Dr Nigel Beacham

Biography

Dr Beacham is a Senior Lecturer within the School of Natural and Computing Sciences. Previous to this he was a Research Fellow for the Inclusive Practice Project within the School of Education at the University of Aberdeen for 3 years. He has over 20 years experience carrying out research into the design, implementation and evaluation of e-learning systems and user interfaces of educational technologies.

He began his research career working as a Research Assistant for the Teesside Business School researching the development and use of intelligent tutoring systems for educating trainee accountants. He then went on the work for the Geography Department at the University of Leicester developing and research e-learning systems for Geographers. He then worked for nine years for Loughborough University in a number of departments developing and research e-learning systems as part of undergraduate, postgraduate and continue professional development programmes, until moving to his current post at the University  of Aberdeen.

He has particular expertise in Human-Computer Interaction, Assistive Technologies, and Specific Learning Difficulties such as dyslexia and dyscalculia. His research interests include the computer science education, inclusive education, and educational technology. He has a BSc in Computer Science, an MSc in Human Computer Interaction, and has completed a PhD on the subject of Distributed Performance Support Systems. He has published numerous papers about his research within international peer-reviewed journals and at conferences.

Research Overview

Dr Beacham's research interests include:

• Computer Science Education and Human-Computer Interaction aspects of E-learning
• E-Pedagogies for Inclusion, Digital Inclusion within Schools, Colleges and Higher Education
• Specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia) and assistive technologies
• Distributed Performance Support Systems and Computer-Based Training

Current Research

Dr Beacham is currently investigating the role inclusive education and practices can play in the development of cloud-based security systems. In parallel to this work he is studying e-pedagogies for inclusion. Both streams of work provide ongoing findings for informing future policy and practice in the areas of inclusive education and digital inclusion.

Collaborations

Dr Beacham is currently working with colleagues as part of the Part Time and Short Cycle Higher Education (PT&SCHE) project.

He is a member of the SQA Technology Industry Board and an external examiner for the University of Staffordshire.

Funding and Grants

Dr Beacham was awarded a grant of the project 'Developing NQTs E-Pedagogies for Inclusion' which is a partnership between the PICTAL research group, Inclusive Practice project and the Higher Education Academy Subject Centre ESCalate.

Teaching Responsibilities

Dr Beacham is currently teaching on the following courses:

• Principles of Software Engineering (CS3028: undergraduate)
• Software Engineering and Professional Practice (CS3528: undergraduate)
• Human Computer Interaction (CS2506: undergraduate and CS5075: postgraduate)

Dr Beacham also currently supervises student projects:

• Principles of Software Engineering and Software Engineering and Professional Issues (CS3028 and CS3528: undergraduate)
• Single and Joint Honours Computing Projects (CS4525, CS4529 and CS4594: undergraduate)
• MSc in Information Technology (CS5942: postgraduate)
• MSc Projects in Artificial Intelligence (CS5917: postgraduate)
• Business and Industry Applications of IT (CS3901: undergraduate)

Past responsibilities for teaching included:

• Tools for Science (TS1002: undergraduate)
• Information Technology (CS1017: undergraduate)
• Web Application Development (CS1025 and CS1525: undergraduate and CS1026 and CS1524: distance learning)
• Advanced Web Application Development (CS2509: undergraduate, CS2012 and CS2512: undergraduate and CS2514 and CS2514: distance learning)
• Data Management (CS2015 and CS2018: undergraduate)
• Software Quality Assurance and Control Technology (CS5569: postgraduate)
• Introduction to Database Systems (CS5035: postgraduate and CS5070 distance learning)
• Web Technology (CS1518: undergraduate, CS5548: postgraduate and CS5574: distance learning)
• System Analysis and Design (CS5037: postgraduate and CS5071 distance learning))
• Human Computer Interaction (CS5541: postgraduate and CS5586 distance learning)
• Evaluation of AI Systems (CS5063: postgraduate on-campus)
• Advanced MSc Projects (CS5950: postgraduate)
• Object Oriented Programming (CS1527: undergraduate)
• Web Development (CS5077: postgraduate)
• Data Management (CS2019: undergraduate)
• Database Systems and Big Data (CS5097: postgraduate and CS5098: distance learning)
• Security (CS4028 and CS4097)
• Information Security (CS5099: postgraduate and CS50AH: distance learning)