Lecturer International Initial Teacher Training
I am a Lecturer in International Initial Teacher Training (IITT) in the School of Education.
I completed a PGCE in Post Compulsory Education and Training and professional doctorate at University of Sunderland.
Prior to this, I worked for the University of Sunderland for over 20 years in various roles, including lecturer on MA Education (DL) and MA International Education (DL).
Teaching and supervision
- PGCE iQTS (DL) lecturer and module leader for EDPM01
- MA Education (DL) module leader EPDM95
- Dissertation Supervisor for MA Education
- Supervisor for Professional Doctorate students
- Assessment Innovation Champion for School of Education
- Vice Chancellor Award for research into student support systems
Research interests for potential research students
Research
My research interests include support mechanisms for distance learning students. I am currently working collaboratively on a paper exploring support mechanisms for students. I also have an interest in insider research and the impact of communication in the working environment.
My professional doctorate was titled Collapsing Hierarchies and Dissolving Dichotomies in Higher Education through Subject Specific Communities of Practice. The research examined the working relationships between academic and administrative staff in a Higher Education Institution (HEI) in England. There have been numerous changes within HEIs, including the rise of neo-liberalist philosophy which has brought about high levels of surveillance and top-down bureaucratic approaches to quality improvement. The findings demonstrated that the rationale behind administrative and academic staff operating in two separate silos is not only questionable, but also limiting in opening up collaborative and cooperative opportunities for improved productivity. The research concludes that subject communities of practice possess the potential to dissolve dichotomies and collapse hierarchies between the academic and administrative staff.
I have also been awarded the Vice Chancellor Teaching Fellowship award with two colleagues to conduct research surrounding student support.
Publications
Conference or Workshop Item
Bell, Deborah and Ross, Dionne (2023) Distance not Distant - Supporting and Caring for Independent Distance Learning Trainee Teachers. In: CRE Research Seminar, 22/3/23, University of Sunderland. (Unpublished)
Bell, Deborah (2023) A Comparison of Insider Research experiences and Insider Research Literature. In: INTED 2023, 6-8 March 2023, Valencia, Spain. (Unpublished)
Bell, Deborah (2022) THE CHALLENGES AND BENEFITS OF INSIDER RESEARCH WITHIN A PROFESSIONAL DOCTORAL STUDY – AN EXPLORATION OF EXPERIENCE AND REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE. In: Edulearn 2022, July 2022, Palma. (Unpublished)
Bell, Deborah and Ross, Dionne (2022) Distance not Distant: Experience of Support Mechanisms for Independent Distance Learning Students. In: Edulearn 2022, July 2022, Palma. (Unpublished)
Bell, Deborah (2021) The Challenges and Benefits of Insider Research within a Professional Doctoral Study. In: BERA 2021, 13-16 Sep 2021, Online. (Unpublished)
Ross, Dionne, Elliott, Ian, Hidson, Elizabeth, Griffiths, Alison, Sheard, Simon, Bell, Jemma, Wynn, Vikki, Bell, Deborah and Hughes, Mark (2021) International and Independent Distance Learning Team Showcase. In: Faculty of Education and Society Team Showcase Series, 10 March 2021, Sunderland, UK. (Unpublished)
Bell, Deborah (2019) A review of the working relationship between academic and administrative staff at the University of Sunderland with particular reference to communities of practice. In: Edulearn 2019, 1-3 Jul 2019, Palma, Majorca. (Unpublished)
- Role of communities of practice in education
- Support systems for students in education
- Qualitative research in education
- Role of Personal Academic Tutor