Professor Derek France is Senior Lecturer in Geography, as an environmental scientist is joint module leader for the first year Physical Geography module and module leader for the Field Skills module.
Overview
His special interests lie in the field of environmental reconstruction the specialist approaches of which he teaches at Level 6 (Year 3). In recent years his research interests have widened to include investigating the student learning experience with particular focus on the use and application of e-learning to support teaching and the value of fieldwork. This is highlighted by his recent publications and conference presentations.
Pr France is a member of the editorial board of the international Journal of Geography in Higher Education published by Taylor & Francis. He has recently been elected to the Chair of the Higher Education Research Group (HERG) of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers).
He was an invited keynote speaker on ‘E-learning in the GEES Disciplines' at Supporting fieldwork using Information Technology, Plymouth, May 2006 and "Undertaking Science Related Pedagogic Research" at one-day LTSN Generic Centre; GEES; Physical Sciences; Maths Stats; Materials; Engineering and Psychology conference held at the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), London, March 2004.
He has also been a subject specialist adviser for Geography to review the Centre for Enhancing Learning and Teaching (CELT) bids to the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) November 2004.
Debbra-Anne Rowe Tsunami Hazard Mapping on the West Coast of Jamaica
Completed PhD Students
Elizabeth Maher (2005) The quaternary evolution of the Rio Alias southeast Spain, with emphasis on sediment provenance. PhD Thesis
Amanda Williams (2003) The sedimentology of Late Devensian glacial deposits in Anglesey, North-West Wales. PhD Thesis
Published work
France, D and Wheeler, A. (in press) Reflections on using Podcasting for Student Feedback. Planet.
France, D & Fletcher, S. (in press) E-learning in the UK: Perspectives from GEES practitioners. Planet.
Fletcher, S., France, D., Moore, K. and Robinson, G. (2007).
Putting Technology into Fieldwork Education: A Pedagogic Evalustion.
Journal of Geography in Higher Education. 31, 2, 319 - 330
Maher, E., Harvey, A.M. and France, D. (2007). Impact of a Major River capture on Alluvial Architecture, Rio Alias, SE Spain. Geomorphology. 84, (3-4) 344-356
Fuller, I., Edmondson, S., France, D., Higgit, D. and Rattinen, I. (2006). International perspectives on the effectiveness of Geography fieldwork for learning and beyond. Journal of Geography in Higher Education,30(1). 89-101.
France, D. and Fletcher, S. (2004). The Motivations and Professional
Development Needs of Aspiring and Serving External Examiners in the
GEES Disciplines" Planet, 13, 30-34.
Ribchester, C. and France, D. (2004) Producing Web Sites for
Assessment: a case study from a level 1 fieldwork module, Journal of
Geography in Higher Education. 28, 49-63.
Fletcher, S., France, D., Moore, K. and Robinson, G. (2003) Technology before Pedagogy? Planet Special Edition 5, 52-55,
Fletcher, S., France, D., Moore, K. and Robinson, G. (2002) Fieldwork Education and Technology: A GEES Perspective Planet 4,17-19.
France,
D & Oldfield (2000) Identifying goethite and hematite from rock
magnetic measurements of soils and sediments Journal of Geophysical
Research 105, B2, 2781-2796.
Conference Contributions
Derek France & John Smith ‘Faculty Based Field Meetings: An
Opportunity to Enhance Fieldwork Practice within Higher Education
Geoscience and Geographic Curricula' American Association of Geography,
San Francisco, USA, April 2007.
France, D & Fletcher, S. ‘E-Learning in the Geography, Earth and
Environmental Sciences (GEES) Disciplines: Practitioner Surveys in the
UK, GeoSciEd V, Bayreuth, Germany, September 2006.
France,
D., & Street, R. ‘Student Learning Experiences of Expedition and
Non-Expedition Fieldwork' International Geographical Union, Brisbane, Australia, July 2006.
France, D & Fletcher, S. Keynote presentation ‘E-learning in the
GEES Disciplines: results and examples' at Supporting fieldwork using
Information Technology, Plymouth, May 2006.
France, D & Fuller, S. ‘International Perspectives on Student
Perception and Value of Fieldwork' American Association of Geography,
Chicago, USA, March 2006.
France, D., & Street, R. "Student Perceptions and Learning
Experiences of a Geographical Expedition' Evaluating the GEES Student
Learning Experience, Manchester, December 2005
France, D., Street, R. & Degg, M. ‘Evaluating Student Perceptions
and Learning Experiences of a Geographical Expedition' International
Society for the scholarship of Teaching & Learning, Vancouver,
Canada, October 2005
France, D., Fletcher, S., Sanders, M., & Bevan, J. GEES
practitioner consultation on E-learning: Initial themes. GEES Subject
Centre Annual Conference, July 2005
Fuller, I,. Edmondson, S. France, D*, Higgitt, D & Ratinen, I.,International
Perspectives on the Effectiveness of Geography Fieldwork for Learning.
American Association of Geographies, Denver, USA), April 2005.
Maher, E.* Harvey, A and France, D Impact of a Major River Capture on Alluvial Architecture, Rio Alias, S.E. Spain. International Geographical Congress, Glasgow, August 2004
France, D., Fletcher, S., Moore, K. and Robinson . Contrasting
Perspectives of Virtual learning Environments: A GEES Practitioner'
Survey. International Geographical Congress, Glasgow August 2004
France, D, Undertaking Science Related Pedagogic Research. Learning
Teaching and Assessment Network Seminar Series. University College
Chester, May 2004
France, D, Undertaking Science Related Pedagogic Research Invited paper
at a National Professional Development Workshop, Research in Teaching
and Learning: Getting Started provided jointly by LTSN Generic Centre;
GEES; Physical Sciences; Maths Stats; Materials; Engineering and
Psychology, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Portland
Place London, March 2004
France, D., Fletcher, S., Moore, K. and Robinson, Fieldwork Education and Technology. GeoScience Education IV, University of Calgary, Canada, August 2003.
France, D., Fletcher, S., Moore, K. and Robinson,Technology before Pedagogy. LTSN-GEES National Conference on Teaching & Research, Warwickshire, June 2003
France, D., Fletcher, S., Moore, K. and Robinson . Fieldwork Education
and Technology Pedagogic Research Group: Preliminary findings Committee
of Heads of Environmental Sciences (CHES) Annual Conference on
‘Research, Recruitment, Retention' University of Birmingham, April 2003
France, D. Relationship of C&IT with Fieldwork: preliminary results
of a National GEES Questionnaire: Fieldwork Education and Technology
Workshop, University of Leicester, May 2002.
Ribchester, C, & France, D., Integrating C&IT and Fieldwork:
Using Web Sites for Assessment Fieldwork Education and Technology
Workshop, University of Leicester, May 2002
