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Professional Profile

Christina Preston advocates the application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a catalyst for change in teaching and learning (www.mirandanet.org.uk). She is the Founder and Chair of the international MirandaNet Fellowship established in 1992.

Recent research and development projects have focused on innovative models for ICT Continuing Professional Development (CPD) based on practice-based research (action research) and supporting education professionals building international web-based communities of practice. Current practice based exchanges in Citizenship and ICT leadership and mentoring are currently taking place between China, the Czech Republic, England, Friesland, Mexico, South Africa, the United States and Wales.

The MirandaNet Fellowship was established in response to a need expressed amongst teachers for a supportive community of peers who would mentor each other in the exploration of ICT potential in teaching and learning (www.mirandanet.org.uk). The vision which is revisited by the members each year is below:

The MirandaNet Fellowship strives to span national, cultural, commercial and political divides to provide an innovative and inclusive forum for professionals. Fellows who share their experience and expertise are building a professional knowledge base about the use of digital technologies in transforming teaching and learning. Interaction between educators, researchers, industry and government is at the heart of the learning processes that underpin and support good practice. Individual learning patterns and talents are celebrated through practice-based research strategies,peer e-mentoring and collaborative knowledge-building.

Dissemination and publication are central to the Fellowship process.

There are now about two hundred and fifty Fellows in twenty five chapters all over the world and about three hundred scholars. Scholars become Fellows when they publish a case study about their ICT work. The MirandaNet website receives an average of over 1500 successful page requests per day.

One recent MirandaNet venture is the Braided Learning e-journal written by teachers for teachers The MirandaNet e-journal is designed to provide practising teachers with a professional platform where they can publish their evidence and create a knowledge base This e-journal that is peer reviewed has been popular with teachers on practice-based courses and is a significant factor in raising the standards of course work (www.mirandanet.org.uk/ejournal).

Another venture is World ECitizens, a charity which has been established by the Fellows to provide a web-space where young learners can map the world they dream about for the future. The project is called Etopia - mapping the world WE want (www.worldecitizens.net).

World Ecitizens (WE) has a website for children's publications - a response to global upheavals caused by the War on Terror. It aims to encourage understanding between people's cultures and communities and to share across the world the fascinating diversity within nations (www.worldecitizens.net).

MirandaNet Fellowship partners include BECTA, the TDA, the DfES and the EU, as well as international universities. Partner companies who currently support ICT projects in schools include 2Simple, Fronter, Inspiration, LogicaCMG, Microsoft and Oracle.

Christina Preston holds honorary Fellowships at the Institute of Education, University of London, and the Czech Technical University, Prague. She is also a director of the MirandaNet Academy at Bath Spa University, Professional memberships include the British Computer Society, the Society of Authors, the National Association of Advisers in Computers and Education (NAACE) and Information Technology Teachers in Education (ITTE). She is also on the judging panel of BETT education awards. She keeps up with new trends being a referee for the journals Education Technology, Pedagogy and Education (Triangle), Computers and Education (Elsevier), Educational Action Research (MMU) and a new journal for teachers undergoing academic studies, Reflecting Education (IOE, London). She is also Chair of the World Ecitizens charity and an adviser to the UnnayanNet organisation for unity in Bangladesh.

Christina Preston is also managing director of MirandaNet Ltd, an international education and ICT consultancy service which includes practising teachers.

Awards

Main professional interests

Contact at MirandaNet to discuss any other aspect of this CV.

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