Karen Woolley

Karen Woolley is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Northampton, specializing in outdoor learning, digital education, and teacher professional development. She leads and collaborates on projects such as STEP Outside (2023–2024) and DLAB: Digital Learning Across Boundaries (2016–2019), focusing on integrating outdoor spaces and technology into educational practices. Her research emphasizes preparing education students to utilize outdoor environments effectively and enhancing digital literacy in teaching.

Key research interests include outdoor learning methodologies, digital tools in education, and professional practice for educators. Woolley’s work bridges theory and practice through projects funded by internal institutional grants and European initiatives. She has presented at multiple conferences, including Removing Barriers- Increasing Confidence in Outdoor Learning (2024) and Technology Outdoors (2021), showcasing her contributions to educational innovation.

Her publications span outdoor pedagogy, technology integration, and primary education curriculum design. Woolley collaborates extensively with colleagues across institutions, such as Howest Campus Bruges and the University of Northampton’s internal teams, to advance educational practices.