Ruth Kershner

Position/Status

University Lecturer in Psychology of Education and Primary Education

E-mail Address

rsk21@cam.ac.uk

Phone

01223 767565

Qualifications

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Profile

Ruth Kershner joined the Faculty of Education after working as a child care worker, primary school teacher and learning support teacher, and training as a professional educational psychologist. She has a particular interest in primary education and children's classroom learning, the teaching of children identified with learning difficulties, teachers' professional learning and knowledge, and the development of inclusive pedagogy.

Her current research interests draw on psychological and sociocultural views of children's classroom learning. This includes recent work on the ways in which ICT, especially interactive whiteboards, can be used to support children's collaborative science learning in primary classrooms. It also relates to research on teachers' professional decision-making, their use of published research evidence, and their own school-based research. In the field of special educational needs and psychology a central concern is with how teachers can make use of the rapid growth of medical and biological information about factors which can affect children's social and intellectual development.

Academic Area/Links

Psychology and Education; Primary Education; Research Methods

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Research Topics

Primary classroom learning - technology and learning - inclusive pedagogy - teaching strategies for children identified with learning difficulties - teachers' knowledge and practice.

Recent Research Projects

2010-11 ChALK - Children's Awareness of Learning and Knowledge:  with Linda Hargreaves

2008-9: Interactive Whiteboards and Collaborative Pupil Learning in Primary Science: with Neil Mercer, Paul Warwick and Judith Kleine Staarman.

Prospective PhD Applications

Ruth would welcome informal contact from prospective PhD students on any of the research topics mentioned above.

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Course Involvement

BA Part II: Psychology of Inclusion; PGCE (Primary) Partnership Tutor; MEd in Primary Education; MEd/MPhil in Psychology and Education; MEd Research Methods

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Publications

Kershner, R., Mercer, N., Warwick, P. and Kleine Staarman, J. (2010)  Can the interactive whiteboard support young children's collaborative communication and thinking in classroom science activities?   Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning   5, 359-383

Alexander, R., with Doddington, C., Gray, J., Hargreaves, L. and Kershner, R. (eds) (2010) The Cambridge Primary Review Research Surveys. Abingdon: Routledge.

Alexander, R. (ed.) (2010) Children, their World, their Education: final report and recommendations of the Cambridge Primary Review. Abingdon: Routledge.   (contribution to chaps 8 and 9)

Florian, L. and Kershner, R. (2009) 'Inclusive pedagogy' in H. Daniels, H. Lauder and J. Porter (eds) Knowledge, Values and Educational Policy: a critical perspective Abingdon: Routledge pp. 173-183

Hick, P, Kershner, R. and Farrell, P. (eds) (2009) Psychology for Inclusive Education: New directions in theory and practice Abingdon: Routledge

Kershner, R. (2009) 'Learning in inclusive classrooms' in P. Hick, R. Kershner and P. Farrell (eds) Psychology for Inclusive Education: New directions in theory and practice Abingdon: Routledge pp. 52-65

Warwick, P. and Kershner, R. (2008) Primary teachers' understanding of the interactive whiteboard as a tool for children's collaborative learning and knowledge-building Learning, Media and Technology, Volume 33 Issue 4, 269-287

Kershner, R. (2007) 'What do teachers need to know about meeting special educational needs?' in L. Florian (ed.) The SAGE Handbook of Special Education London: SAGE pp. 486-498

Kershner, R. and Florian, L. (2006) 'Teaching Strategies for Pupils with SEN: Specialist or Inclusive Pedagogy?' in R. Webb (ed.) Changing Learning and Teaching in the Primary School. Maidenhead, Berks: Open University Press pp. 115-128

Warwick, P. and Kershner, R. (2006) 'Is there a picture of beyond?' Mind mapping, ICT and collaborative learning in primary science' in P. Warwick, E. Wilson and M. Winterbottom (eds) Teaching and Learning Primary Science with ICT Maidenhead, Berks: Open University Press/McGraw Hill pp. 108-127

Kershner, R. and Chaplain, R. (2001) 'Understanding Special Educational Needs: A teacher's guide to effective school-based research', London: Fulton

Kershner, R. (2000) 'Organising the physical environment of the classroom to support children's learning', 'Recognising and responding to children as individuals', 'Teaching children whose progress in learning is causing concern', chaps. 2, 12 and 14 in D. Whitebread (ed.) The Psychology of Teaching and Learning in the Primary School, London: RoutledgeFalmer

Kershner, R. and Pointon, P. (2000) 'Children's views of the primary classroom as an environment for working and learning', Research in Education, 64, 64-77

Pointon, P. and Kershner, R. (2000) 'Making decisions about organising the primary classroom as a context for learning: the views of three experienced teachers and their pupils', Teaching and Teacher Education, 16, 117-127 (reprinted in abridged version in J. Collins et al (eds) (2000) Developing Pedagogy: Researching practice London: Paul Chapman Publishing/Open University)

Kershner, R. (2000) 'Developing student teachers' understanding of strategies for teaching SEN children', Education Today, 50 (4), 31-39

Kershner, R. (1999) 'The role of school-based research in helping teachers to extend their understanding of children's learning and motivation', Journal of In-service Education, 25 (3), 423-445

Kershner, R., Flutter, J. and Rudduck, J. (1998) 'Teacher research as a basis for school improvement: but is it useful beyond the school in which it was carried out?', Improving Schools, 1 (2), 59-62

Flutter, J., Kershner, R. and Rudduck, J. (1998) Thinking about Learning, Talking about Learning: A report of the Effective Learning Project, Cambridge: Cambridgeshire County Council/Homerton College