Dr Jean Duckworth

Jean is the Course Leader for the online MSc Transforming Integrated Health and Social Care. She has both a practical and academic interest in online learning and has published and presented extensively in this area. As a pioneer of e-learning in the University Jean created innovative postgraduate courses that enabled students from across the globe to come together in communities of learning. In her role, she facilitates blended learning using relational and flipped learning approaches. Her work in education has led to her appointment as the Chair of the Quality Advisory Board as well as sitting on the Academic Board of the Northern College of Acupuncture. Jean is also a Vice-Chair of the University STEMh ethics committee, as well as being a qualitative researcher with an interest in phenomenology and the lived experience of health practitioners. Working in close collaboration with colleagues Jean module leads a number of online research and research ethics modules.

After completing a degree in Law (LLB) Jean decided to take up an academic career teaching law to undergraduates and completed her PGCE. She subsequently trained as a health professional before joining the University as a course leader in 1999. Continuing both as a practitioner and lecturer Jean completed her MSc in Holistic Health as well as a MA in Bioethics and a PhD. During this period, it became evident that there was a need for an online Masters course for health practitioners and as a consequence the MSc was developed in conjunction with the Learning Development Unit at the University. This was one of the very first wholly online courses delivered by the University (2006). Since then further courses have been developed, all supported by the extensive research and development undertaken by Jean and the MSc team. Jean’s ongoing research interests include many aspects of eLearning, particularly in supporting students and developing relational eLearning. Jean is also on the editorial panel of 3 journals and provides ethical guidance to further peer reviewed journal. She also attends and presents at conferences on eLearning and education.