Biography edit
Christian Cooper is a Secondary School Teacher in ICT and Enterprise, who lives and works in London. Previously he was a University Teaching Fellow and Senior Lecturer in Multimedia Computing, and at Thames Valley University (now known as the University of West London) between June 2000 and September 2008 (initially employed as a Network Administrator and sessional lecturer, before becoming a full-time lecturer in September 2001). At Thames Valley University (as at January 2008) he taught on the BSc(hons) Multimedia Computing, was Programme Leader for BA(hons) programmes in Games Development, and represented the Faculty of the Arts on Thames Valley University's Academic Board, amongst other things. He has also lived for three years in Manchester, working as a freelance consultant.
Initially, he read Computing at University of Oxford, matriculating in 1997 at Lincoln College and was awarded a BA with second class honours. Since then he has completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching & Learning, and supplicated for the MA(oxon). After graduating, he has largely - though not entirely - moved away from pure Computing, and is now involved in the artistic and design-oriented applications of Computing, which he believes to be much more interesting than traditional computing.
Teaching-wise, he has taught, lectured and facilitated learning on a large spectrum of subjects; ranging from traditional Computer Science (Object-oriented programming, Database design and implementation, Functional Programming and Compilers) on one side, through multimedia applications and web development to games design, history and contextual studies on the other. He co-ordinated and lead the running of the third year projects (and the required developmental sessions that come before the actual module) on the BSc(hons) Multimedia Computing at Thames Valley University.
His most recent research interests in HE were related to the field of Technology in Teaching & Learning, and most recently specifically looking into the use of social software to support the learning experience.
Outside of TVU, he is also a project moderator, project assessor and examiner for the British Computer Society, was an external examiner for Staffordshire University (from 2007-2011) and was a visiting lecturer for City University, London between 2005 and 2008.
He is British, and additionally speaks French and Japanese to an intermediate/post beginner level. Amongst many non-work interests, he plays various kinds of poker, collects and plays arcade games, and can occasionally be found playing drums (just for fun). And this is where the story ends...
Qualifications & professional membership edit
- PGCE (Institute of Education, University of London), in progress
- MA (Lincoln College, Oxford), 2005
- PGCert Teaching & Learning for Further & Higher Education (Thames Valley University), 2004
- BA (Hons) Computation (Lincoln College, Oxford), 2000
- Chartered IT Professional, 2008-date
- Member of the IGDA (Independent Game Developers Association), 2007-2009
- Member of the BCS (British Computer Society), 2004-date
- Fellow of the HEA (Higher Education Academy), 2004-date
Disclaimer edit
The opinions, edits and articles of by Christian W Cooper are solely his personal opinions, and are not to be taken as the opinions of the BCS, Thames Valley University or City University, London, nor any other bodies which he may be involved with.