Mrs Mary Stephen

Mrs Mary Stephen
Mrs Mary Stephen
Mrs Mary Stephen

M.Res , BSc ( Hons) MLSO and PGDE

Senior Lecturer

About
Email Address
m.stephen@abdn.ac.uk
Telephone Number
+44 (0)1224 274738
Office Address

School of Education, King's College, Room 506 MacRobert Building,  Aberdeen AB24 5UA

School/Department
School of Education

Biography

My career began as a Medical Laboratory Scientist with The Scottish Blood Transfusion Service within a range of departments. A career change led me to become a primary school teacher, with a specialist overview of science.

While my children were young, I chose to stay at home and became involved with the introduction and promotion of Gaelic Medium Education, within Aberdeen City, as Chairperson for Croileagan Obair Dheathain and Feis Obair Dheahthain. Part of my role was to lobby for the instigation of the  Sgoil Araich (Nursery) to be offered at Gilcomstoun Primary School and to present parental views at the Gaelic Advisory Board.

Another career change led me to work within further education as a Curriculum Manager for Early Education and Care at Aberdeen College.  In this role my interest in early education developed and with colleagues at the University of Aberdeen I co-authored, Early Years Education and Care (2013) SAGE ISBN.978-1-4462-0711-6.

The focus for my research-based teaching has been early year’s education, teaching for many years on the BA Childhood Practice and MA in Education undergraduate programmes. Currently, my teaching focus is within the TQFE team and I am part of the Erasmus Promise project. 

I am a keen member of Aberdeen Sports Village and sometimes run marathons. 

I continue to support the Erasmus and International programmes, as I strongly believe that for education students, the ability to work and view other educational programmes will support their long term careers in terms of research and enquiry.

External Memberships

Part of my remit is to work alongside other agencies involved in Early Years Education, including the SSSC council and local authorities.

Research

Research Overview

Mary's interests are linked to Early years education.

Current Research

As part of my Masters in Research degree I am researching the delivery of CPD course via a blended learning approach.

Teaching

Teaching Responsibilities

Within the School of Education I teach on both the undergraduate and postgraduate courses.  I am also part of a team working on developing and delivering the degree  in Childhood Practice and the Early Years Postgraduate Certificate Course.