Stephen Heppell

Stephen Heppell is a British educationalist, writer and speaker. He held professorships at Anglia Ruskin University and Bournemouth University, and he currently holds the Filipe Segovia Chair of Learning Innovation^[1] at Universidad Camilo Jose Cela in Madrid. He was an advisor to the British Government's Department for Education co-authoring 'The Stephenson Report'^[2] and chaired their Education Technology Advisory Group.^[3][4]

Early life

Stephen John Heppell grew up in Little Chalfont and attended Dr Challoner's Grammar School before studying psychology and economics at Reading University. After a brief career in accounting, he received a doctorate of education from University of East London, and a masters in social investing at South Bank University.

Early career

Heppell first taught at Leytonstone Boys' School in East London where he taught social sciences before moving to Fryerns School in Basildon. Heppell joined Anglia Ruskin University from the Microelectronics Education Programme and was appointed the professor in 1989.^{[citation needed]} He held the chair of New Learning Environments until 2004, and where he established and led their Ultralab^[5] learning technology research centre. Heppell was appointed to Bournemouth University's hair in New Media Environments at the Centre for Excellence in Media Practice^[6] between 2008 and 2017.

Heppell joined Universidad Camilo Jose Cela in 2011, and in 2018, he oversaw the development of experimental learning spaces^[7] using many of the design principles he advocates. These include the use of zoning and agile furniture, carefully monitoring interior conditions such as temperature, light levels, CO₂ saturation, noise, and the degree of visibility through the space.^[8] Heppell is also known for advocating 'shoeless learning' to promote comfort and calmness in learning spaces.^[9][10]

Other professional interests

Heppell ceased teaching in 2010, but still provides consultancy services via his company, heppell.net^[11] which he established in 2005. The company advises governments, international agencies, companies (including Gems Education^[12] and Educurious), schools and communities to, in his words, "make learning better."^{[citation needed]} Heppell was a founding member of Teachers TV and has been a board member of Skillset and Digital Jersey^[13] as well as being executive chairman of Learning Possibilities.^[14] He is a member of BAFTA^[15] and chaired its Technical Innovation Jury^[16] and sat as a council member between 2009 and 2016 as well as sitting on its film committee.

Awards

2005 The Royal Television Society's Judges Award for Lifelong Services to Educational Broadcasting^[17]

2008 BETT Award for Outstanding Achievement in ICT Education^[18]

2014 NAACE Lifetime Achievement Award for educational technology.

Personal life

He is married to teacher Carole Chapman and he has three children.

References

1. "Stephen Heppell, Director of the Felipe Segovia Chair at UCJC, explains the importance of play and motivation for students' development". Universidad Camilo José Cela. 2020-11-16. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
2. "Information and Communications Technology in UK Schools AN INDEPENDENT INQUIRY" (PDF). rubble.heppell.net.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
3. "Don't look back in anger? Really?". www.sec-ed.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
4. "The edtech strategy is a great leap backwards". Schools Week. 2019-04-10. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
5. Millwood, Richard. "Ultralab: summary — National Archive of Educational Computing". www.naec.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
6. "The Centre for Excellence in Media Practice". www.bournemouth.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
7. "University Camilo José Cela presents its new learning and teaching spaces". Universidad Camilo José Cela. 2018-11-15. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
8. "learnometer". learnometer.net. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
9. "The Bournemouth professor who says he's proved shoelessness is the key to good education". Bournemouth Echo. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
10. "The secret to calm classrooms? Lose the shoes". The Guardian. 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
11. "heppell.net".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
12. "Parents join classes at this Dubai school to see how children learn". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
13. "Professor Stephen Heppell to lead Inspirational Workshop at Digital Jersey Hub | Digital Jersey". Digital Jersey. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
14. "Team – Learning Possibilities". lpplus.com. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
15. "Current members of the Academy". www.bafta.org. 2016-01-26. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
16. "Professor Stephen Heppell (UK)". www.creativeinnovationglobal.com.au. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
17. "Educational Television Awards 2005". Royal Television Society. 2011-01-24. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
18. "Prof Stephen Heppell - Well, that was a surprise. Whatever next!?". SPACES – Society for Public Architecture, Construction, Engineering and Surveying. Retrieved 2021-07-08.