School of Education Research Staff Profile

Dr Debra McGregor

Name	Dr Debra McGregor
Title	Reader in Education
Research group	Cluster coordinator: Developing Pedagogy cluster Member: Mentoring and Professional Development cluster
Tel	01902 32 3030
E-mail	DebMcgregor@wlv.ac.uk

Developmental work and research activity

Deb McGregor has much experience and interest in working with classroom practitioners, in various subjects and at various phases of the educational process.

She has worked within primary, secondary and tertiary, in both the States and the UK. She is especially interested in science, the inherent challenges the nature of the subject presents and also associated pedagogy to motivate and stimulate effective learning. She has been involved in producing curriculum materials as well as researching and writing about teaching and learning processes.

Key and recent publications and materials developed

McGregor D, Hooker B & Wise D, Devlin L (2010) Supporting professional learning through teacher educator enquiries: An ethnographic insight into developing understandings and changing identities. Journal of In-service Education: Special Edition: Professional Development of Teacher Educators. In Press. Publication due April 2010.
McGregor D & Taylor P (2010) How do pre-service secondary science teachers strategize their pedagogy to teach for conceptual change? Conference Proceedings European Science Education Research Association Istanbul 31st Aug – 4th Sept 2009. In Press. Publication due 2010.
2008-9, Hadfield M, Jopling M & McGregor D, Developing the evidence base for the curriculum, QCA.
McGregor D & Tolmie A (2009) Groupwork in Science classrooms. Education in Science. 30 - 31.
McGregor D (2009) Exploring the influence of differentiated tasks on talking and learning in small groups. Newcastle University : Teaching and Learning Update. 22 4 – 6
McGregor D & Taylor P (2009) Pedagogic tactics to teach for conceptual change. Evidence from beginning secondary science teachers. Conference Proceedings Association of Science Education Reading Jan 2009. ASE/BERA Special Interest Group. In press. Publication due December 2009.
2008, research cluster seminar presentation: Using Talk to Inform Pedagogy. Download a PDF of the Powerpoint presentation.
McGregor D, Perspectives on international teaching: suggestions from a comparative reflection of teacher education for secondary science trainees in the United States and the United Kingdom, paper presented at 32nd ATEE conference, University of Wolverhampton, Telford, UK, August.
McGregor D, (2007) Contrasting the US and UK state education systems. Insights from transferring students, Weekly Telegraph.
McGregor D, Developing Thinking; Developing Learning. A thinking skills guide for education, Open University Press. 340pp (2007) ISBN 9780335217809
McGregor D, Task structure and influence on pupils’ learning processes. A series of case studies in secondary science. Journal of Curriculum Studies (2007).
Gunter B, McGregor D, & Twist, J (2007) Reflective Science. A KS4 series of activities (on DVD) designed to promote higher order thinking skills.
McGregor D, & Gunter, B, Invigorating pedagogic change : Initiating development of secondary science teachers’ practice and cognisance of the learning process. European Journal of Teacher Education (2006) Vol 29 (1), 23-48.
McGregor D, Interactive pedagogy and subsequent effects on learning in science classrooms. Journal of Westminster Studies in Education. Special issue ‘Interactive and inclusive pedagogy’. (2004) Vol 27(2) 237-262
McGregor D, & Gunter B, (2003) A metacognitive approach to teaching particulate theory, Video and teacher’s guide, available from barrygunter@thinkingandlearning.co.uk

Recent conference papers

McGregor D & Precious W (2010) “Reporting on the use of drama to support primary science learning” Association of Science Education Annual Conference, Nottingham University Jan 6 – 9th Accepted.
McGregor D & Precious W (2010) “Exploring how drama can support science learning at KS 1” Association of Science Education Annual Conference, Nottingham University Jan 6 – 9th Accepted.
McGregor D & Taylor P (2009) How do beginning science teachers strategize their pedagogy to overcome their pupils' misconceptions? Association of Science Education Annual Conference, Reading University Jan 7 – 10th
McGregor D (2009) Cognitive capability and scientific enquiry skills : are there pedagogic implications? Association of Science Education Annual Conference, Reading University Jan 7 – 10th.
McGregor D (2009) What does research say about group work in secondary science? Association of Science Education Annual Conference, Reading University Jan 7 – 10th
McGregor D & Taylor, P. (2009) “How do pre-service secondary science teachers strategize their pedagogy to teach for conceptual change?” ESERA conference in Istanbul, Turkey in August 2009.

Current development and research projects

Principle Investigator: Astra Zeneca ‘Using drama to teach KS 1 Science’ (Sept 09 – Sept 10)
Principle Investigator: Esmee Fairbairn ‘Evaluating the impact of Reflective Science @ KS 4’ (June 09 – July 10)
Principle Investigator: Escalate ‘Researching beginning science, maths and english teachers’ pedagogies. Applying learning theory to inform enriched planning and practrice.’