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Teaching & Research

Teaching interests

After starting her teaching career as an academic, rather than a practitioner, Dawn was in the unusual position in the School of Allied Health and Community, of being able to replicate the lived experiences of being a new student on their first placement. This project: “walking a mile in their shoes”, has meant undertaking the same Work Based Learning module that first year Foundation Degree students study. This has enabled Dawn to develop reflective artefacts, create model assessments and to share relevant experiences that have encouraged and supported classroom learning.

Dawn's next experiential research will echo the new Apprenticeships that the Department has developed. In 2024, she will start additional training on an Apprenticeship in Coaching while supporting our first cohort of Assistant Practitioner apprentices. Much of Dawn's teaching utilises contemporary images and interactive forums to create discussion and space to ensure that students are given a safe space in which to reflect on their value base. Dawn also teaches on the 2nd year research module and aims to make complex ideas accessible through a range of approaches including consuming confectionary!

Dawn also has the privilege of teaching academic development to students across the University, meeting Midwives, Paramedics, and Social Workers, both staff and students.

Research interests

Dawn is currently involved in a number of research projects in quite diverse areas, and enjoys working with colleagues from a range of other disciplines.

Dawn is interested in the development of identity and how changes in their role might impact staff. Having published with colleagues an exploration of the experiences of staff on transitioning to a new professional identity, she has now successfully delivered two iterations of a training programme for new academics, the impact of which is now being assessed. Dawn has just completed an additional work that has explored the experiences of Personal Academic Tutoring here at the university and which has produced a training session to support new academics in this important role.

Dawn's other area of reach interest is around the experiences of diverse students in the classroom and what helps them feel that they “belong”. Recent conference presentations shared some current work hearing the voices of Black Asian Minority Ethnic students and the way that the classroom, the university and wider society can impact on the ways that they thrive in higher education.

Professional Bodies

Fellow of the Higher Education Academy

Publications

Augustus, J., Goodall, D. and Williams, B. (2023) Does the role of Personal Academic Tutor have an impact on staff wellbeing?" Research in Post-Compulsory Education. 8 (4). DOI:10.1080/13596748.2023.2253656

2016 Learning & Teaching Conference presentation: The role of FDs in enabling students to achieve work place success or progression 

2016 Changing professional identity in the transition from practitioner to lecturer in higher education: an interpretive phenomenological analysis Research in Post-Compulsory Education 

2017 Learning & Teaching Conference presentation: The impact of the Personal Academic Tutor roles for staff