Dr Chris Little
Dr Chris Little
Senior Lecturer in Academic Development
AdvanceHE Recognition Scheme Co-Lead, Teaching Excellence Award Lead, 'Assessment in HE' module leader
My profile
Biography
I am a Senior Lecturer in Academic Development at MMU’s University Teaching Academy where I teach and tutor across our PGCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, as well as teaching and supervising dissertations across our wider Masters in Higher Education. I am the unit lead for our Assessment in HE module, which has a focus on innovative and authentic assessment. I also teach on our Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) and FLEX units, whilst providing dissertation supervision and marking. I also work as Faculty Link for Arts and Humanities supporting colleagues in curriculum development and professional recognition.
One of my chief roles at Manchester Met is to co-lead the Advance HE Fellowships scheme. I hold SFHEA status and am comfortable in mentoring and reviewing applicants through various PSF recognition routes, assessing many claims from D1-D3 over the past 7-8 years. I also lead the university’s AdvanceHE Teaching Excellence Awards provision, supporting colleagues to work towards National Teaching Fellowships (NTF) and the Collaborative Award for Teaching Excellence (CATE).
Prior to joining MMU in January 2021, I was a teaching fellow at Keele University and taught on their Masters in Higher Education Practice from 2016 to January 2021. I was module leader for the first module, Teaching Reflectively in Higher Education and taught on the Design and Development, Teaching and Learning with Technology and Action Research units. During my time at Keele, I also created and established the Keele Conference of Undergraduate Research (KCUR) and associated institution-wide undergraduate research provision in 2016, providing an annual space for students across the university to share their research, with many of these presenters going on to present at further national and international conferences. This provision continues to this day.
Research interests include authentic assessment, undergraduate research, technology-enhanced learning, student response systems, inclusive curriculum and ableism in Higher Education. I hold a PhD in Cultural Studies, focusing on youth exclusion and social policy and remain research-active in this area.
Projects
EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH FUNDING
Keele Teaching Innovation Project 2015/16:
The JADE Student Learning Conference 2016: The development of a university-wide undergraduate research conference.
- Funding awarded: £2920.
UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) Grants Scheme 2015/16 (External Funding):
Skills4Keele: A project to develop academic interventions targeting to help lessen the impact of their transition to UK Higher Education for first-year international students.
- Funding awarded: £1000.
- Collaborators: Karen Manley and Chris Hargreaves (Keele International Student Support).
Keele Teaching Innovation Project 2016/17:
Student Transition to Science Undergraduate Education: Tuning in to the personal experiences of students at Keele University using Socrative an in-class student response system.
- Funding awarded: £2970.
- Collaborators: Dr Julie Hulme (Keele School of Psychology), Dr Richard Waller (Keele School of Geography), Jayne Eagles (Keele Student Learning).
Association of Learning Development in Higher Education (ALDINHE): Research into Learning Development Grants 2016/17 (External funding):
Evaluating the long-term benefits of participation in an extra-curricular undergraduate research conference.
- Funding awarded: £240
Keele Teaching Innovation Project 2018/19:
Exploring the impact of ‘academic reading retreats’ for student and staff participants
- Funding awarded: £2000
- Collaborators: Angela Rhead (Keele Insitute of Innovation and Teaching Excellence).
SEDA Research Grant 2019/20 (External funding):
The lecture from hell: An answer to addressing our inaccessibility demons in Higher Education delivery
- Funding awarded: £900
- Collaborators: Dr Abigail Pearson (Keele School of Law), Karl Gimblett (Keele Insitute Of Innovation and Teaching Excellence).
Keele Teaching Innovation Project 2019/20:
Conference co-creation: A student-led approach to the design and delivery the 8th Change Agents Network
- Funding awarded: £4,500
Collaborators: Elliott Lancaster, Sam Lesniak and Chris Little
Teaching
I teach and tutor across our PGCert in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, as well as teaching across our wider Masters in Higher Education.
- Unit Leader - Assessment in Higher Education
- Tutor - Learning, Teaching and Assessment; FLEX 15 and FLEX 30.
- Supervisor - MA Higher Education Dissertation
2021/22 - Nominated for Manchester Met Staff Awards 2022 - Teaching Excellence
2022/23 - Nominated as part of the Learning Enhancement and Educational Development (LEED) - Research or Teaching Support Award (Finalist)
2022/23 - Nominated for Student Union Teaching Awards (x2) - Teacher of the Year & Outstanding Commitment to Student Wellbeing
Research outputs
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Chapters in books
Little, C. (2024) 'Confronting failure as self-care: Critical honesty as a springboard for positive change in teaching and learning.' Prioritising Wellbeing and Self-Care in Higher Education: How We Can Do Things Differently to Disrupt Silence. pp. 71-81.
Little, C. (2022) 'Student writing retreats: Spaces to actively enable the production of academic work.' 100 Ideas for Active Learning. University of Sussex Library,
Little, C. (2022) 'Retreat Forwards: Undergraduate writing retreats.' Innovative Approaches in Pedagogy for Higher Education Classrooms. Emerald Group Publishing,
Little, C., Street, M. (2020) 'Greater than the sum of its parts: Coalescing digital and physical space in temporary online learning communities.' Flexibility and Pedagogy in Higher Education Delivering Flexibility in Learning through Online Learning Communities. BRILL,
Little, C. (2020) 'We just used it as our soapbox didn't we?”: Empowering students as independent producers of knowledge through an undergraduate research conference.' Student Empowerment in Higher Education. Reflecting on Teaching Practice and Learner Engagement. Logos Verlag Berlin GmbH,
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Internet publications
Little, C. (2022) “OK everyone, this isn’t working is it? Like, at all, is it?” – Celebrating the failures we learn from in the classroom.. https://inspiredideas.uk/2022/11/30/ok-everyone-this-isnt-working-is-it-like-at-all-is-it-celebrating-the-failures-we-learn-from-in-the-classroom-dr-chris-little/.
Little, C. (2018) Utilising action research to evaluate the long-term benefits of student participation in an extra-curricular undergraduate research conference. HEA Action Research: Sector Case Studies. https://t.co/Lt5slQZJm5.
Little, C., Hargreaves, C., Manley, K. Teaching and Learning Projects: Skills4Keele Learning Resources. UKCISA Grants Scheme 2015-16: A report on pilot projects supporting the international student experience in the UK. https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/Research--Policy/Resource-bank/resources/123/The-Skills4Keele-Learning-Resources.
Little, C. Skills4Keele: Learning Resources for New International Students: Blog for members. https://www.ukcisa.org.uk/blog/6622/Skills4Keele-learning-resources-for-new-international-students.
Little, C. Take 5 Blog – Publish your poster presentations with Innovative Practice in Higher Education. https://lmutake5.wordpress.com/.
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Journal articles
Little, C., Pearson, A., Gimblett, K. (2023) 'Reasonable adjustment, unfair advantage or optional extra? Teaching staff attitudes towards reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities.' Journal of Perspectives in Applied Academic Practice, 11(2) pp. 135-146.
Little, C. (2020) 'The Chav Youth Subculture and Its Representation in Academia as Anomalous Phenomenon.' M/C Journal, 23(5)
Little, C. (2020) 'The surprising truth about who engages in a non-assessed undergraduate conference and what they present.' Innovative Practice in Higher Education, 4(1)
Little, C. (2020) 'Undergraduate research as a student engagement springboard: Exploring the longer-term reported benefits of participation in a research conference.' Educational Research, 62(2) pp. 229-245.
Rhead, A., Little, C. (2020) 'Editorial - Becoming Well Read: Charting the complexities of academic reading and navigating the reading journeys of undergraduate and postgraduate students.' JOURNAL OF UNIVERSITY TEACHING AND LEARNING PRACTICE, 17(2)
Little, C. (2016) 'Mentimeter Smartphone Student Response System: A class above clickers.' Compass: Journal of Learning and Teaching, 9(13)
Little, C. (2016) 'Undergraduate Research (UR): Context, Benefits and UR in Action.' Journal of Academic Development and Education., 6pp. 110-118.
Little, C. (2015) 'The 'Mosquito' and the transformation of British public space.' JOURNAL OF YOUTH STUDIES, 18(2) pp. 167-182.
Little, C. (2015) 'The flipped classroom in further education: literature review and case study.' RESEARCH IN POST-COMPULSORY EDUCATION, 20(3) pp. 265-279.
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Non-peer reviewed articles / reviews
Little, C. (2020) Book Review: Ashton, S. and Stone, R. (2018). An A-Z of Creative Teaching in Higher Education.
Little, C. (2018) Book review: Success in academic writing.
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Conference papers
Little, C., Rhead, A. (2023) 'Academic Reading Retreats: Creating Cross-disciplinary Scholarship Communities and Identities..' In Applying Education in a Complex World Education Conference. Toronto, Canda, 25/4/2023 - 27/4/2023.
Little, C., Pearson, A., Gimblett, K. (2023) 'Reasonable adjustment, unfair advantage or optional extra? Teaching staff attitudes towards reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities..' In Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Conference 2023: The Shoulders of Giants: Listening, Learning and Improving our Practice. Hull, 15/3/2023 - 16/3/2023.
Little, C., Preston, J., Farrington, J. (2022) 'Collaboration, accountability and shared grades in Midwifery education.' In International Assessment in HE Conference. Manchester, 23/6/2022 - 25/6/2022.
Little, C., Sashikumar, S., Devarakonda, C., Maclachlan, S., Hidalgo Bastida, A. (2022) 'Developing an ‘Inclusive curriculum Toolkit” to benefit diverse learning communities..' In European Conference on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning.. Manchester Metropolitan University, 15/6/2022 - 17/6/2022.
Little, C., Pearson, A. (2021) '). “I try to do the reasonable adjustments where possible” – Exploring staff understanding and attitudes towards reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities.' In University of East London: Learning and Teaching Symposium 2021. University of East London, 16/9/2021 -
Little, C. (2020) 'Marginalised on all fronts? The Chav youth subculture and its representation in academia.' In Young Lives at the Margins Conference. St Mary's University, 18/6/2020 -
Little, C., Rhead, A. (2019) 'Embedded bolt-on: How far can we use extracurricular provision to explore curricular content to enhance student learning?.' In SEDA Spring Conference 2019. University of Belfast, 9/5/2019 - 10/5/2019.
Little, C. (2019) 'Fostering engagement in research beyond assessments and the curriculum via an undergraduate research conference.' In ALDinHE 2019: The learning development conference. University of Exeter, 15/4/2019 - 17/4/2019.
Little, C. (2018) 'Undergraduate research as student engagement springboard: Exploring the longer-term benefits of participation in an undergraduate research conference.' In British Educational Research Association Annual Conference. University of Northumbria, 11/9/2018 - 13/9/2018.
Little, C., Ingram, H. (2018) 'Using Google Classroom to enhance engagement and academic discussion.' In HEA Annual Conference, Teaching in the Spotlight: Learning from Global Communities. 3/7/2018 - 5/7/2018.
Little, C., hargreaves, C. (2016) 'Skills4Keele: online learning resources and interactive learning opportunities to develop better, happier students.' In UKCISA 2016 Annual Conference. University of Sheffield, 30/6/2016 -
Little, C., Eagles, J., Watson, K. (2014) 'Embedding Sustainability in Skills Development Sessions: A Beginner’s Guide.' In HEA ESD Series: Sustainability Culture by 1000 Cuts. Keele University, 21/5/2014 -
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Posters
Little, C. (2017) 'An unexpected journey: The students that present at an extra-curricular undergraduate research conference and what they present.' [Poster] In The HEA Annual Conference Generation TEF: Teaching in the spotlight. Date viewed 5/7/2017.
Career history
2023
Fellowship of the Staff and Educational Development Association (FSEDA)
2021 - Present
Manchester Metropolitan University - Senior Lecturer in Academic Development
2021 - Present
Innovative Practice in Higher Education Journal - Managing Editor
2021
UK Advising and Tutoring - Recognised Practitioner
2019 - Present
University of the Arts London - External Examiner
2019
Association of Learning Development in HE - Certified Leading Practitioner
2019 - 2021
Innovative Practice in Higher Education Journal - Posters Section Editor
2018
Association of Learning Technologists - Certified Member
2017
Advance HE - Senior Fellow
2017
Keele University - Masters in Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (Distinction)
2017- Present
LearnHigher - Working Group Member and Communications Lead (https://aldinhe.ac.uk/learnhigher/)
2013-2021
Keele University - Teaching Fellow and Learning Developer
2013
Manchester Metropolitan University - Post Graduate Certificate in Education - Post-Compulsory Education and Lifelong Learning
2013
Manchester Metropolitan University - Student Experience Support Tutor
2011
Manchester Metropolitan University - PhD Cultural Studies: Thesis title: ‘A Different Youth Culture? Chav Culture in Britain 2003-2010’
2010-2013
Macclesfield College of Further Education - A-Level lecturer and Pastoral Tutor
2008-2010
Manchester Metropolitan University - Associate Lecturer