Teaching Fellow
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+44 (0)1224 273878
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fax
+44 (0) 1224 273 422
pref
n.beacham@abdn.ac.uk
Personal web pages at http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~edu196
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Room 214
Department of Computing Science
Meston Building
King's College
Aberdeen
AB24 3UE
+44 (0) 1224 273 878
Teaching Fellow
BSc. MSc. PhD. CEng. MBCS. CITP. CSci. FHEA
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Personal Details
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Biography
Dr Beacham is a Teaching Fellow within the Department of Computing Sciences. Previous to this he was a Research Fellow for the Inclusive Practice Project within the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen for 3 years. He has over 15 years experience carrying out research into the design, implementation and evaluation of e-learning systems and user interfaces of educational technologies.
He began his research career working as a Research Assistant for the Teesside Business School researching the development and use of intelligent tutoring systems for educating trainee accountants. He then went on the work for the Geography Department at the University of Leicester developing and research e-learning systems for Geographers. He then worked for nine years for Loughborough University in a number of departments developing and research e-learning systems as part of undergraduate, postgraduate and continue professional development programmes, until moving to his current post at the University of Aberdeen.
He has particular expertise in Human-Computer Interaction, Assistive Technologies, and Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. His research interests include the development of E-Pedagogies for Inclusion. He has a BSc in Computer Science, an MSc in Human Computer Interaction, and has completed a PhD on the subject of Distributed Performance Support Systems. He has published numerous papers about his research within international peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.
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Research Interests
Dr Beacham's research interests include:
- Human-Computer Interaction and Web Application Development aspects of E-learning
- E-Pedagogies for Inclusion, Digital Inclusion within Schools and Education, and Developing NQTs' beliefs, attitiudes, knowledge and skills in using digital technologies within inclusive classroom settings.
- Distributed Performance Support Systems and Computer-Based Training
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Current Research
Dr Beacham is currently investigating student teachers beliefs and attitudes towards inclusive education and practice as part of the project on inclusive practice. In parallel to this work he is studying NQTs' e-pedagogies for inclusion. Both streams of work provide ongoing findings for informing future policy and practice in the areas of inclusive education and digital inclusion.
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Collaborations
Dr Beacham is currently working with the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre ESCalate.
He is a Research Fellow within the Centre for Sustainable International Development and a member of the PICTAL Research Group within the University of Aberdeen.
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Research Grants
Dr Beacham was awarded a grant of the project 'Developing NQTs E-Pedagogies for Inclusion' which is a partnership between the PICTAL research group, Inclusive Practice project and the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre ESCalate.
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Teaching Responsibilities
Dr Beacham is currently teaching on the following courses:
- Data Management (CS2008: undergraduate)
- Introduction to Database Systems (CS5035: postgraduate)
- Human Computer Interaction (CS2506: undergraduate and CS5541: postgraduate)
- Web Application Development (CS1018: undergraduate and CS1516: undergraduate)
- Advanced Web Application Development (CS2012: undergraduate and CS2512: undergraduate)
- Sofware Engineering: Principles and Practice (CS3015: undergraduate)
- Web Technology (CS1517: undergraduate and CS5548: postgraduate)
- Software Quality Assurance and Control Technology (CS5569: postgraduate)
- Software Portfolio Management (CS5572: postgraduate)
Dr Beacham also currently supervisors student projects:
- Software Engineering - Principles and Practice Projects (CS3015: undergraduate)
- Single Honours Computing Projects (CS4526: undergraduate)
- MSc Projects (CS5950: postgraduate)
Past responsibles for teaching included:
- Tools for Science (TS1002: undergraduate)
- Information Technology (CS1017: undergraduate)
- Advanced Web Application Development (CS2509: undergraduate)
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External Responsibilities
Dr Beacham is one of the main authors and developers of DyslexSim – A pack of photocopiable materials for raising awareness about dyslexia which includes activities and a simulation of visual difficulties associated with dyslexia on CD ROM. (on sale through iANSYST Ltd. from March 2005).
He is also one of the main authors and developers of Dyscalculium – A screening tool for adults with dyscalculia (https://shop.tribalgroup.co.uk/vmchk/Assessment-screening/DyscalculiUM.html).
He is a referee for the peer-reviewed Journal of Interactive Learning Research (http://www.aace.org/pubs/jilr/default.htm) published by AACE.
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Admin Responsibilities
Dr Beacham is the course coordinator for the following courses:
- Information Technology (CS1017 and KL107S)
- Data Management (CS2008)
- Introduction to Database Systems (CS5035)
- Advanced Web Application Development (CS2012 and CS2512)
- Web Technology (CS1517 and CS5574)
He is also the Webmaster for the Department of Computing Science and tutor for the advanced MSc programmes, ie Cloud computing, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, Advanced Information Systems, and for the conversion MSc programme, ie Information Technology.
Past admin responsibilities included Web content manager and course co-ordinator for the following courses:
- TS1002: Tools for Science
- CS2509: Advanced Web Application Development
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Selected Publications
Beacham, N., (2010). EPSSs to Facilitate Human Communication: A Visual Communication Aid to Support Group Communication, Chapter 7, Electronic Performance Support: Using Technology to Enhance Human Performance, Edited by Philip Barker and Paul van Schaik, University of Teesside, UK, Gower Publishing, pp. 250 (in press).
Beacham, N., Florian, L. and Rouse, M. (2010). Student teachers' beliefs and attitudes towards inclusive education and practice, Proceedings of the AERA Conference, 30 April – 4 May 2010, Denver, Colorado, USA, (in press)
Perkin, G., Beacham, N. and Croft, A.C., (2007). Computer-assisted assessment of mathematics for undergraduates with specific learning difficulties – issues of inclusion in policy and practice, International Journal for Technology in Mathematics Education, 14(1), 3-13.
Alty, J.L. Al-Sharrah, A. and Beacham, N.A., (2006). When humans form media and media form humans: An experimental study examining the effects of different digial media have on the learning outcomes of students who have different learning styles, Journal of Interacting with Computers, 18(5), 891-909.
Beacham, N.A. and Alty, J.L., (2006). An investigation into the effects that digital media can have on the learning outcomes of individuals who have dyslexia, Computers & Education, 47(1), August 2006, 74-93.
Beacham, N. and Trott, C., (2005). Development of a first-line screener for dyscalculia in Higher Education, The SKILL Journal, National Bureau for Students with Disabilities, London, UK, Issue 81, pp. 13-19, March.
Beacham, N.A. and Szumko, J.M., (2004). Media effects on Dyslexic individuals in academia, Dyslexia Review, 15(2), Spring, pp. 4-9.
Nicolle, C, and Poulson, D., (2004). Deliverable 12a: Guidelines for developing an AAC-enabled World Wide Web (including updated Internal Deliverable i6 - Pre Draft Standards for Web-Based Information), ESRI report , Loughborough University, April, Accessible online at http://www.wwaac.org/products/Docs/AAC_WebGuidelines.pdf , WWAAC.
Bouchlaghem, N., Sher, W., Wilson, A. and Beacham, N.A., (2002). Computer imagery and visualization in built environment education: the CAL-Visual approach, Innovations in Education and Training International, 39(3), 225-236.
Bouchlaghem, N., Sher, W. and Beacham, N.A., (2000). Computer Imagery and Visualization in Civil Engineering Education, ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering, April 2000, 14(2), pp 134 - 140, ISSN 0887-3801.
Barker, P.G., Richards, S., Beacham, N.A., Tan, C.M. and Hudson, S., (1997). Knowledge Sharing through Electronic Course Delivery, Innovations in Education and Training International, 34(1), pp. 3-10.
Barker, P.G., Beacham, N.A., Hudson, S. and Tan, C., (1995). Document Handling in an Electronic OASIS, The New Review of Document and Text Management, 1(1), pp. 1-18, London: Taylor Graham, ISSN 1361-4584.
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