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Alastair studied Design in Newcastle on Tyne (UK) before returning to New Zealand to run his own Graphic design and multi media business and then train as a teacher. He has taught, advised and lectured on Applied Art and Design, Technology, and Special Education (specifically deaf and hearing impairment) in both primary and secondary schools as well as tertiary training providers since 1982.
He has been proactive in his passion for designing positive environments for the next generation of learners and has completed an MA recognizing the implications that curriculum development, spatial design, changes in pedagogies, and improved understandings of cognition have on the design of learning environments.
Alastair was awarded a Wolf Fisher Scholarship in 1992 to study the physics of sound and linguistics at University of New South Wales and the use of technology education for student-centred learning models. He has directed several Telecom ‘technology for teachers’ programmes and designed and developed professional development websites.
He holds a dual role in the Faculty of Education, Senior Lecturer of visual communication and technology education, and an advisor of Graphics for the Auckland/Northland regions. He is currently undertaking PhD research investigating the impact of innovative pedagogies and educational environments on learning.
Alastair has co-written Level 1 to Scholarship Achievement Standards and has a key role in national moderation systems.
Alastair’s academic interests in educational environments, design and technology have inspired a number of publications including:
Design and Graphics in Technology - a resource for yrs 1-8. (2001, Wellington, Learning Media) and Property Management Guidelines for Technology Education. (1998, Ministry of Education).
Alastair’s recent and current involvements include:
- Advisory Panel member of Applied Art and Design Courses for Western Institute of Technology Taranaki (WITT).
- Advisory member of consultant agency Edspace for developing new educational facilities.
- Web developer for http://www.edspace.school.nz. Alastair was awarded an ‘excellence in innovation’ award for his work on this site.
- Web developer and Advisor for Team Solutions professional development programme for teachers of Graphics and Design (http://www.teamsolutions.ac.nz/teamgraphics/index.html)
- Member of the Graphics and Design exemplar development panel (for a Learning Media published resource).
- Member of Expert Panel for the development of Achievement Standards in Graphics and Design.
- Member of Technology Education New Zealand (TENZ).
- Organiser of the Auckland Graphics Teachers ‘Design.ed’ conferences.
Research and creative outputs
Alastair completed his Masters thesis in 2002: Creative Environments for Learning Organisations (Auckland University of Technology).
- Creative Environments for Technology education. Paper presented at TENZ conference Auckland (1999).
- Round Pegs…Square Boxes! Paper (2003). ACE Seminar Series.
- Environments and pedagogical changes. Paper (ACE, 2004). Fulbright Seminar.
- It Happens Anyway - Design in Education. (2005). TENZ conference, Christchurch.
- Design, Thinking and Creativity. (2006). Key Note Address, TRCC conference, Auckland 2006.
Alastair is currently undertaking PhD research investigating the impact of innovative pedagogies and educational environments on learning.
