Research for Management, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
  • 1997: BSc Computing Science, Astronomy and Mathematics, The Open University, United Kingdom
  • Post Graduate Certificate, Learning and Teaching Post 16,

Member of professional body

Other

  • 2014: Member of The Royal Institution of Great Britain, The Royal Institution, United Kingdom

UG External Examiner

Subject

  • 2018: , Swansea University, United Kingdom
  • 2016 to 2019: , University of Wales Trinity Saint David, United Kingdom

Teaching expertise

  • Previous job roles, positions held and responsibilities

Research

  • The deployment of theatrical devices in teaching.

Teaching

Department of Finance, Accounting and Business Systems

Sheffield Business School

Business Operations and Systems

Publications

Journal articles

Baker, R.P. (2012). Contexts of cultural capital in collaborative practice in further education. .

Taylor, C., Downs, Y., Baker, R., & Chikwa, G. (2011). ‘I did it my way’: voice, visuality and identity in doctoral students' reflexive videonarratives on their doctoral research journeys. International Journal of Research & Method in Education, 34 (2), 193-210. http://doi.org/10.1080/1743727X.2011.578818

Presentations

Baker, R., & Clarke, J. (2018). One world, infinite knowledge: Tactics for teaching in a global context. Presented at: Higher Education Academy (HEA) Conference, Birmingham, 2018

Baker, R. (2017). Exciting the Learner’s Intrinsic Motivation: Gamification and Theatre in HE Business Teaching. Presented at: Chengdu University's International Week, Sichuan, China. October

Baker, R., & Revill, J. (2017). 'Quants' in the 'Quants'. Improving the numbers: Attacking success rates with numeracy interventions, attendance monitoring and media support resources in a large cohort level 4 module. Presented at: SHU LTA, Sheffield Hallam University

Revill, J., & Baker, R. (2017). Attacking success rates with numeracy interventions, attendance monitoring and media support. Presented at: EDiNEB Coneference, Utrecht Netherlands

Baker, R., & Woolliscroft, T. (2016). Smoke, Suspense, and Scheherazade – Using Theatrical Devices to Engage the Student. Presented at: Conference, 2016

Revill, J., & Baker, R. (2015). Do Screencasts Really Work? A Study of Their Effect in the Teaching of Quantitative Methods. Presented at: British Educational Studies Association (BESA) Conference, Cardiff

Revill, J., & Baker, R. (2015). The role of data analytics in the assessment process: its use in moderation, teaching and prediction. Presented at: EDINEB Conference

Baker, R. (2013). Knowledge and Knowing: a Celebration Discourse.

Baker, R. (2012). Contexts of cultural capital in collaborative practice in Further Education.” Ed.D. thesis: "Contexts of cultural capital in collaborative practice in Further Education." Pu "Smoke, suspense, and Scheherazade: reflections on an HE delivery model based on the detective story.

Baker, R. (2011). What went right? Reflections on a successful collaborative partnership.

Baker, R. (2009). The Ed.D. Journey: A first class ticket: stations, stopovers and sidings. Presented at: Faculty Research Conference, Faculty of Development and Society, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield

Posters

Baker, R., & Revill, J. (2017). 'Quants' in the 'Quants'. Improving the numbers:Attacking success rates with numeracy interventions, attendance monitoring and media support resources in a large cohort level 4 HE module. Presented at: Chartered ABS LTSE

Other publications

Baker, R. (2018). Chengdu Conference. Sichuan

Baker, R. (2017). It's good to talk" - a 'life-wide learning' experiment in dialogic pedagogy in HE Business Studies skills teaching: a call for help, ideas and collaboration. Chartered Association of Business Schools Conference (CABS)

Baker, R. (2017). One degree, many paths. Mansfield

Baker, R. (2016). Smoke, suspense, and Scheherazade: Using theatrical devices to enhance student engagement. A joint tutor-student research project. Chartered Association of Business Schools Conference (CABS)

Baker, R. (2015). Homo Artificivm: evolution of the species? Exploring the composition. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University Teaching Conference

Baker, R. (2015). The Ed.D Journey: A first class ticket: stations. Sheffield: Sheffield Hallam University Teaching Conference

Baker, R. (2009). Homo Artificivm: evolution of the species? Exploring the composition, deployment and impact of cultural capital of FE lecturers.

Baker, R. (2008). Captured hearts or hardened arteries? Problematising professionalism and the cultivation of communities of practice in the ‘forgotten sector’.

Baker, R. (2004). Educational communities of practice: a limited shelf-life?

Other activities

Award

  • 2017: The Dean's Award 2017 for Teaching Excellence, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom

Honour

  • 2017: Nominee: The 2017 Times Higher “Most Innovative Teacher of the Year Award”, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom

Research funding or grant

  • 2017: Pedagogic Innovation Fund, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
  • 2016: Dialogic Teaching: an experiment in Business Studies teaching, Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom
  • 2014: SBS Pedagogic Innovation Fund, Sheffield Business School, United Kingdom

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