Learning and Physical Challenges Education Program Forum
SC07 The International Conference for High Performance Computing
Christina Preston's Page
Profile
- Hometown:
- London, England
- About Me:
- Christina Preston advocates the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a catalyst for change in teaching and learning (www.mirandanet.ac.uk). She is the Founder and Chair of the international MirandaNet Fellowship established in 1992. The MirandaNet Fellowship was established in response to a need expressed amongst teachers for a supportive community of peers who would mentor each other in the exploration of ICT potential in teaching and learning (www.mirandanet.ac.uk). The vision which is revisited by the members each year is below :
The MirandaNet Fellowship strives to span national, cultural, commercial and political divides to provide an innovative and inclusive forum for professionals. Fellows who share their experience and expertise are building a professional knowledge base about the use of digital technologies in transforming teaching and learning. Interaction between educators, researchers, industry and government is at the heart of the learning processes that underpin and support good practice. Individual learning patterns and talents are celebrated through practice-based research strategies, peer e-mentoring and collaborative knowledge-building. Dissemination and publication are central to the Fellowship process (www.mirandanet.ac.uk/fellowship/vision.htm).
Each day more than one thousand six hundred educators make page requests for materials provided by Fellows. There are now about two hundred and fifty Fellows in twenty five chapters all over the world and about three hundred scholars. Scholars become Fellows when they publish a case study about their ICT work.
Recent research and development projects have focused on innovative models for ICT and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) based on practice-based research (action research) and building international web-based communities of practice. Exchanges in citizenship and ICT leadership are currently taking place between China, The Czech Republic, Mexico, South Africa and the United States.
One recent venture is the MirandaNet e-journal written by teachers for teachers. The MirandaNet e-journal pilot was designed to provide practising teachers with a professional platform where they can publish their evidence and create a knowledge base. This e-journal that is peer reviewed has been popular with teachers on practice-based courses and is a significant factor in raising the standards of course work (www.mirandanet.ac.uk/ejournal). A second is World ECitizens, a charity which has been established by the Fellows to provide a web-space where young learners can map the world they dream about. The project is called Etopia - mapping the world WE want (www.worldecitizens.net). World Ecitizens (WE) has a website for children’s publications - a response to global upheavals caused by the War on Terror. It aims to encourage understanding between people’s cultures and communities and to share across the world the fascinating diversity within nations. (www.worldecitizens.net).
MirandaNet Fellowship partners include BECTA, the TDA, the DfES and the EU, as well as international universities. Partner companies who support ICT projects in schools include 2Simple, Inspiration, Microsoft, Toshiba, Oracle and Promethean.
Christina Preston holds honorary Fellowships at the Institute of Education, University of London, Bath Spa University, Canterbury Christ Church University and the Czech Technical University, Prague. Professional memberships include the British Computer Society, the Society of Authors, the National Association of Advisers in Computers and Education (NAACE) and Information Technology Teachers in Education (ITTE). She is also Chair of the World Ecitizens organisation and an adviser to the UnnayanNet organisation for unity in Bangladesh and is on the judging panel of BETT education awards. Christina Preston is also managing director of MirandaNet Ltd, an international education and ICT consultancy service which includes practising teachers.
Awards
Trnkova Medal from the Czech Technical University Prague for support in building democratic strategies for ICT teacher education (2002 - Prague)
Humanitarian Award from the World Academic Council for the enrichment of community opportunities for Bulgarian teachers and women returnees by creating Anglo-Bulgarian exchange opportunities face-to-face and online (2000 - Paris)
European Union of Women Humanitarian Achievement Award for creating an Anglo-Czech online alliance working on democratic participation (1998 - London) www.mirandanet.ac.uk/fellowship/tina_cv.htm
Main professional and research interests
Building e-communities of practice as a means of ICT Continuing Professional Development
Innovative models for Continuing Professional Development in digital technologies
Research and practice in the use of IWBs and interactive technologies like blogs, wikis, forums etc.
International citizenship between schools and communities
Evaluation of International Projects
Industry and Education Partnership
Publications
Christina keeps up with emergent trends in digital education as a reviewer for the journals Education Technology, Pedagogy and Education (Triangle), Computers and Education (Elsevier), Educational Action Research (MMU) and a new journal for teachers undergoing academic studies, Reflecting Education (IOE, London). A full list of published research reports, journal papers, book chapters and article for the international press can be supplied as well as a list of international keynotes, conference and seminar papers
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