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Professor Frank Banks

C.Phys, F.Inst.P., FRSA

Profile summary

  • Visiting Formal Academic
  • Emeritus Professor
  • Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies
  • School of Education, Childhood, Youth & Sport
  • Education
  • frank.banks

Professional biography

I am Emeritus Professor of Teacher Education.

I was Director of International Development in Teacher Education; and a Teacher Educator of teachers of design and technology, science and English. I worked on English in Action in Bangladesh and TESS-India.

Before joining the OU I worked as a school teacher of science, engineering and technology in different secondary comprehensive schools in England and in Wales, including head of department, and as a primary school advisory teacher in Powys. I was a lecturer in physics education at the University of Wales, Swansea.

I have authored or edited 14 books/ handbooks for teachers and over one hundred academic papers, and acted as a consultant in the professional development of teachers to Egyptian, South African and Argentinean government agencies, UNESCO and the World Bank.

I enjoy amateur dramatics, particularly Gilbert & Sullivan and playing with my grandchildren.

Research interests

The Professional Development of Teachers, particularly through the use of open and distance learning.

The links between School Science and School Technology.

Convenor of ‘DEPTH’ technology teacher international education research group

This research group, developed from a Special Interest Group of the Pupils Attitudes Towards Technology (PATT) conferences, has produced a set of linked international studies of Developing Professional Thinking for Technology Teachers (DEPTH). The group has presented at refereed conferences around the world and published in international journals, including a special edition of the International Journal of Technology and Design Education in 2008.  In 2013 DEPTH is extending to look a professional development of school mentors of Design and Technology.

Teaching interests

Teacher Education - especially in the subject areas of Science and Design & Technology

Impact and engagement

International Consultancies since 2005

May 2013             Facilitation of Accreditation of the Bachelor of photography and Masters in Broadcast and Cross-Media Journalism at South Asian Media Academy, BMB Mott MacDonald, Netherlands.

May 2012             Facilitation of Accreditation of the Post Graduate Masters in Broadcast Journalism at South Asian Media Academy, BMB Mott MacDonald, Netherlands.

Dec 2011              Workshop on Education Resilience:  Mixed Research Approach Training, University of Juba, South Sudan, World Bank.

March 2010         Leader of an International Team evaluation of the Teacher Education Programmes, School for Continuing Teachers’ Education, North-West University, South Africa.

Feb 2007               Evaluation of the programmes and processes of the School for Continuing Teachers’ Education, North-West University, South Africa.

Feb 2006               Workshop series for Iraqi teachers on Mentoring for New Teaching strategies and Open and Distance Teacher Education including the production of a Mentor Guide, UNESCO.

Oct 2005               Workshop series for academics in Sub-Saharan Africa designing the curriculum in Physics Teacher Education using Open and Distance Education,  African Virtual University (AVU).

Sept 2005             Workshop series for Iraqi teachers on New Teaching strategies and Open and Distance Teacher Education, UNESCO.

External collaborations

Academic editorial work

2015 - present     Academic Reviewer, Springer Publications, Singapore and Germany.

2013 – present    Academic Reviewer, ‘Educational Research and Reviews’, On-Line

2012 – 2017         Editorial Board, ‘Australasian Journal of Technology Education’

2012 – present    Editorial Board, ‘Science and Technology Education Journal (SATEj)’, University of Johannesburg, Open Access.

2012 – present    Academic Reviewer, ‘Educational Research’, NFER, UK

2011 – present    Academic Reviewer, ‘International Journal of Educational Research’, Elsevier.

2009 – 2013         Editorial Board, ‘International Journal of Technology and Design Education’, Springer.

2005 – 2009         Academic Reviewer, ‘Learning, Media and Technology’, Routledge.

2003 – 2010         Academic Reviewer, ‘Curriculum Journal’, Routledge.

 

2012                       Elected Fellow, Institute of Physics

2007                       Elected Fellow, Higher Education Academy

2001                       Elected Fellow, Royal Society of Arts, Commerce and Manufacturing

1983                       Elected Chartered Physicist

DEPTH Researchers:  Frank Banks (Group Convenor), Open University, UK; David Barlex, (formerly) Brunel University UK; Sarah Davies, Nottingham Trent University, UK; David Ellis, Southern Cross University, Australia; Jouni Hintikka, Oulu University, Finland; Esa-Matti Jarvinen, Oulu University, Finland; Arto Karsikas, Oulu University, Finland; David Leask, (formerly) Manchester University, UK; Matt McLain, John Moores University, UK; Gary O'Sullivan, Massey University, New Zealand; Sue Miles-Pearson, Roehampton University, UK; Gwyneth Owen-Jackson, Open University, UK; Marion Rutland, Roehampton University, UK; Ruth Seabrook, Roehampton University,UK; Cliff Seggie, Edge Hill University, UK; Paul Spencer, Edge Hill University, UK; John Williams, Waikato University, New Zealand.

 

Publications

School-based teachers’ professional development through technology enhanced learning in Bangladesh (2012)
Shohel, M. Mahruf C. and Banks, Frank
Teacher Development: An international journal of teachers' professional development, 16(1) (pp. 25-42)

Teachers' professional development through the English in Action Secondary Teaching and Learning Programme in Bangladesh: experience from the UCEP schools (2010)
Shohel, M. Mahruf C. and Banks, Frank
Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences, 2(2) (pp. 5843-5494)

Learning in DEPTH: developing a graphical tool for professional thinking for technology teachers (2008-07)
Banks, Frank
International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 18(3) (pp. 221-229)

DEPTH – Developing professional thinking for technology teachers: An international study (2004-05)
Banks, Frank; Barlex, David; Jarvinen, Esa-Matti; O'Sullivan, Gary; Owen-Jackson, Gwyneth and Rutland, Marion
International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 14(2) (141 -157)

Teaching STEM in the Secondary School: helping teachers meet the challenge, 2nd edition (2020-12-30)
Banks, Frank and Barlex, David
ISBN : 9780367330460 / 9780429317736 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon

Teaching STEM in the Secondary School: helping teachers meet the challenge (2014-04-09)
Banks, Frank and Barlex, David
ISBN : 978-0-415-67530-7 / 978-0-203-80992-1 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon

Technology education and developing countries (2015)
Banks, Frank and Chikasanda, Vanwyk K. M.
In: Williams, P. John; Jones, Alister and Buntting, Cathy eds. The Future of Technology Education. Contemporary Issues in Tecnology Education (pp. 217-238)
ISBN : 978-981-287-169-5 | Publisher : Springer | Published : Singapore

Transferring knowledge versus learning knowledge through technology education: what's the difference? (2013-09-20)
Banks, Frank and Plant, Malcolm
In: Middleton, Howard and Baartman, L. K. J. eds. Transfer, Transitions and Transformations of Learning. International Technology Education Series (11) (pp. 23-39)
ISBN : 978-94-6209-435-2 | Publisher : Sense Publishers | Published : Rotterdam

International perspectives on technology education (2013-05-08)
Banks, Frank and Williams, John
In: Owen-Jackson, Gwyneth ed. Debates in Design and Technology Education. Debates in Subject Teaching (pp. 31-48)
ISBN : 978-0-415-68904-5 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon

Innovation education through science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) subjects - the UK experience (2013-03-25)
Banks, Frank
In: Shavinina, Larisa V. ed. The Routledge International Handbook of Innovation Education (pp. 557-569)
ISBN : 978-0-415-68221-3 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon

New modes of teacher pre-service training and professional support (2012-09-10)
Anamuah-Mensah, Jophus; Banks, Frank; Moon, Robert and Wolfenden, Freda
In: Moon, Robert ed. Teacher Education and the Challenge of Development: A Global Analysis. Education, Poverty and International Development (pp. 201-211)
ISBN : 978-0-415-60071-2 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon

India: committing to change (2012-08-15)
Banks, Frank and Dheram, Premakumari
In: Moon, Robert ed. Teacher Education and the Challenge of Development: a Gobal Analysis.. Education, Poverty and International Development (pp. 76-90)
ISBN : 978-0-415-60071-2 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon

What do 'good' teachers know? Investigating teacher professional knowledge (2011)
Banks, Frank
In: Subramaniam, K. ed. Research Trends in Science, Technology and Mathematics Education. The episteme Reviews (3) (pp. 275-299)
ISBN : 978-0230-33242-3 | Publisher : Macmillan India | Published : New Delhi, India

Technological literacy in a developing world context: the case of Bangladesh (2011)
Banks, Frank
In: de Vries, Marc J. ed. Positioning Technology Education in the Curriculum. International Technology Education Studies (8) (pp. 219-226)
ISBN : 978-94-6091-674-8 | Publisher : Sense Publishers | Published : Rotterdam

Competency based training in the UK (2009-09-28)
Banks, Frank
In: Jones, Alister and de Vries, Marc eds. International Handbook of Research and Development in Technology Education. International technology Education Series (5) (pp. 555-568)
ISBN : 978-90-8790-877-5 | Publisher : Sense publishers | Published : Rotterdam

Research on teaching and learning in technology education (2009-09-28)
Banks, Frank
In: Jones, Alister and de Vries, Marc eds. International Handbook of Research and Development in Technology Education (pp. 373-390)
ISBN : 978-90-8790-878-2 | Publisher : Sense Publishers

Teaching design and technology (2008-05-13)
Banks, Frank
In: Owen-Jackson, Gwyneth ed. Learning to teach design and technology in the secondary school. Learning to teach subjects in the secondary school series (pp. 174-193)
ISBN : 9780415464932 | Publisher : Routledge/Falmer | Published : London

The role of making in design and technology (2007-11-15)
Banks, Frank and Owen-Jackson, Gwyneth
In: Barlex, David ed. Design and technology for the next generation: A collection of provocative pieces, written by experts in their field to stimulate reflection and curriculum innovation
ISBN : 9781901351002 | Publisher : Cliffe & Company | Published : Whitchurch, UK

International collaborative case studies: Developing professional thinking for technology teachers (2007-10-19)
Banks, Frank
In: Middleton, Howard ed. Researching technology education: Methods and techniques. International Technology Education Series (pp. 28-45)
ISBN : 9789087902605 | Publisher : Sense Publishers | Published : Rotterdam, Netherlands

Creating and Effective Learning Environment (2007-05)
Banks, Frank
In: Owen-Jackson, Gwyneth ed. A Practical Guide to Teaching Design and Technology in the Secondary School. Routledge Teaching Guides (pp. 85-94)
ISBN : 978 0 415 42369 4 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : London, UK

'Technology, Design and Society' versus 'Science, Technology and Society (STS)': Learning Some Lessons (2006-05)
Banks, Frank
In: Dakers, John R. ed. Defining Technological Literacy: Towards an Epistemological Framework (pp. 197-217)
ISBN : 1 4039 7037 8 | Publisher : Palgrave Macmillan | Published : New York, USA

A case study of the inter-relationship between science and technology: England 1984-2004 (2006-05)
Banks, Frank and McCormick, Robert
In: De Vries, M. J. and Mottier, I. eds. International Handbook of Technology Education (pp. 285-312)
ISBN : 90 77874 12 7 | Publisher : Sense Publishers | Published : Rotterdam, Netherlands

Technology Teacher Education in the UK (2006-03)
Banks, Frank
In: Williams, P.J. ed. International Technology Teacher Education. International Technology Teacher Education (pp. 215-239)
ISBN : 0 07873461 4 | Publisher : McGraw Hill-Glencoe | Published : USA

Stimulating professional development through CMC - A case study of networked learning and initial teacher education (2004-07)
Moon, Robert; Banks, Frank and Zenios, Maria
In: Goodyear, P.; Banks, S.; Hodgson, V. and McConnell, D. eds. Advances in Research on Networked Learning. Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning (pp. 123-151)
ISBN : 1 4020 7909 5 | Publisher : Springer | Published : Netherlands

Research in design and technology education (2001-12-13)
Banks, Frank
In: Owen-Jackson, Gwyneth ed. Teaching design and technology in secondary schools: a reader (pp. 299-317)
ISBN : 415260736 | Publisher : Routledge/Falmer | Published : London

Early Professional Development for Teachers (2001-10)
Banks, Frank and Shelton Mayes, Ann eds.
ISBN : 1853467928 | Publisher : David Fulton Publishers | Published : London, UK

Beyond the subject silos in STEM – the case for ‘looking sideways' in the secondary school curriculum (2014-07-14)
Banks, Frank and Barlex, David Michael
In : STEM Education and our Planet Making connections across contexts 3rd International Conference (12-15 Jul 2014, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

CAD and creativity: a new pedagogy (2012-06-26)
Winn, Deborah and Banks, Frank
In : PATT 26 Conference, Technology Education in the 21st Century (26-30 Jun 2012, Stockholm, Sweden)

Using a structured approach to authoring OER content: An evaluation of two cases (2010-03)
Banks, Frank
In : OER10 (22-14 Mar 2010, Cambridge)

Technological literacy in a developing world context: the case of Bangladesh (2009-08-24)
Banks, Frank
In : PATT-22: 'Pupils Attitude Towards Technology' Conference (24-28 Aug 2009, Delft, Netherlands)

New modes of communication technologies and the reform of open and distance learning programmes: A response to the global crisis in teacher education and training (2009-06-09)
Banks, Frank; Moon, Bob and Wolfenden, Freda
In : 23rd ICDE World Conference on Open and Distance Learning (8-10 Jun 2009, Maastricht, The Netherlands)

Technology and English: A new paradigm for technology education? (2008-11)
Banks, Frank
In : PATT 20: Pupils' attitude towards technology: International conference on design and technology educational research; Critical issues in technology education (3-6 Nov 2008, Tel-Aviv, Israel)

Investigating mobile science learning in workplace settings (2007)
Marshall, Christine; Issroff, Kim; Scanlon, Eileen; Blake, Canan; Holliman, Richard; Smidt, Samantha; Clough, Gill; Banks, Frank; Jones, Ann; Roche, Nel and Waycott, Jenny
In : CAL07: Development, Disruption and Debate - D3 (26-28 Mar 2007, Dublin, Ireland)

PDAS as workplace tools for science teachers (2007)
Scanlon, Eileen; Banks, Frank; Blake, Canan; Clough, Gill; Jones, Ann; Holliman, Richard; Issroff, Kim; Marshall, Christine; Roche, Nel; Smidt, Samantha and Waycott, Jenny
In : IADIS International Conference - Mobile Learning 2007 (5-7 Jul, Lisbon, Portugal)

The Impact of Using a Distance Learning Network on Building Teachers' Communities of Practice in Egypt (2006-04)
Banks, Frank and Gouda, Amal
In : Proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Networked Learning 2006 (10-12 Apr 2006, Lancaster, UK)

Further Findings of an International D&T Teacher Education Research Study: the DEPTH2 Project (2006)
Banks, F.; Barlex, D.; Jarvinen, E.M.; O'Sullivan, G.; Owen-Jackson, G.; Rutland, M. and Williams, J.
In : Design and Technology Association International Research Conference (5-7 Jul 2006, Wolverhampton, UK)

The Role of Professional Development Networks in Reforming Mathematics Education in Egypt (2005-12)
Gouda, Amal and Banks, Frank
In : The Mathematics Education into the 21st Century Project (25 Nov - 1 Dec 2005, Universiti Teknologi, Malaysia)

Professional Dignity and Reforming Teachers’ Practice: A Case Study of a Distance Learning Network in Egypt (2005-09)
Banks, Frank and Gouda, Amal
In : The 11th Cambridge International Conference on Open and Distance Learning (23-25 Sep 2005, Cambride, UK)

Pedagogical Issues in Using Networks for Teachers’ Continuous Professional Development in Egypt (2005-06)
Gouda, Amal and Banks, Frank
In : ED-MEDIA 2005--World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications (27 Jun 2005, Montreal, Canada)

A case study of the inter-relationship between Science and Technology: England 1984-2004 (2005)
McCormick, Robert and Banks, Frank
In : PATT -15 Technology Education And Research: Twenty Years In Retrospect (18-22 Apr 2005, Harrlem, Netherlands)

TeachandLearn.net: Using new technology to support D&T teachers (2003-06)
Banks, Frank
In : Proceedings of the PATT-13 Conference (21-24 Jun 2003, Glasgow, UK)

CPD for ICT in D&T: using LSP! (2001-03)
Banks, Frank
In : New Media in Technology Education: Proceedings of PATT-11 Conference (8-13 Mar 2001, Haalem, the Netherlands)

Developing the Professional Knowledge of Teachers of Technology and STEM in Secondary Schools (2022)
Banks, Frank
PhD thesis The Open University

Schools and continuing professional development(CPD) in England - State of the Nation research project (T34718): Qualitative Research Summary (2008-09)
Storey, Anne; Banks, Frank; Cooper, Deborah; Cunningham, Peter; Ebbutt, Dave; Fox, Alison; Morgan, Bethan; Pedder, David and Wolfenden, Freda
Cambridge University/The Open University