Personal statement

Chris Collier lectures in the School of Education principally on the Education Studies programme. He is module leader for two second year undergraduate modules: Environment and Education; and Understanding Classrooms. He teaches on the final year Teaching and Professionalism module and is also a tutor for a number of final year dissertation students, as well as an Academic Advisor.

He is a founder member of the Centre for Research in Scientific and Technological Learning and Education (CRiSTLE) and is involved in the centre's research activity. His research focuses on science and environmental education with specific interests in assessment of science in primary schools, the role of assessment in transition and, creativity in science education.

Before joining the University, Chris taught in a primary school on the Isle of Wight for seven years, including acting as assistant headteacher and as science subject leader. Prior to this, he worked as an environmental geologist both as a consultant and a protection officer.

Academic qualifications

  • BA (Jt Hons) Geology and Biology - University of Keele
  • PGCE - University College Chichester
  • MSc Hydrogeology - University College London.

Professional membership

  • Centre for Research in Scientific and Technological  Learning and Education (CRiSTLE).

Teaching specialisms

  • Science teaching and learning
  • Professionalism in education
  • Environment and Sustainability. 

Current scholarship

Chris's current research interests include teacher assessment of science in primary schools and the role of assessment in transition which was supported by a six year project funded by the Primary Science Teaching Trust. Other recent research interests include a project funded by AstraZeneca Teaching Trust into science teaching and learning in early years settings. Also he has been involved with projects into the use of dataloggers to support pupil data interpretation skills and assessment of science enquiry skills using electronic devices. He has been part of a team writing a general initial teaching education text on science teaching of 3-7 year-olds as well as a similar book aimed at teachers of 5-11 year-olds. He has completed consultancy work on creative learning environments in education.

Other external roles

  • Providing primary and early years science consultancy
  • Funded by Primary Science Teaching Trust to research assessment of science in primary schools and transition from primary to secondary education. Funded by AstraZeneca Science Teaching Trust to develop a project with primary and secondary schools to enhance and develop data interpretation skills through eco-monitoring. Other projects funded by AstraZeneca Teaching Trust include assessing science and technology skills using the e-scape system
  • Governor for a teaching federation in Somerset
  • Funded to complete a literature survey of learning environments in education by Teaching and Learning Scotland
  • Completion of an evaluation of the Active Learning in Primary Science project, a joint collaboration between Bristol Local Authority and Science Learning Centre South-west.

Recent professional updating

  • ASE Annual Conference University of Leeds 2005
  • ESTA Annual Conference University of Bristol 2006
  • ASE Annual Conference University of Liverpool 2008
  • ASE Annual Conference University of Reading 2011
  • ICASE Conference: Innovation in Science and Technology Education, University of Tartu, Estonia 2010
  • International Society of Educational Research (ISER) World Conference, Kapadoyka, Turkey 2014.

Research and academic outputs

Go to ResearchSPAce

Teaching science and technology in the early years (3-7). 3rd ed
book

Davies, D, Howe, A, Collier, C, Digby, R, Earle, S and McMahon, K (2019) Teaching science and technology in the early years (3-7). 3rd ed. Routledge, Abingdon. ISBN 9781138613058

Science 5-11: a guide for teachers. 3rd ed
book

Howe, A, Collier, C, McMahon, K, Earle, S and Davies, D (2017) Science 5-11: a guide for teachers. 3rd ed. Routledge, London. ISBN 9781138690578

Teaching science and technology in the early years (3-7). 2nd ed
book

Davies, D, Earle, S, Collier, C, Digby, R, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2014) Teaching science and technology in the early years (3-7). 2nd ed. Routledge, Abingdon. ISBN 9780415825580

The primary science and technology encyclopaedia
book

Davies, D, Collier, C, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2011) The primary science and technology encyclopaedia. Routledge, Abingdon. ISBN 9780415478182

Science 5-11: a guide for teachers. 2nd ed
book

Davies, D, Towler, L, Scott, T, Collier, C, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2009) Science 5-11: a guide for teachers. 2nd ed. Routledge, London. ISBN 9780415480468

A thematic approach to humans and animals in Early Years education
book_section

McMahon, K and Collier, C (2019) 'A thematic approach to humans and animals in Early Years education.' In: Davies, D, Collier, C, Digby, R, Earle, S and McMahon, K, eds. Teaching science and technology in the early years (3-7). 3rd ed. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 134-158. ISBN 9781138613058

Teacher assessment of science in English primary schools
book_section

Davies, D, Earle, S, Collier, C, Digby, R, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2016) 'Teacher assessment of science in English primary schools.' In: Lavonen, J, Juuti, K, Lampiselkä, J, Uitto, A and Hahl, K, eds. Electronic proceedings of the ESERA 2015 Conference - Science Education Research: Engaging Learners for a Sustainable Future. (co-ed. Jens Dolin & Per Kind) (Pt. 11). University of Helsinki, Helsinki, pp. 1577-1588. ISBN 9789515115416

Creative pedagogies in early years science: thematic planning and sustained scientific dialogues
book_section

McMahon, K, Howe, A, Davies, D, Collier, C and Earle, S (2016) 'Creative pedagogies in early years science: thematic planning and sustained scientific dialogues.' In: Lavonen, J, Juuti, K, Lampiselkä, J, Uitto, A and Hahl, K, eds. Electronic proceedings of the ESERA 2015 Conference - Science Education Research: Engaging Learners for a Sustainable Future. (co-ed.Esmé Glauert & Fani Stylianidou), Pt. 15 . University of Helsinki, Helsinki, pp. 2626-2638. ISBN 9789515115416

Developing thinking and learning skills in science
book_section

Collier, C and Digby, R (2014) 'Developing thinking and learning skills in science.' In: Vickery, A, ed. Developing active learning in the primary classroom. Sage, London, pp. 154-173. ISBN 9781446255469

A thematic approach to humans and animals in Early Years education
book_section

Collier, C and McMahon, K (2014) 'A thematic approach to humans and animals in Early Years education.' In: Davies, D, Howe, A, Collier, C, Digby, R, Earle, S and McMahon, K, eds. Teaching science and technology in the early years (3-7). 2nd ed. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 125-144. ISBN 9780415825580

Evaluating the effectiveness of a teaching intervention in developing pre-service primary teachers’ knowledge of rock identification
book_section

Collier, C (2010) 'Evaluating the effectiveness of a teaching intervention in developing pre-service primary teachers’ knowledge of rock identification.' In: Holbrook, J, Rannikmae, M, Soobard, R, Cavas, B and Kim, M, eds. Proceedings of ICASE 2010: Innovation in Science and Technology Education. International Council of Associations for Science Education, pp. 43-45.

Creative teaching and learning in 'materials and their properties'
book_section

Collier, C (2006) 'Creative teaching and learning in 'materials and their properties'.' In: Oliver, A, ed. Creative teaching : science in the early years and primary classroom. David Fulton, London, pp. 143-160. ISBN 9781843122593

Development and exemplification of a model for Teacher Assessment in Primary Science
article

Davies, D. J, Earle, S, McMahon, K, Howe, A and Collier, C (2017) 'Development and exemplification of a model for Teacher Assessment in Primary Science.' International Journal of Science Education, 39 (14). pp. 1869-1890. ISSN 0950-0693

Preparing science teachers for assessment without levels
article

Davies, D, Collier, C, Earle, S, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2015) 'Preparing science teachers for assessment without levels.' Science Teacher Education, 72 (Feb). pp. 9-16. ISSN 0961-6152

The roles and development needs of teachers to promote creativity: a systematic review of literature
article

Davies, D, Jindal-Snape, D, Digby, R, Howe, A, Collier, C and Hay, P (2014) 'The roles and development needs of teachers to promote creativity: a systematic review of literature.' Teaching and Teacher Education, 41 (July). pp. 34-41. ISSN 0742-051X

Creative learning environments in education: a systematic literature review
article

Davies, D, Jindal-Snape, D, Collier, C, Digby, R, Hay, P and Howe, A (2013) 'Creative learning environments in education: a systematic literature review.' Thinking Skills and Creativity, 8 (April). pp. 80-91. ISSN 1871-1871

The impact of creative learning environments on learners: a systematic literature review
article

Davies, D, Jindal-Snape, D, Collier, C, Digby, R, Hay, P and Howe, A (2013) 'The impact of creative learning environments on learners: a systematic literature review.' Improving Schools, 16 (1). pp. 21-31. ISSN 1365-4802

A matter of interpretation: developing primary pupils' enquiry skills using position-linked datalogging
article

Davies, D, Collier, C and Howe, A (2012) 'A matter of interpretation: developing primary pupils' enquiry skills using position-linked datalogging.' Research in Science & Technological Education, 30 (3). pp. 311-325. ISSN 0263-5143

Assessing scientific and technological enquiry skills at age 11 using the e-scape system
article

Davies, D, Collier, C and Howe, A (2012) 'Assessing scientific and technological enquiry skills at age 11 using the e-scape system.' International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 22 (2). pp. 247-263. ISSN 0957-7572

Why is the infant playground more polluted?
article

Davies, D, Collier, C and Howe, A (2011) 'Why is the infant playground more polluted?' Primary Science, 118. pp. 10-13. ISSN 0269-2465

E-scape assessment
article

Davies, D, Collier, C, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2010) 'E-scape assessment.' Primary Science, 115. pp. 18-21. ISSN 0269-2465

Modelling dialogic teaching in primary science teacher education
article

Davies, D, Collier, C, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2008) 'Modelling dialogic teaching in primary science teacher education.' Science Teacher Education, 53 (Nov). pp. 12-16. ISSN 0961-6152

Teacher assessment of science in English primary schools
conference_item

Davies, D, McMahon, K, Howe, A, Collier, C, Digby, R and Earle, S (2015) Teacher assessment of science in English primary schools. In: ESERA2015 : 11th Biannual Conference of the European Science Education Research Association, 31 August - 4 September 2015, Helsinki, Finland.

Creative pedagogies in early years science: thematic planning and sustained scientific dialogues
conference_item

McMahon, K, Howe, A, Davies, D, Collier, C and Earle, S (2015) Creative pedagogies in early years science: thematic planning and sustained scientific dialogues. In: ESERA2015 : 11th Biannual Conference of the European Science Education Research Association, 31 August - 4 September 2015, Helsinki, Finland.

Approaches to assessment of science in English primary schools
conference_item

Howe, A and Collier, C (2014) Approaches to assessment of science in English primary schools. In: iSER 2014 World Conference, October 29 – November 2 2014, Cappadocia, Turkey.

Approaches to teacher education in primary science likely to ensure pre-service teachers are equipped with adequate science subject knowledge
conference_item

Collier, C and Howe, A (2014) Approaches to teacher education in primary science likely to ensure pre-service teachers are equipped with adequate science subject knowledge. In: iSER 2014 World Conference, October 29 – November 2 2014, Cappadocia, Turkey.

Primary science enquiry assessment using real-time e-portfolios: the e-scape project
conference_item

Davies, D, Collier, C, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2011) Primary science enquiry assessment using real-time e-portfolios: the e-scape project. In: Association for Science Education Annual Conference, 5 - 10 January 2011, University of Reading.

Modelling dialogic teaching in primary science teacher education
conference_item

Davies, D, McMahon, K, Howe, A and Collier, C (2008) Modelling dialogic teaching in primary science teacher education. In: ASE BERA Science SIG Conference, 2-5 January 2008, Liverpool University, Liverpool.

The Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) school self-evaluation tool [updated]
commissioned_report

Earle, S, McMahon, K, Collier, C, Howe, A and Davies, D (2017) The Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) school self-evaluation tool [updated]. Primary Science Teaching Trust, Bristol.

The Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) school self-evaluation tool
commissioned_report

Earle, S, McMahon, K, Collier, C, Howe, A and Davies, D (2016) The Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) school self-evaluation tool.

Introducing the TAPS pyramid model
commissioned_report

Earle, S, Davies, D, McMahon, K, Collier, C, Howe, A and Digby, R (2015) Introducing the TAPS pyramid model. Primary Science Teaching Trust, Primary Science Teaching Trust website.

Approaches to Science assessment in English primary schools: teachers' summary
commissioned_report

Davies, D, Collier, C, Earle, S, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2014) Approaches to Science assessment in English primary schools: teachers' summary.

Approaches to Science assessment in English primary schools: interim findings from the Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) project
commissioned_report

Davies, D, Collier, C, Earle, S, Howe, A and McMahon, K (2014) Approaches to Science assessment in English primary schools: interim findings from the Teacher Assessment in Primary Science (TAPS) project.

The Carnmenellis Granite: hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and geothermal characteristics including parts of hydrometric areas 48 and 49 [map]
other

Davenport, M, Smedley, P, Kay, R, Robins, N, Collier, C and Burfitt, K (1990) The Carnmenellis Granite: hydrogeological, hydrogeochemical and geothermal characteristics including parts of hydrometric areas 48 and 49 [map].