Heather Macdonald | University of Chester

Heather joined the University of Chester as a Senior Lecturer in 2008 having lectured previously in Northern Ireland. Heather began her career as a Primary School Teacher, teaching in Nursery, Reception and Year 1 classes as well as teaching in an International School in Malaysia. Heather has a passion for helping Early Childhood students to really catch the vision for how Early Childhood Education & Care can nurture and support the development of every young child. Heather teaches on a range of modules on the BA Early Childhood & Primary Education degree and is the Programme Leader for the MA Education. Her research is based around the use of Technology with very young children.

Heather is Chair of the University's Academic Conduct Panel where she is engaged in ensuring that the highest levels of Academic Integrity are upheld by students across the university.

Heather teaches on a wide range of topics, largely related to Early Childhood. At undergraduate level, Heather teaches modules on social and emotional development, interpersonal communication skills and contemporary debates in early childhood.

At postgraduate level, Heather is the Programme Leader for the MA Education and teaches modules on the use of technology with young children, contemporary debates in education, reflective pedagogy, and research methods and design. Heather also supervises students at the dissertation stage of the MA completing research across the education sector but especially with children from birth to 8 years.

Heather is also supervising a doctoral student as he researches the use of Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education.

Heather completed her doctorate in 2018 with a focus on exploring the attitudes and values of Early Childhood teachers regarding the use of technology with and by young children (from 2 to 7 years of age). She maintains an interest in all aspects of technology use with young children, particularly in exploring ways of using technology creatively in Early Childhood, whilst considering many of the potential challenges that technology use can bring to this age group.

Heather is also interested in exploring creative approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in Higher Education.