Peter Andrews, Director of Jackdaw Learning & Teaching

I was born and raised in the UK, although part of my childhood was spent in the Canary Islands, Spain.

Since 1990, I have enjoyed a fulfilling teaching career. I started off in Japan on the JET Programme and since then have gained diverse experience at educational institutions in several countries. For example, I was a teacher trainer at the British Council in Singapore and at the University of Reading in the UK. In 2007, I relocated to Hong Kong and acted as Language Curriculum Consultant to Sacred Heart Canossian College before joining the Chinese University of Hong Kong as a Lecturer in their Independent Learning Centre. In 2015, I was consulting and training for the Center of Excellence, Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools in Kazakhstan and nowadays work peripatetically between Britain, China and other countries. From April 2017 I will be based at the University of Reading as an Academic Developer, promoting the quality of learning and teaching across that institution.

My specialisms are Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (TLHE). For the latter, I experienced two years supporting the professional development of lecturers in Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore.

As for qualifications, my first degree was a Master of Arts (Honours) in Philosophy with International Relations at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. I also hold a Certificate and a Diploma in Teaching English as a Foreign Language to Adults from the University of Cambridge as well as a Master of Science in Computer-Based Learning & Training from the University of Southampton, UK.

I am intellectually curious about the following topics: learner diversity, self-directed learning, learning technologies and teacher education.

Publications

Andrews, P. (2015). Flipped classroom: A blended approach. Pedagogical Dialogue, No.2, 2015. Center of Excellence, Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools. http://www.cpm.kz/ru/pedagogical-dialogue/magazine-pedagogical-dialogue/412067/

Plenary speech on Curriculum renewal in Hong Kong at the Republican Seminar, Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan, 18 March 2015. Retrieved from: http://prezi.com/xyul9fqz4yjz/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Presentation on Interdepartmental collaborations and the promotion of independent learning in English: Successes and challenges at the ELTU Conference, June 2014, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Retrieved from http://www.eltu.cuhk.edu.hk/conf/

Presentation on Scaffolding in problem crafting & at the problem identification stage at the International PBL Symposium 2007 – Reinventing PBL, March 2007, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore. Retrieved from http://www.rp.sg/symposium/downloads.htm

Andrews, P. (2005). Effective online professional development for novice English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers. The Teacher Trainer. Retrieved from http://www.tttjournal.co.uk/

Andrews, P. (2005). Integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT) with Task-Based Learning (TBL). IATEFL Computer SIG CALL Review. Retrieved from http://ltsig.org.uk/sig-newsletter/2004-2008/191-lt-200502.html

Voluntary Work

I support the work of China Care Fund, a Hong Kong charity, by providing continuing professional development for in-service English teachers in rural China.