As someone who has always been interested in innovation and change, learning has been the focus of my research for many years. My current research is focussing on the impact of virtual worlds on learning and teaching through a large Leverhulme funded project. Over the last few years I have gained a series of large grants and the most recent successes are funding to research the use of chatbots for learning and for undertaking qualitative research syntheses.

Writing is both a compulsion and a passion. I am interested in not only writing but the processes of writing and have begun to research peoples’ writing journeys. (Until my first book in 2000, I had never been a good writer and struggled with my writing during my PhD. However after the first book Problem-based Learning in Higher Education: Untold Stories; the process became stimulating and I enjoyed the research needed to actually undertake the writing. After the first book I then published a further 5 books on problem-based learning; and another entitled Learning Spaces. In 2010, I published 3 books An Introduction to Qualitative Research Synthesis (Routledge) in January; New Approaches to Qualitative Research: Wisdom and Uncertainty (Routledge) in April and A Practical Guide to using Second Life in Higher Education in November. One of the key success factors for me has been collaborating with Claire Major at the University of Alabama. We have co-written and co-edited 3 books together, developed a new method of qualitative research synthesis, and are currently completing a substantial undergraduate qualitative research methods text book for Routledge.

Apart from the books I have undertaken about 20 key note speeches, in the UK and overseas as well as publishing 16 book chapters and over 30 papers. In 2010 I won a National Teaching Fellowship and was part of the team that won the ICT Initative of the year award at the Times Higher Education Awards. I live in North Warwickshire, UK with my husband and 2 primary age children and spend my weekends rock climbing, running, gardening and being involved at my local church. To visit my personal website, click here.