Dr Viv Ellis[back]
I am a University Lecturer in Educational Studies and Co-convenor of the Oxford Centre for Sociocultural and Activity Theory Research (OSAT). I lead the pre-service, postgraduate programme in English Education (PGCE) and teach and supervise on the MSc in Educational Research Methodology and in the doctoral (DPhil) programme. I am a Fellow of St Cross College, where I currently serve on the Executive Committee of Governing Body. I am also a member of the English Faculty at Oxford and a member of the London English Research Group. In my own research, I try to maintain a focus on learning, subject English and the education of teachers with a theoretical perspective derived from Vygotsky that is described as CHAT (cultural historical activity theory).
Research projects:
- Developing English Teaching and Internship Learning (OUP John Fell Fund)
Research topics:
Potential research students who share any of the following interests are encouraged to contact me by email.
- Teacher education and development, with particular reference to secondary English teaching, informed by cultural historical activity theory (CHAT).
- The historical formation of subject English in schools.
- The teaching and learning of writing.
- Sexualities and schooling, especially the relationships between the construction and reconstruction of identities and literacy practices.
- Critical perspectives on digital technologies in education.
Steering groups:
A SELECTION OF RECENT PUBLICATIONS (SINCE 2007)
Books
Ellis, V., Edwards, A. & Smagorinsky, P. eds. (in press, 2010) Cultural Historical Perspectives on Teacher Education and Development: Learning Teaching, London & New York: Routledge
Ellis, V. (2007) Subject Knowledge and Teacher Education: The Development of Beginning Teachers' Thinking, London & New York: Continuum - see Escalate review
Ellis, V., Fox, C. & Street, B. eds. (2007) Rethinking English in Schools: Towards A New and Constructive Stage, London & New York: Continuum - see Education Review (US) review and Literacy (UK) review
Ellis, V. ed., (2007) Learning and Teaching in the Secondary School 3rd edition, Exeter: Learning Matters - see Escalate review
Chapters in books
Edwards, A. & Ellis, V. (in press, 2010) 'The Professional Development of Teachers: European perspectives', in Day, C. ed. International Handbook on Teacher and School Development, London: Routledge
Ellis, V. (2007) ‘More than "soldiering on": realising the potential of teacher education to rethink English in schools', in Ellis, V., Fox, C. & Street, B. eds.
Rethinking English in Schools: Towards A New and Constructive Stage, London & New York: Continuum
Ellis, V. with Fox, C. & Street, B. (2007) ‘Why English? Rethinking the School Subject', in Ellis, V., Fox, C. & Street, B. eds. Rethinking English in Schools: Towards A New and Constructive Stage, London & New York: Continuum
Journal articles:
Ellis, V. (in press, 2010) 'Impoverishing experience: The problem of teacher education in England', Journal of Education for Teaching 36,1:
Ellis, V. (2009) 'Attending to personal growth: the contribution of English to understanding sexual identities', English Journal 98,4: 52 - 55
Ellis, V. (2008) 'Exploring the contradictions in learning to teach: The potential of Developmental Work Research', Changing English: Studies in Culture and Education 16,1: 53 - 63
Ellis, V. (2007) ‘Taking Subject Knowledge Seriously: From Professional Knowledge Recipes to Complex Conceptualisations of Teacher Development', The Curriculum Journal 18, 3: 447 - 462
Ellis, V. (2007) ‘Sexualities and schooling in England after Section 28: measuring and managing ‘at risk' identities', Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education 4,3:13 - 30
Plenary presentation to International Conference on School Reform and Teacher Development, East China Normal University, November 2009: 'The limits of teaching in the managed state: re-energising professional creativity from a cultural-historical perspective'
University of Louisville talk, April 2009: CHAT and Composition table
University of Louisville talk, April 2009: Presentation slides
Web page for the PGCE English programme
OxfordEnglishEd Youtube channel
Conference papers: 'Sociocultural Perspectives on Teacher Education and Development: New Directions for Research' (Spring 2008) available in the Oxford Research Archive.
Former PGCE English student Nick Wergan wins TDA award for outstanding new teacher of the year.