معرفی
Dr Sara Hawley is a Lecturer in Digital Media Education and Programme Leader for the MA in Digital Media (Education route) at University College London's Faculty of Education and Society (IOE), within the Department of Culture, Communication & Media. Based at the Knowledge Lab, she holds a PhD from UCL and brings prior professional experience as a BBC producer and primary school teacher to her academic role.
Her educational qualifications include:
- PhD in The Sociomateriality of Literacy - a Study of the Relationship Between Institutions, Identity and the Internet in a Primary Classroom (UCL, 2020)
- MA in Media, Culture and Communication (University of London, Institute of Education, 2009-2011)
- PGCE (Primary) (University of London, Institute of Education, 2007-2009)
Hawley's research centers on literacy in the digital age, media education, and sociomaterial theory, with emphasis on learner agency, digital divides, and social justice. Her work critically examines how digital technologies reshape educational practices through affective and material dimensions, often employing ethnographic methods to analyze primary classroom settings and bilingual contexts. She investigates the interplay between institutional structures, identity formation, and internet use among young learners.
Her publication trajectory reveals consistent focus on postdigital education frameworks, multimodal literacies, and Third Space theory application. Recent work integrates ecological niche concepts with digital literacy practices while developing practical models like STEERS for bilingual education. The research demonstrates strong methodological innovation through sociomaterial approaches to understanding technology-mediated learning.
Scientific recognition includes:
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (2023)
Hawley actively supervises PhD candidates and postgraduate dissertations while serving on editorial boards for Learning, Media and Technology and Media Education Research Journal. Her professional service includes peer reviewing for Literacy and developing curriculum through modules like Analysing Media Texts and Media Education in Schools. She maintains strong connections between academic research and practical educational contexts through her Knowledge Lab affiliation.
As a core member of UCL's Knowledge Lab, Hawley contributes to interdisciplinary research exploring digital technologies' impact on learning ecosystems. Her current work examines emerging pedagogical models for digital media education that address social justice imperatives while navigating postdigital complexities in contemporary classrooms.
