Background
More years ago than I care to remember I joined the UKAEA as a junior scientist. I was awarded a bursary to read Physics at Bristol University and on graduation I returned to the UKAEA and worked on the measurement of environmental radiation using thermoluminescence.
I developed an interest in computing and moved into the area of personal radiation dosimetry, writing software to control instrumentation.
I became interested in software development and involved in projects creating databases and expert systems in the field of radiation dosimetry, with a particular interest in software for criticality accident dosimetry.
I started teaching as a hobby (!) at Abingdon College and, after 25 years, during which time my part of UKAEA had become the privatised AEA Technology, I decided to move to a second career as a teacher.
I spent three years teaching in Further Education at Abingdon and Witney College, who kindly sponsored me for my PGCE in Post-Compulsory Education at Oxford Brookes Westminster Institute of Education.
I joined IT Services (formerly Oxford University Computing Services ) of the University of Oxford in September 2003. In 2006 I gained an MSc in Computer Science through Liverpool University. Until December 2019 I was Head of the IT Learning Centre in IT Services' Customer Services group. The Centre delivers Digital Skills workshops and courses, Instructional Design services and Learning Events support.
I am now at a time in my life when I can focus on my family and my personal interests. However, I maintain a link with the IT Learning Centre as a Sessional Teacher, delivering courses and workshops on Presentation Design and Delivery, Academic Poster Design, and Programming Concepts. I can sometimes be persuaded to provide guiadance and workshops on these topics to other interested parties ;-)
Skills
Along the way, I have picked up the following skills:
- Programming in a number of languages including: Fortran, Pascal, Visual Basic, C, Java;
- Database design and implementation;
- Web design, primarily using Dreamweaver;
- Quality Assurance experience in project auditing, including the auditing of software quality under the TickIT scheme;
- Teaching practical and academic computer related subjects at all levels;
- Graphic design (e.g. academic posters, book layout and marketing);
- Learning space design (classrooms to the traditionalists out there!).
Interests
I enjoy digital photography, cycling and walking, particularly walking along coastlines. My favourite coastlines are North Devon (my home county), Cornwall and Iceland. My most adventurous walk of all time was along the south rim of the Grand Canyon. As for cycle routes, the most relaxing was exploring the chateaux of the Loire Valley, the most enjoyable was Graz to Budapest, through Slovenia, the wettest was Prague to Meissen and the hottest was in Catalunya!
I am married to Angela, and we have two sons James and Edward.