Nitin Parmar
Acting Moodle Operations Manger & Learning Technologist
Ext: 4392
Room: WH 5.29
Nitin is responsible for exploring, promoting and supporting the use of a range of e-Learning tools within the university context, including the institutional VLE, Moodle. As part of this remit, he devises and runs a wide variety of seminars and workshops, and provides pedagogical support to the academic community in the form of one-to-one and group meetings complemented by a wide range of supporting resources. In his current role, Nitin is responsible for delivering the Moodle Development Plan for 2010.
Interested in the range of Web 2.0-based applications that be can used to support learning and teaching, Nitin's expertise lies in the area of developing innovative collaboration-based e-Learning activities and using learning technologies to support face-to-face teaching. Emerging thoughts and reflections, which forms part of his work towards attaining CMALT status, can be found both on Nitin's blog, Colligo, and on Twitter.
Nitin is also an assessor on The Bath Award, and is currently a business mentor on the Student Enterprise '09 programme.
Project Lead, Audience Response System pilot
Nitin is currently leading the university pilot of a TurningPoint-based Audience Response System (ARS). The ARS can be used to increase levels of students engagement, motivation and participation in face-to-face teaching, in a non-invasive way. Nitin works with academic colleagues to raise pedagogical awareness of the technology, as well as providing technical support where appropriate. Further details, including a range of case studies, can be found on the project website.
He sits on the steering group for the HEA-funded Engaging Students Through In-Class Technology (ESTICT) SIG. Additionally, he represents the e-Learning team on the JISC-funded EVAF4All: Electronic Voting Analysis and Feedback for All project, which is based at the University of Edinburgh.
External research funding
- De Vos M., Cliffe E.H., Davenport J.H., Hayes A., Parmar N.R. (2009/10). Using Electronic Voting Systems with ResponseWare to improve student learning and enhance the learning experience. HEA Information & Computer Sciences Subject Centre. £3,500. [news item]
Publications
- Bashforth H., Parmar N.R. (2009). The search for active learning: Lessons from a happy accident. [currently being reviewed]
- Davenport J.H., Hayes A., Parmar N.R. (2009). The use of an Electronic Voting System to enhance student feedback. In the proceedings of: 4th Plymouth e-learning Conference: Boundary Changes: Redefining Learning Spaces. [paper | slides available on SlideShare]
- Parmar N.R. (2007). An exploration into the implementation of a Virtual Learning Environment at a Further Education college. University of Oxford. [dissertation]
- Parmar N.R. (2005). Its the communication, not the technology - An Educational Study into the effectiveness of Interactive Whiteboards within Education. University of Bath. [educational study]
- Parmar N.R. (2004). The Evaluation and Redesign of a Fault Logging Application: Examining the effect of screen clutter on user interface usability. University of Bath. [dissertation - 1st class]
Posters
- Parmar N.R., Ramsden A. (2009). Developing and facilitating a creative teaching culture using an Electronic Voting System. In: Technology Supported Learning in the 21st Century: Issues and Paradigms in Transformative Tertiary Education 2009, 1 June 2009, Staffordshire University. [poster | slides available on SlideShare]
- Parmar N. R. (2009). Using an Audience Response System to increase student engagement and provide effective feedback in face-to-face teaching. In: Innovations in Learning Teaching week, 23-27 February 2009, University of Bath. [poster download]
Presentations
- Recent presentations and seminars, including those delivered on a national level, can be found on SlideShare.
- Invited speaker: Technology Supported Learning in the 21st Century - online poster session (2009), "Developing and facilitating a creative teaching culture using an Electronic Voting System", Staffordshire University. [slides available on OPuS]
- Invited speaker: New technologies for interactivity and collaboration, Avon University Libraries in Cooperation (2009), "Using an Audience Response System to increase student engagement and participation in face-to-face teaching", Bath Spa University. [slides available on SlideShare]
- Invited speaker: The e-Learning Practitioners Network (2007), An Introduction to Wikis, University of Surrey.
Professional Memberships
- Professional Member (MBCS) of the British Computer Society
- Member of the Association for Learning Technology
- Member of the General Teaching Council for England
Biography
Moving to the south west from the outskirts of London, Nitin read for a BSc(Hons) Computer Information Systems degree and completed a PGCE in ICT during his first stay at the University of Bath.
Subsequently, he moved to Kellogg College, University of Oxford, to complete an MSc in Educational Studies (e-Learning), where his dissertation focused on the implementation of a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) at a Further Education college, using an action research based approach.
More recently, Nitin participated in a staff exchange programme which saw him spend a month learning Spanish at la Universidad de Alicante. He is currently studying for a GCSE in the language.
Outside interests include digital photography, cinema, golf, playing the guitar... and listening to far too many Michael Bublé albums! Confirming his love for the area, Nitin is a season ticket holder at Bath Rugby.