Dr Chris McKillop - Biography

I have a PhD in Education from the Robert Gordon University and a BA(Hons) Artificial Intelligence and an MSc in Human-Centred Computer Systems from the University of Sussex. My research interests lie in the areas of learning technologies, understanding and enhancing the student learning experience, and educational evaluation. I have conducted research in a diverse range of disciplines including: computing, art & design, psychology, business and management.

I am a skilled user/usability researcher and have researched, developed and evaluated on-line applications and processes in applied research and business contexts. My approach is highly user focused, with the aim of enhancing the user experience.

I have conducted research at the Open University and Robert Gordon University, researching the educational needs and experiences of students and developing and evaluating on-line learning technologies. My publications in these areas can be seen below.

For my PhD research I used storytelling as a reflective tool and the 'StoriesAbout...' site is a result of that research. The research aimed to give a deeper understanding of how students’ perceive and use the assessment process; to develop storytelling as a reflective method; and to investigate the extent to which this process can be mediated on-line. I also investigated students’ visual representations (drawings) of their experiences of assessment.

I am currently at the Robert Gordon University investigating PDP and assessment processes and developing visual representations as a reflective tool and course evaluation technique. I am also involved in developing 'OpenComment', a tool to support feedback on students' learning.

Edited book chapter:
Watt, S., Malins, J., Liapis, A. & McKillop, C. (2007). Tools and Technology to Support Creativity in Virtual Teams. In MacGregor, S. P., & Torres-Coronas, T. (Eds). Higher Creativity for Virtual Teams: Developing Platforms for Co-creation. Idea Group

Journal articles:
McKillop, C. (2006). Drawing on assessment: using visual representations to understand students’ experiences of assessment in art and design. Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education. Vol 5 (2), pp 131-144

Malins, J., & McKillop, C. (2005). Evaluating GraysNet: an Online PDP Tool for use in an Art and Design Context. Art, Design and Communication in Higher Education. Vol 4 (1).

McKillop, C., Mackintosh, B., & Watt, S. (2003). Psychology Experiments on the Internet: an evaluation of the impact on distance education students. Open Learning, 18(2).

Watt, S., Simpson, C., McKillop, C., & Nunn, V. (2002). Electronic Course Surveys: does automating feedback and reporting give better results? Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, 27(4), 325-337.

Conferences:
McKillop, C. (2007). Imagining assessment in higher education through on-line storytelling and visual expressions of learning. Paper presented at the 2nd Annual Research Symposium on Imaginative Education, Vancouver, Canada, 18-21 July 2007.

McKillop, C. & Watt, S. (2007). ‘Assessment Island’: the Making of an Interactive Quest to Understand and Learn from Assessment. Paper presented at ED-MEDIA 2007 World Conference on Educational Multimedia, Hypermedia & Telecommunications. Vancouver, Canada, 25-29 June 2007

McKillop, C. (2007). Trapped by the Wolf: Understanding Students’ Experiences of Assessment through On-line Storytelling. Paper presented at the Computer Assisted Learning conference, CAL’07. Dublin, Ireland, 26-28 March 2007

McKillop, C. (2006). Creative methods for creative disciplines? Using on-line storytelling and drawings to understand the student learning experience. Paper presented at the Second Annual Conference, Challenging the Orthodoxies: Alternative Approaches to Educational Research. London, 7 December 2006

McKillop, C. (2006) ‘It’s blogging Jim, but not as we know it’: telling stories of learning in an on-line world. Paper presented at the Curverider conference. Edinburgh, Scotland. 4 September 2006

Google video of Curverider presentation (slides were not videoed, but are available below)

Slides for the Curverider presentation (watch in conjunction with the above video)

McKillop, C. (2005) Storytelling grows up: using storytelling as a reflective tool in higher education. Paper presented at the Scottish Educational Research Association conference (SERA 2005), 24-26th November, 2005, Perth, Scotland.

McKillop, C. (2005) Understanding and enhancing the student’s learning experience in art and design using an on-line storytelling virtual learning environment. Paper presented at Designs on eLearning: International Conference on Teaching and Learning with Technology in Art Design and Communication, 14-16 September 2005, London, England.

McKillop, C. (2005). ‘StoriesAbout... Assessment’: On-line storytelling to support collaborative reflective learning. Paper presented at the 8th Human Centred Technology Postgraduate Workshop, 28-29 June 2005, Brighton, England.

McKillop, C. (2004). 'StoriesAbout... Assessment': supporting reflection in art and design higher education through on-line storytelling. Paper presented at the 3rd International Narrative and Interactive Learning Environments Conference (NILE 2004), Edinburgh, Scotland.

Malins, J., Press, M., & McKillop, C., (2004). Craft Connexity: Developing a Sustainable Model for Future Craft Education. Paper presented at the Challenging Craft Conference, 8-10 September 2004, Aberdeen, Scotland.

Malins, J., Gray, C., Pirie, I., Cordiner, S., & McKillop, C. (2003). The Virtual Design Studio: developing new tools for learning, practice and research in design. Paper presented at the 5th European Academy of Design Conference, Barcelona, Spain.

McKillop, C. (1998). Students' experiences with the M206 Course Map: Implications for On-line Study Support Tools. Paper presented at the CALRG 1998 Conference, Open University, Milton Keynes.

Technical Reports & Others:
McKillop, C., Simpson, C.A., Tyler, S., & Watt, S.N.K.. (2001). Report of the Corporate Evaluation Service Pilot Evaluation, Report for the Open University Business School.

McKillop, C. (1998) Improving the quality of the student's learning experience: an agent-based approach to on-line study guides. KMI Technical Report, KMI-TR-72, Open University, Milton Keynes

McKillop, C. (1997) On-line study guides for distance education students: can advisor agents help? KMI Technical Report, KMI-TR-55, Open University, Milton Keynes

Sumner, T., Taylor, J. & McKillop, C. (1997). Developmental testing of the M206 interactive course map. KMI Technical Report, KMI-TR-49, Open University, Milton Keynes