Staff Directory: Dr Jonathan Adams

Jonathan Adams graduated from the University of Bradford in 1990 with a B.Eng. degree in electrical and electronic engineering.  He also holds a Certificate in Education from the University of Leicester, and an M.A. in Continuing Education from the University of Warwick. His industrial background is in the lift making industry where he spent nearly 10 years.  For the past 17 years he has been employed at The University of Northampton specialising in distance education for the lift industry.  He is currently Head of Lift Education, and Associate Head of the University's Framework.

His research interests include teaching and learning strategies used in continuing education, and in the use of electronic methods for delivery, assessment and support, and he is currently undertaking a PhD in this area.

He is a Teaching Fellow of The University of Northampton.

Education and Qualifications

• PhD Engineering Education The University of Northampton 2006-present
• MA Continuing Education The University of Warwick 1996
• Certificate in Education The University of Leicester 1994
• B.Eng. Elec/Electronic Engineering The University of Bradford 1990

Employment

• Head of Lift Education (full time)/  The University of Northampton 2008
  Assoc. Head of Frameworks
• Senior Lecturer (full time) The University of Northampton 1992 - 2008
• Lecturer (part time) Nene College Northampton 1990 - 1992
• Research Engineer The Express Lift Co Ltd 1990 - 1992
• Undergraduate Apprentice The Express Lift Co Ltd 1986 - 1990

• Indentured Technician Apprentice The Express Lift Co Ltd 1983 - 1986

Administration

• Member of The University of Northampton Learning and Teaching Committee
• Chair of The University of Northampton Distance Learning Working Group, which reports to the above committee. 

Other Interests

Brass Banding, photography

• Head of Lift Education
  • Course leader for BTEC Lift Technology and FDSc Lift Engineering programmes.
• MSc Lift Engineering:  
  • Front line tutor
  • LIFM007 Control Systems (module leader)
  • Dissertation supervisor
• BSc Engineering:  
  • First year problem solving and creativity in engineering
  • ENG3001 Applications of Technology (module leader)
  • ENG3002 Computer Simulation and Modelling (module leader)
  • Project supervisor

• Engineering Education
• Graduate skills development
• Problem Solving and Creativity in Engineering
• Open and distance learning
• The use of robots in teaching
• Problem Solving and Creativity for Engineers

Funded Research

• The inclusion of Robots within problem-solving"
  Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre: 2007-2008: £2500
• Developing key engineering graduate skills using Learning Objects"
  Higher Education Academy Engineering Subject Centre: 2008-2009: £3500

Other publications

• Teaching and Learning: (Adams et al., 2007, Adams et al., 2008a, Adams and Turner, 2008b, Adams and Turner, 2008a, Adams et al., 2008b)
• Adams, J., Kaczmarczyk, S., Picton, P. & Demian, P., 2007. Improving Problem Solving and Encouraging Creativity in Engineering Undergraduates International Conference on Engineering Education ICEE 2007, Coimbra, Portugal.
• Adams, J., Kaczmarczyk, S., Picton, P. & Demian, P., 2008a. Problem Solving and Creativity in Engineering: findings of interviews with experts and novices International Conference on Engineering Education ICEE 2008, Budapest, Hungary.
• Adams, J. & Turner, S., 2008a. Problem Solving and Creativity for Undergraduate Computing and Engineering students: the use of robots as a development tool Creating Contemporary Student Learning Environments 2008, Northampton, UK.
• Adams, J. & Turner, S., 2008b. Problem Solving and Creativity for Undergraduate Engineers: process or product? International Conference on Innovation, Good Practice and Research in Engineering Education 2008, Loughborough, UK.
• Adams, J., Turner, S., Kaczmarczyk, S., Picton, P. & Demian, P., 2008b. Problem Solving and Creativity for Undergraduate Engineers: findings of an action research project involving robots International Conference on Engineering Education ICEE 2008, Budapest, Hungary

Distance and lift education:

• Maguire M, Kaczmarczyk S, Adams J & Smith R 2006 Experimental Identification of Modal Parameters of a Lift Suspension System. Paper presented to the Symposium on the Mechanics of Slender Structures (MoSS 2006), Northampton 28th-29th September 2006 .
• Kaczmarczyk, S., Andrew, J. P., Adams, J. P., Postgraduate and Research Programmes in Lift Engineering at The University of Northampton . Elevator Technology 16, Proceedings of ELEVCON 2006, June 20 - 22, 2005 , Helsinki , Finland , pp. 131-140.
• Adams, J. P., Andrew, J. P., Kaczmarczyk, S., Lift Technology by Distance Learning "Comes of Age". Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEE 2005), 25 - 29 July 2005, Gliwice , Poland , pp. 688-692. ISSN: 1562-3580.
• Adams, J. P. & Potter, T., "LEIA Lift Technology by Distance Learning 'Comes of Age'", Elevator World, March 2005, pp. 126 - 130
• Kaczmarczyk, S., Andrew, J. P., Adams, J. P., Postgraduate Programme in Lift Engineering at University College Northampton : Bridging the Gap between Practice, Learning and Research. Proceedings of the International Conference on Engineering Education (ICEE 2005), 25 - 29 July 2005, Gliwice , Poland , pp. 682-687. ISSN: 1562-3580.
• Adams J P & Andrew P 2004 Distance Education for Niche Industries: A Case Study of the Lift Industry. Proceedings of the International Conference on Innovation, Good Practice and Research in Engineering Education, Wolverhampton University , Wolverhampton 7th-9th July 2004 . 0-9542116-5-0.
• Kaczmarczyk S & Adams J 2004 Vibration Testing of Aramid Elevator Suspension Ropes. Lecture given at the PULSE User Seminar, Stevenage 17th-18th November 2004.