Research Associate
Liverpool Hope University
nortonb@hope.ac.uk
0151 291 2039

After a first degree at Cambridge and an M.A. in Library Studies at Loughborough, I spent 30 years working in libraries. After early retirement in 1998, I took an MSc in Applied Psychology at Liverpool Hope and have been a Research Associate in Learning & Teaching since 2001. I have researched, with colleagues at Hope and other institutions, a range of learning & teaching issues, practices and initiatives in Higher Education and am currently involved in two studies for the Student Transition & Retention(STAR) Project (an FDTL collaborative project with 3 other institutions) on the effectiveness of peer mentoring and fieldtrips in aiding engagement and retention and in a Higher Education Academy funded research project on first year Hope Sports students' experience of blended learning.

For the Write Now CETL, I am working on research projects on assessment criteria & examinations, lecturers' perceptions, beliefs and approaches to assessment, marking & feedback, and the challenges faced by Chinese students in their academic writing in the UK.

Publications

Journals (refereed)

• Beaumont, C., Owens, T., Barret-Baxendale, M. & Norton, B. (2008) Blended Problem-based Learning for widening participation: a case study. ITALICS (Innovation in Teaching and Learning in Information and Computer Sciences).
   
• Luck, P. and Norton, B. (2006) Collaborative Management Education: an online community in Europe? Int. J. Web Based Communities, 2, (1), 45-48.
   
• Luck, P. and Norton, B (2004) Problem-based Management Learning - better online? European Journal of Open & Distance Learning, 2004/II.
   
• Norton, B., Norton, L., Griffiths, T., Owens, T., Perrin, S. and Walters, D. (2003) Increasing students’ library confidence, Academic Exchange Quarterly, 7, (3), 157-161.
   
• Norton, L.S., Clifford, R., Hopkins, L, Toner, I, and Norton, B. (J.C.W.) (2002) Helping psychology students write better essays, Psychology Learning and Teaching, 2, (2), 116 –126.

Book Chapter

• Norton, L. & Norton, B. (2000) Information skills: do we help our students enough? In Rust, C. (Ed.) Improving student learning: Improving Student Learning through the Disciplines. Proceedings of the 1999 7th International Symposium. Oxford: OCSLD.

Research reports

• Armstrong, J. and Norton, B. (2006) Use of research content in undergraduate teaching. Report to the Scholarly Communications Working Group of the JISC Information Environment Integration Committee, June 2006.
   
• Steward, S., Norton, L.S., Evans, I and Norton, B. (2003) Lecturers!! What are you trying to assess? Learning & Skills Research Journal, The special on-line edition: Reports from the Regions: Papers presented at the LSRN 2003 Summer Conference Series, 28-29.
   
• Norton, L. S and Norton, J.C.W. (2001) Essay feedback: how can it help students improve their academic writing? ERIC abstract No:ED454530.

Conference papers (refereed)

• Buckley, C. A., Norton, B., Owens, T. and Pitt, E. (2007) Blended learning for Sport Studies students and its relationship with approaches to study. Presentation at: British Educational Research Association Annual Conference, Institute of Education, University of London, 5–8 September 2007.
   
• Owens, T., Buckley, C., Norton, B. and Pitt, E. (2007) The impact of blended learning methods on Sport Studies students‘ approaches to study. Presentation at: Higher Education Academy Annual Conference, Harrogate International Centre, Harrogate, 3–5 July 2007.
   
• Norton, L., Harrington, K., Norton, B. and Shannon, L. (2006) Challenging traditional forms of assessment: university teachers’ views on examinations. Presentation at: International Society for the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (ISSOTL) 3rd Conference, Washington D.C., 9-12 November 2006.
   
• Beaumont, C., Norton, B. and Barret-Baxendale, M. (2006) Enhancing the quality of learning through Blended Problem-based Learning. Presentation at: 7th Annual Conference of the HEA-ICS, Trinity College, Dublin, 29-31 August 2006.
   
• Owens, T. and Norton, B. (2006) Learning about learning: from student learning to the learning organisation. Paper presented at HERDSA International Conference: Critical Visions Conference,  9-12 July, Perth, Australia.
   
• Gayton, E., Norton, B., Norton, L. and Walters, D. (2005) Supporting student success through Personal Development Planning: an integration of multiple perspectives at the institutional level. Presentation at: 11th Conference of European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), Nicosia, Cyprus, 23-26 August 2005.
   
• Norton, L. and Norton, B. (2005). Predicting which students might be academically at risk in higher education. Presentation at: 11th Conference of European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), Nicosia, Cyprus, 23-26 August 2005.
   
• Luck, P. and Norton, B. (2005) Collaborative Management Education – An online community in Europe. Presentation at: IADIS (International Association of the Information Society) International Conference Web Based Communities 2005, the Algarve, Portugal, 23–25 February 2005.
   
• Norton, L., Norton, B. and Thomas, S. (2004) Encouraging psychology students to use more journals. Presentation at: Psychology Learning & Teaching Conference, 2004: University of Strathclyde, 5–7 April 2004.
   
• Norton, B., Norton, L., Thomas, S., Griffiths, T., Walters, D., Perrin, S. and Owens, T. (2003). Building confidence in using information resources: a core academic skill. Presentation at: 10th Biennial Conference, ‘Improving Learning, Fostering the Will to Learn’, of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), University of Padova, Italy, 26-30 August 2003.
   
• Walters, D. and Norton, B. (2003) Ideal performance. Presentation at: 4th ILT Annual Conference (ILTAC): What works? Reviewing good practice for learning & teaching in Higher Education, University of Warwick, 2-4 July 2003.
   
• Steward, S., Norton, L., Evans, I. and Norton, B. (J.C.W.) (2003) Lecturers!! What are you trying to assess? Presenation at: North West Learning & Skills Research Conference ‘Research for All’ Manchester, 6 June 2003.
   
• Norton, L.S. and Norton, B. (J.C.W.) (2003) Course evaluation should be pedagogically useful… but is it? Presentation at: Joint SEDA and SRHE Conference on The Scholarship of Academic and staff development: Research, Evaluation and Changing Practice, Bristol, 9-11 April 2003.
   
• Owens, T., Norton, L.S. and Norton, B. (2002) Assessment is central to student learning – but is it fair? Presentation at: 3rd Annual Conference of the Institute for Learning and Teaching (ILTAC), Heriot-Watt, Edinburgh, 26-28 June 2002.
   
• Walters, D. and Norton, B. (2002) Performance criteria: student and staff perceptions. Presentation at: 3rd ILT Annual Conference (ILTAC), Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, 26-28 June 2002.
   
• Norton, L.S., Clifford, R., Hopkins, L., Toner, I. and Norton, B. (J.C.W.) (2002) The essay feedback checklist: helping psychology students to write better essays and tutors to give better feedback. Presentation at: Psychology Learning and Teaching Conference, University of York, York, 18-20 March 2002.
   
• Norton, L.S., Norton, J.C.W. and Gayton, E.C. (2001) Do independent learning modules help students to use academic libraries? Presentation at: 2nd  ILT Annual Conference (ILTAC), University Of York, 4-6 July 2001.
   
• Norton, L S. and Norton, J.C.W. (2001) The essay feedback checklist: how can it help students improve their academic writing? Presentation at: 1st international conference of the European Association for the Teaching of Academic Writing across Europe (EATAW), Groningen, The Netherlands, 18-20 June 2001.
   
• Norton, L.S. and Norton, B. (1999) Information seeking skills: how well do we prepare our students? A comparison of induction procedures for undergraduates in four different subjects. Presentation at: 7th International Improving Student Learning Symposium: Improving Student Learning through the Disciplines. University of York, 6-8 September 1999