Lecturer in Psychology (part-time) and PhD Researcher
I currently teach psychology (part time) and I am working towards my PhD completion this year, hoping this will be the last degree I study for!
I have worked at the University of Bedfordshire since 2006 as a researcher and teacher. I joined the Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, Bridges-CETL ( now called the Centre for Learning Excellence) as a research fellow, which gave me an opportunity to work with and for a community of practitioners who shared an interest in enhancing the quality of learning and teaching and propagating and embedding Personal Development Planning (PDP) and employability in the curriculum.
Both my work in the CETL and my doctoral research have engaged me in current debates in education, specifically internalisation, teaching and learning, personal, academic and professional development and employability in higher education and sensitised me to the needs of diverse students (something I am most passionate about).
I lecture in psychology (foundations to psychology, previously social and developmental psychology, critical social psychology, counselling and interpersonal psychology) and I thoroughly enjoy interacting with students.
I spend all my free time showing the beauty of the world to my little daughter and I enjoy traveling, exploring nature and other cultures and traditions.
Other references
Qualifications
- MA in Psychology - University of Lodz, Poland, equivalent of 1st class, 1996 – 2001
- BEd, English (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) - University of Lodz, Foreign Language Teacher Training College, Poland, equivalent of 1st class, 2001 – 2004
- Qualified Teacher Status (obtained from the General Teaching Council on 15th August 2005) – Teacher Reference Number: 0533779
- Currently working towards PhD (expected 2012)
Teaching Role
- Part time lecturing in Psychology department (foundations to psychology, previously: social and developmental psychology, critical social psychology, counselling and interpersonal psychology)
Research Interests
- Cultural factors in learning and development, intercultural learning and communication
- Personal Development, PDP, ePDP and CPD
- Life-long learning and teaching
- Qualitative methodologies
- Concept mapping (as a tool for research, facilitation of learning and reflection)
- Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge
- Creative spaces and technologies, and their role in students engagement in learning processes
Recent Research Projects
- Patchwork assessment project (psychology department, 2011)
- E-portfolios: piloting and evaluating e-portfolios projects (2007)
- Creative spaces & their role in students learning (2007-2008)
- Concept mapping as a tool for reflection (2008-2010)
- STARS project – creation of an interactive web-based resource which enables students to identify, evidence and articulate their employability, www.starsprocess.ac.uk (2008)
- NARN – activities under National Action Research Network (2010)
- RIPEN – responsibility for Research in Pedagogy Enhancement Network (2007-2010)
Service to the Academic/Professional Community
- Journal of Assessment, Learning and Teaching, Special Issue: Employability – peer-reviewer for special issue on employability
Recent Conference Presentations
- Jankowska, M. Listen! I want to learn, learn and learn - Central Eastern European voice in higher education. Teaching International Students Conference, 16-17 June 2011, Warwick.
- Jankowska, M. Concepts of personal development (PD) among students of four cultural backgrounds at a multi-cultural university – raising awareness of various representations. Higher Education Academy Annual Conference, 5-6 July 2011, Nottingham, East Midlands Conference Centre
- Jankowska, M (November 2009) Concept mapping technique as a vehicle for gaining insight into students’ understanding of personal development, ICERI, Madrid, Spain.
- Jankowska M, Raiker, A (2008) Creative use of learning spaces to encourage independent and collaborative learning, Third Symposium on Social Learning Spaces, Oxford Brookes.
- Jankowska M. (July 2007) PsyPAG (Psychology Postgraduate Affairs Group) Annual Conference 2007, London South Bank University, Poster Presentation: Use of creative space in enhancing students’ engagement.
- Gaitan A., Jankowska M. and Manton R. (July 2007) HEA Conference, Harrogate, Evaluating the use of ePortfolios.
- Jankowska M. Digital Stories of engagement told through e-portfolios, Teaching & Learning Symposium, University of Bedfordshire, June 2007.
- Jankowska M. and Gamble M. (June 2007) SCEPTrE Learning for a Complex World Conference, University of Surrey, Masterclass Exploring with Wiki.
- Jankowska, M (March 2007) Use of creative space in enhancing students' engagement, Second Sympsosium on Social Learning Space, Cardiff.
- Atlay M., Jankowska M., Parrott G., Petrova P. and Ujma D. (November 2006) CRA Conference, PDP: Putting Development(s) into Policy(ies) The 2006 National Residential Seminar, Midland Hotel, Manchester.
- Atlay M. and Jankowska M. (October 2006) CRA/HE Conference, Researching and Evaluating PDP and e-Portfolios, The Oxford Belfry, Five years of problem solving: The implementation of Personal Development Planning at the University of Luton.
Recent Publications
- Jankowska, M. (2011) A reflection on adaptability; achievement motivation and success of Central and Eastern European students in one English university, COMPARE – a journal of international and comparative education, 41, 6, 81-818.
- Jankowska, M. (2010). Concept mapping – a reflective tool in Personal Development Planning (PDP), ALT – Journal of Assessment, Learning and Teaching, Special Issue: Employability, Number 10, Winter 2010, ISSN 1756-878.
- Jankowska, M. (2010). Enabling Student Development: with socially mediated concept mapping technique, Journal for Learning Development in Higher Education, Special Edition: Researching PDP Practice, November 2010, ISSN: 1759-667X, www.aldinhe.ac.uk/ojs
- Jankowska, M., Ataly, M., Gaitán, A. (2010). Who are you and what is your destination? – evaluation of an entry point and the role of cultural differences in Personal Development Planning. Problemy Profesjologii, Vol 2, Zielona Gora.
- Jankowska, M. (2009). Concept mapping technique as a vehicle for gaining insight into students’ understanding of personal development, ICERI 2009 proceedings, ISBN: 978-84-613-2953-3
- Jankowska, M., Smart, T. (2007). Comfort zones challenged!! Using diversity to create synergy in a multicultural classroom. Paper submited for BMW Intercultural Award.
- Gaitán, A., Manton, R. & Jankowska, M. (2008). Moving forward from piloting e-portfolios: applying the lessons learnt to wider adoption. CRA 'PDP & ePortfolio Newsletter', Issue 15.
- Jankowska, M. (2008). Use of creative space in enhancing students’ engagement, Innovations in Education and Teaching International, Vol 45, 3, p 271-279.
- Atlay, M., Jankowska, M. (2006). Five years of problem solving: the implementation of Personal Development Planning at the University of Luton.
Contact details
Luton campus
Park Square
Luton, LU1 3JU
T: +44 (0)1234 400400 ext 3154
E:maja.jankowska@beds.ac.uk
