a photo of Singleton campus with the view of the Singleton park and sea

Mr Chris Wolfe

Senior Lecturer

Education and Childhood Studies

c.c.wolfe@swansea.ac.uk

Office - 250
Second Floor
Keir Hardie Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

About

I am the Subject Lecturer for Design and Technology in Initial Teacher Education. I have been working as a Design and Technology teacher in the Secondary school setting for a number of years. During my time I have developed schemes of work, run whole staff insets, chaired numerous Teacher Learning Communities and have also worked as a Pastoral Head of Year. My main interests for research are the use of ICT to improve pedagogy both in school and at home, wellbeing of staff and pupils and the use of Coaching and Mentoring within the school setting. I have also researched the impact of using a Virtual Learning Environment to support classroom teaching during my Masters in Educational Practice. I have a keen interest in action research and believe in a research based approach to developing strategies. One of my key philosophies is that learning never stops and we should always strive to better ourselves and keep our practice up to date, particularly in an ever developing and changing world.

Areas Of Expertise

Reflective practice
Coaching and Mentoring
Using ICT to support learning

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Goodall, J., Lewis, H., Clegg, Z., Ylonen, A., Wolfe, C., Owen, S., Hughes, C., Williams, M., Roberts, D., & Ramadan, I. (2022). Defining Parental Engagement in ITE: from relationships to partnerships. Cylchgrawn Addysg Cymru / Wales Journal of Education, 24(2)
https://doi.org/10.16922/wje.24.2.2, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa60801

Other Research Outputs

Goodall, J., Lewis, H., Clegg, Z., Ramadan, I., Williams, M., Ylonen, A., Owen, S., Roberts, D., Hughes, C., Wolfe, C., & Wolfe, C. (2021). From relationships to partnerships
SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa59288
https://hwb.gov.wales/professional-development/the-national-strategy-for-educational-research-and-enquiry-nsere/research-studies-on-the-impact-of-the-covid-19-pandemic-on-the-welsh-education-system/research-study-5/

Taught Modules

ED-M05 Emotional Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing

This module will focus on emotional health, mental health, physical health and well-being in educational settings. It will critically examine the international research in these areas to explore the evidence base from multiple perspectives and from different contexts. Students will examine factors which impact on emotional health, mental health, physical health and well-being, and will critically evaluate a range of early interventions in relation to the promotion and protection of child / adolescent well-being, whilst also exploring the international evidence concerning the efficacy of a range of preventative measures. The module will enable students to extend, deepen, evaluate and (where appropriate) apply their knowledge of theory and research relating to emotional health, mental health, physical health and well-being to their personal /professional contexts. This module will explore and critically examine research from multiple perspectives and debates in¿the area of¿mental¿health, emotional¿health, physical health¿and well-being across educational contexts. The module is designed to enable students to extend, deepen, evaluate and (where¿appropriate)¿apply their knowledge of theory and research relating to emotional health, mental health, physical health and well-being, as relate¿these to their personal and professional contexts.
EDN206 Digital Education: Pedagogy and Practice

This module will enable you to develop your understanding of learning, teaching and assessment with digital technologies. It will outline different perspectives and debates concerning digital technologies and pedagogy. There is an emphasis on critical analysis, evidence-informed approaches and design principles. The module will outline fundamental issues including inclusivity, accessibility, legislation, policies and standards. You will not be required to develop legal expertise but an awareness of how they influence educational practice. You will be able to develop your understanding of how to source, evaluate and implement open educational resources (OERs) for teaching and learning. There will be opportunities to develop technical, creative and project management skills.
EDN300 Dissertation

This dissertation module will enable students to pursue an empirical study on a topic of their choice relating to education across contexts according to their academic interest or future career aspirations. It will require students to formulate an appropriate research question and to design and execute a research project that will address their chosen question in a coherent and systematic manner. Students will have the flexibility to pursue a research topic related to education that might be relevant to their career aspirations across the full range of contexts where knowledge and expertise in education is applicable.
EDPM30H Research Informed Reflective Practice: Design Technology

This module develops student teachers as Research-informed reflective practitioners through a range of learning experiences designed to enhance the critical awareness that new entrants to the teaching profession will need to refine their teaching, influence their pupils and ensure they advance in their learning (Welsh Government circular 001/2018). Learning to teach involves drawing upon several different sources of professional knowledge; intellectually based knowledge (learning `about¿ teaching) knowledge gained through `indirect¿ practice, the knowledge of expert practitioners, integrated knowledge (learning `through¿ teaching) and personal knowledge (Furlong 2015; EWC 2023). Student teachers will develop an understanding of, and ability to employ, effective strategies for teaching and learning in their subject area and Area of Learning Experience (AoLE). Taught sessions will focus on the application of subject knowledge to support an understanding of pedagogy and curriculum design to promote the four purposes of Education as outlined in the new curriculum (Donaldson, 2015). Student teachers will address issues relevant to the wider context of the Welsh Government policy on the curriculum and the National Frameworks for Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Competence. The module will ensure that students gain an understanding of current legislation, including an understanding of the anti-racist Wales action plan, the Additional Learning Needs Code and an understanding of the Curriculum Cymreig and Welsh language requirements. They will also develop and consolidate teaching strategies to ensure they are appropriate to their subject area/AoLE with a strong focus on lesson and unit planning, taking into account those issues which impact on planning for effective teaching and learning in their subject. Student teachers will develop an awareness and understanding of research skills and research literacy that will help them throughout their professional career and continuously develop their approaches to learning and teaching to maximise the impact on learner outcomes. Student teachers will examine research literature and explore their own practice through the implementation of a close to practice research project to systematically develop their professional practice and respond creatively to the needs of all pupils. In doing so they will develop their reflective skills which will ensure that they are engaged with up-to-date evidence and the skills of research inquiry.
EDPM30HW Ymarfer Myfyriol wedi’i lywio gan Ymchwil: Dylunio a Thechnoleg

Mae'r modiwl hwn yn datblygu athrawon dan hyfforddiant fel ymarferwyr myfyriol sy¿n wybodus o ran ymchwil trwy ddarparu ystod o brofiadau dysgu sydd â¿r nod o wella'r ymwybyddiaeth feirniadol y bydd ei hangen ar newydd-ddyfodiaid i'r proffesiwn addysgu er mwyn mireinio eu haddysgu, dylanwadu ar eu disgyblion a sicrhau eu bod yn gwneud cynnydd yn eu dysgu (cylchlythyr Llywodraeth Cymru 001/2018). Mae dysgu i addysgu yn seiliedig ar sawl ffynhonnell wahanol o wybodaeth broffesiynol; gwybodaeth ddeallusol (dysgu 'am' addysgu), gwybodaeth sy'n deillio o ymarfer 'anuniongyrchol', gwybodaeth ymarferwyr arbenigol, gwybodaeth integredig (dysgu 'trwy' addysgu) a gwybodaeth bersonol (Furlong 2015; CGA 2023). Bydd athrawon dan hyfforddiant yn dechrau deall, a gallu defnyddio, strategaethau effeithiol ar gyfer addysgu a dysgu yn eu maes pwnc a'u Maes Dysgu a Phrofiad (MDPh). Bydd sesiynau a addysgir yn canolbwyntio ar ddefnyddio gwybodaeth am bwnc i helpu i ddeall addysgeg a chynllun y cwricwlwm er mwyn hyrwyddo pedwar diben Addysg sydd wedi'u hamlinellu yn y cwricwlwm newydd (Donaldson, 2015). Bydd athrawon dan hyfforddiant yn mynd i'r afael â materion sy'n berthnasol i gyd-destun ehangach polisi Llywodraeth Cymru ar y cwricwlwm a'r Fframweithiau Cenedlaethol ar gyfer Llythrennedd, Rhifedd a Chymhwysedd Digidol. Bydd y modiwl yn sicrhau bod myfyrwyr yn datblygu dealltwriaeth o ddeddfwriaeth bresennol, gan gynnwys dealltwriaeth o Gynllun Gweithredu Cymru Wrth-hiliol, y Cod Anghenion Dysgu Ychwanegol, a dealltwriaeth o ofynion y Cwricwlwm Cymreig a'r Gymraeg. Hefyd, byddant yn datblygu ac yn atgyfnerthu strategaethau addysgu i sicrhau eu bod yn briodol i'w maes pwnc/MDPh gyda phwyslais cadarn ar gynllunio gwersi ac unedau, gan ystyried y materion sy'n effeithio ar gynllunio ar gyfer addysgu a dysgu effeithiol yn eu pwnc. Bydd athrawon dan hyfforddiant yn datblygu ymwybyddiaeth a dealltwriaeth o sgiliau ymchwil a llythrennedd ymchwil a fydd o gymorth iddynt drwy gydol eu gyrfa broffesiynol, a byddant yn datblygu eu dulliau dysgu ac addysgu yn barhaus er mwyn sicrhau eu bod yn cael yr effaith fwyaf ar ddeilliannau dysgwyr. Bydd athrawon dan hyfforddiant yn archwilio llenyddiaeth ymchwil ac yn archwilio eu hymarfer eu hunain trwy gyflwyno prosiect ymchwil agos at ymarfer er mwyn datblygu eu hymarfer proffesiynol mewn ffordd systematig ac ymateb yn greadigol i anghenion pob disgybl. Wrth wneud hynny, byddant yn datblygu eu sgiliau myfyriol a fydd yn sicrhau eu bod yn ymgysylltu â'r dystiolaeth ddiweddaraf a sgiliau ymchwil.
EDQ100 Study Group: Education (Year 1)

2 hour weekly Study Group for Education students (Year 1)
EDQ200 Study Group: Education (Year 2)

2 hour weekly Study Group for Education students (Year 2)

Career History

Teacher of Design and Technology , Ysgol Maesydderwen

2012 - 2020

Key Grants and Projects

Conversations around Big Ideas: Unlocking Lockdown: Supporting Pupil Wellbeing - Welsh Government funded project 2020 - 2021

, with Dr Cathryn Knight; Sharon Phillips; Amanda Jones; Chris Wolfe and Siân Brooks, £10,000

Mr Chris Wolfe

Email address

About

Areas Of Expertise

Publications

Research Highlights

All Research

Journal Articles

Other Research Outputs

Taught Modules

ED-M05 Emotional Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing

EDN206 Digital Education: Pedagogy and Practice

EDN300 Dissertation

EDPM30H Research Informed Reflective Practice: Design Technology

EDPM30HW Ymarfer Myfyriol wedi’i lywio gan Ymchwil: Dylunio a Thechnoleg

EDQ100 Study Group: Education (Year 1)

EDQ200 Study Group: Education (Year 2)

Career History

Teacher of Design and Technology , Ysgol Maesydderwen

Key Grants and Projects

Conversations around Big Ideas: Unlocking Lockdown: Supporting Pupil Wellbeing - Welsh Government funded project 2020 - 2021