Professor Mark Stephen Davies

National Teaching Fellow 2009 Mark Davies is Professor of Bioscience in the  Department of Pharmacy, Health and Well-being at the University of Sunderland, where his approach to student learning is two-fold. First, he emphasises the practical and participative aspects to make learning fun. Second, he gives students the skills that allow them to become self-sufficient learners. To do these Mark draws heavily on his own dual career as an educator and a research scientist. Mark has used a variety of innovative techniques, most of which require students to do their own research, in moving students early on in their university careers from a point where they rely on lecturing staff for truths; to where they understand that science consists of differing viewpoints and theories and where right answers are rare. At the same time he is concerned that graduates are equipped both with the skills they will need in relation to their degrees and with a wider, more transferable skills set that will see them through changes in career. For example, Mark has made use of simulations to develop real-world skills, particularly where working to deadlines is important. His students design, execute and report on a research project that takes in elements from writing the initial project proposal, to delivering the conference presentation and producing the journal article. One student said, "I have never learned so much so quickly". Mark has brought his skills to bear on retention issues at the University of Sunderland, one output of which was proposing a social and learning space for students. This turned out to be a watershed for Psychology; a major cultural shift toward inquiry-based learning and communities of practice but in a relatively safe extra-curricular context. "The project outcomes have been sustainable. Mark project-managed this from start to finish and encouraged us to think big and sustainably throughout" (Psychology lecturer). "Psychology Cafe is the best thing to happen in Psychology this year" (Psychology student). Mark has also been influential on a national stage where he has show-cased his developments at many events and has been involved in collaborative projects, in particular in relation to promoting student retention.