معرفی
Dr. Stephen Roulston is a Lecturer in the School of Education within the Faculty of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at Ulster University. He currently serves as an Honorary Research Fellow and has been with Ulster University since 2009. Prior to his university position, Dr. Roulston spent 20 years teaching Geography and Geology in Northern Ireland schools and worked as an Educational Consultant in eLearning.
Dr. Roulston completed his PhD in Education at Ulster University in 1991 while still teaching in schools. His academic journey includes serving as Course Director for the MEd with Specialisms program, where he taught modules in educational leadership and ICT specialisms, and later as Course Director for the PGCE Geography course.
His research focuses on the intersection of technology and education, with particular expertise in online learning, GIS applications in education, and virtual/augmented reality for teaching and learning. Dr. Roulston has pioneered innovative uses of virtual learning environments in collaborative problem-based learning scenarios and has worked extensively with the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences to develop GIS training for teachers.
An analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on educational challenges in Northern Ireland, particularly school segregation, the application of geospatial technologies in education, and the integration of emerging technologies like AI and VR in teaching practices. His work consistently addresses the complexities of the divided education system in Northern Ireland and explores potential pathways for integration and improvement.
Dr. Roulston's significant contributions to education have been recognized through numerous awards, including:
- Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
- Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society
- Distinguished Teaching Team Award from Ulster University
- Digital Earth GIS Centre of Excellence award
- Association of Geographical Information Education Award (2015)
- BERA Public Engagement and Impact Award (2022)
- The John Coolahan Award (2018 and 2020)
Dr. Roulston has secured multiple research grants and leads significant projects including the Repurposing Education through Blended Learning (REBEL) initiative and the Future Schools Prototype Resource. He serves as External Examiner at the University of Strathclyde and represents Northern Ireland on the International Geographical Union. His work on educational segregation in Northern Ireland has received significant media attention, with his research estimating the cost of division at £600,000 per day.
Through his partnership with the School of Geography and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Roulston has developed a masters-level short course in GIS for teachers. His work extends to authoring 13 textbooks for schools, demonstrating his commitment to practical educational resources that bridge academic research and classroom application.
