About
Mike Toyn serves as a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cumbria's Institute of Education, Arts and Society, where he leads Quality Assurance for all programmes and oversees Initial Teacher Education (ITE) initiatives. With continuous service since 2004 (excluding a 2023/24 sabbatical for a Vancouver-to-Quito cycling expedition), he previously held the role of Principal Lecturer for Primary ITE PGCE programmes.
His academic credentials include:
- PhD in Technology Enhanced Learning
- MA in Digital Technologies, Communication and Education
Dr. Toyn's research centers on digital technology's role in fostering creativity within educational contexts, spanning investigations into online learning communities for trainee teachers, primary curriculum design for 'success in life', and the vocabulary of adulting. His work bridges theoretical frameworks with practical classroom applications in teacher development.
His publication timeline (2008-2020) reveals persistent exploration of digital creativity tools in teacher education, with emphasis on social networking integration, ICT curriculum development, and creativity assessment methodologies.
Professional recognition includes:
- Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy
He has supervised doctoral candidates Claire Vuckovic (2022-2023) and Paula Moses (2020-2023), while examining theses for Pippa Leslie (2021) and Joanne Turley (2022). Significant external roles encompass External Examiner appointments at the University of Glasgow (2020-2024), Birmingham City University (2016-2020), and Manchester Metropolitan University (2013-2017), plus a secondment as Acting CEO of Blackpool Multi Academy Trust (2018-2019).
