Ms Sharon Boyd
Senior Lecturer in Distance Student Learning

Contact details
- Tel: +44 (0)131 651 7449
- Email: sharon.boyd@ed.ac.uk
- Web: Blog
Address
- Street
-
The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute
Easter Bush Campus
Midlothian - City
- Post code
- EH25 9RG
Background
I joined the R(D)SVS in November 2007 as e-programme coordinator of the R(D)SVS online postgraduate and continuing professional development (CPD) courses.
In 2013, I took on the role of Director of the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice, and course leader for the Academic Study Skills course for postgraduate taught students. In addition, I am Deputy Director for the MVetSci in Advanced Clinical Practice, and course leader for Professional & Clinical Skills postgraduate course. I am co-lead on the postgraduate online peer tutor project and have a focus for enhancing online distance learning student support.
I completed my honours undergraduate degree in zoology at Trinity College Dublin, and have a Masters in Applied Environmental Science from University College Dublin. I completed my PgCert in University Teaching and MSc in eLearning at Edinburgh. I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology.
My research areas of interest are sustainable and digital education. These fields are the focus of my PhD studies at Moray House School of Education.
Area of Expertise
Research expertise - Digital education, Sustainable education/Education for Sustainable Development, Distance education.
Qualifications
Bachelor of Arts, Trinity College Dublin [Aspects of the biology and ecology of the Irish mountain hare (Lepus timidus hibernicus)
Master of Environmental Science, University College Dublin [Impact of the built environment on bat populations in Dublin]
Master of Science, University of Edinburgh [Green Electracy: using a digital media method to facilitate loss reflection and foster sustainable education practice]
Professional Qualifications
PG Certificate in University Teaching
Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, SFHEA
Certified Member of the Association for Learning Technology, CMALT
Responsibilities & affiliations
PGT teaching staff
Deputy Director of Postgraduate Taught Studies
Postgraduate Taught Senior Tutor
Co-chair of School Board of Studies
Postgraduate teaching
RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice programme
MVetSci in Advanced Clinical Practice programme
Professional and Clinical Skills course
Evidence-Based Research Medicine course
All Programmes
Academic Study Skills for Taught Postgraduate Students course
Postgraduate Peer Academic Tutor programme lead
Research summary
My research areas of interest are sustainable and digital education. I am currently undertaking a PhD in Digital Education with a shimmer of Outdoor Education. I am investigating whether the relationship to our places may add something meaningful to our learning experiences. I wonder if technology can help us to feel a sense of engagement, a relationship, with someone else’s “local” place? If this place-relationship at distance is possible, can we facilitate that interaction in our learning activities?
Current research interests
In addition to my PhD, I am also involved in a number of project funded by the Principal's Teaching Award Scheme. A range of activities associated with my research are listed below. Details of conferences and publications can be found in the Publications tab.Affiliated research centres
Research activities
-
Academic identities and teaching wicked problems: How to ‘shoot a fog’ in a complex landscape
In:
Higher Education Research & Development
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Accepted/In press) -
Solar-powered scholarship
(4 pages)
In:
Postdigital Science and Education, pp. 1-4
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42438-022-00372-7
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Comment/debate (E-pub ahead of print) -
Taking Time to get Messy Outside the Online Classroom
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Teaching wicked problems in higher education: Ways of thinking and practising
(17 pages)
In:
Teaching in Higher Education
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2021.1911986
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Place-responsive principles of sustainable networked learning
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Paper (Published) -
Developing Millers Pyramid to Support Students’ Assessment Literacy
In:
Journal of Veterinary Medical Education
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3138/jvme.2019-0058
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Listening for the voice of places
(1 page)
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Poster (Published) -
Getting Creative with Assessments for Distance Learners
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract (Published) -
Building the University Community by Appreciating the More‐Than‐Human Campus
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract (Published) -
Academic Study Skills for Postgraduate Taught Students
Research output: Contribution to Conference › Abstract (Published)