Salford Business School Frances Bell

"Every utopian prophet of cyberspace needs a cold shower."

C. Nelson, in Online Communities: Commerce, Community Action and the Virtual University
C. Werry, M. Mowbray, Eds. (Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2001).

You can find me on various networks at http://unhub.com/francesbell

On graduation from the University of Manchester, I worked in a variety of roles in the public sector as a programmer and systems analyst, followed by a period teaching in secondary and further education, and a career break whilst my children were very young. I joined the University of Salford in 1993, from the University of Teesside, School of Computing & Mathematics. Currently, I teach, do research and am Learning Technology Fellow for the Faculty of Business Environment. This helps to fill in the time between knitting, gardening and going to the theatre (Link to RET podcast RSS feed).

I am a member of the Information Systems, Organisation and Society Research Centre which was part of the 6*(A) Informatics Resarch Institute (IRIS). My research interests include virtual organising and the use of information and communications technologies in teaching and learning. I am particularly interested in the bridge between information systems (IS) and educational research, specifically the use of IS (online communities) theories in educational research, and the use of educational research in organisation-based IS research. I have 2 blogs, one to support my role as Faculty Learning Technology Fellow, and another personal blog, where the most exciting entry is a comment from Nancy White. I am moderator of the Social Forum at Moodle.org, and facilitator of the HELP Network, a network for those interested in international student collaboration online (log in as guest then accept Site Policy to visit without joining).

On the teaching side, I have taught a variety of modules over the years in systems analysis, development and integration. I teach a core module to IS Masters students called IT and Systems In Organisations that helps students question some of the assumptions they might have about the use of IT, and helps to prepare them for the challenging modules they will experience on IS Masters programmes. Another module I currently teach (with Gordon Fletcher) in this area is Open Source Systems Integration, a masters module that gives students the opportunity to practice and theorise about OSS (Open Source Software) in a real-life context. I developed an interest in Virtual Organising, the latest manifestation of which is Reflections on Professional Practice, a 30 credit module for part-time students who engage in Communities of Practice with fellow students and with other practitioners in their discipline area, whilst applying theories from the taught part of their programmes to challenging topics and issues from their work experience. From 2009 with colleagues Marie Griffiths and Maria Kutar, I am teaching on a new Level 1 undergraduate module , Emerging Technologies, that encourgaes students to become critical consumers and producers of social media in their personal and professional lives.

Research

I am a member of the Information Systems, Organisation and Society Research Centre which is part of the 6*(A) Informatics Resarch Institute (IRIS). I have worked on various research projects, all related to collaboration and the Internet:

• EXTEND, funded by JISC in 2009, under the Benefits Realisation strand of the EMERGE Users and Innovation project. Funding total £15,000
• Know and Network (KAN) in 2007, an ESF-funded project to promote social networking and knowledge sharing amongst Women working in IT in England
• VMART 1 November, 2000 - 30 April, 2003, an EU FP5 funded project to promote the use of ICT in rural tourism VMART, funded by EC Information Societies Technology Programme project. Funding Total 763,996, of which University of Salford 176,268.
• Collaboration Across Borders October 2003-September 2005, CAB 110681-UK-2003- MINERVA, Socrates Minerva , Total 294,193, of which Salford 47071, now complete, a Socrates Minerva project that created the CABWEB Portal (still active)
• KTP, Knowledge Management Culture, February 2003 - January 2005, Suspended after one year, by mutual agreement, when Associate resigned, Frances Bell (lead), Ben Light and Elaine Ferneley, �99,044 for RAE purposes-Development of a knowledge management culture in CMC by building a corporate portal with applications that will disseminate best practice internally, enhance relationships with sponsors, clients and future alumni, and capture and share market intelligence among staff and clients.
• Higher Education Research Methods Web-based Resource, April 2003-May 2004, (internally funded), Faculty Research Fund, Faculty of Business and Informatics, University of Salford, �2000.
• TLQIS (internally) funded project "Collaboration on teamwork projects across borders", April 2001 - September 2002, with Janice Whatley.
  The project researched into trans-national collaboration between undergraduate students. A pedagogical model for networked learning has been adapted , and guidelines produced for tutors planning such collaborations.
• CMC Teaching Company Scheme , December 2000 - November 2002, at Career Management Consultants, generated �87,112 for RAE purposes, with Ben Light (lead) and Debra Howcroft.
• ADAPT/UfI IDIEL Project, 1998-2000
  This project developed Best Practice Models to promote life-long and distance learning in the context of Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs). Frances Bell was champion and research supervisor for the Information and Communication Technology stream.
• TLQIS (internal) funded project "Using the World Wide Web and Lotus Notes to Improve Campus Based Teaching and Learning", February 1998- December 1998, with Mark Jones and Chris Procter
  This project compared the use of WWW and Lotus Notes on several different courses. Outcomes included a report and a series of workshops at Salford.
• Lotus Learning Space Pilot Project, CVE - funded, 1998.
  Project evaluated Lotus Notes Learning Space for use at Salford. Outcomes included workshops at Salford and input to e-Learning Strategy development.

Publications

Journals

Worrall, L. & Bell, F. 2007, 'Metacognition and lifelong e-learning: a contextual and cyclical process', E-Learning, vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 161-71.

Lindsay, S., Smith, S., Bell, F. & Bellaby, P. 2007, 'Tackling the digital divide: Exploring the impact of ICT on managing heart conditions ', Journal of Information, Communication & Society, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 95-114.
Ferneley, E. & Bell, F. 2006, 'Using bricolage to integrate business and information technology innovation in SMEs', Technovation, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 232-41.
Bell, F. & Zaitseva, E. 2005, ''Only Connect': Complexities in International Student Communication', E-Learning, vol. 2, no. 4, pp. 342-55.
Bell, F. and A. Heinze (2004). "With Regard to Respect - A Framework for the Governance of Educational Virtual Communities." International Journal of Web-based Communities 1(1): 19-33.
Bell, F. and J. Whatley (2004). "Trans-national online activities for students - a pragmatic approach." Innovative Learning in Action (University of Salford) 1(1).
Whatley, J. and F. Bell (2003). "Discussion Across Borders: Benefits for Collaborative Learning." Educational Media International 40(1-2, March-June 2003): 139-152.
Gilbert, A. H., F. Bell, et al. (1995). "Adaptive Learning of Process Control and Profit Optimisation Using a Classifier System." Evolutionary Computation, Massachusetts Institute of Technology 3(2): 177-198.

Book Chapters

Bell,F., Zaitseva, E.,Zakrzewska, D., (2006),Evaluation: A Link in the Chain of Sustainability, In N. Lambropoulos & P. Zaphiris (Eds.), User-Centered Design of Online Communities. Hershey,PA: Idea Group.
Bell, F. and A. Adam (2004). Whatever happened to Information Systems Ethics? Caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. 20th Year IFIP WG 8.2 Retrospective, Manchester, England, Kluwer.
Bell, F. (1999). Using SSM And Software Prototyping: An Emergent Methodology For An Ethical Information System. Methodologies for Developing and Managing Emerging Technology Based Systems. A. T. Wood-Harper, N. Jayaratna and J. R. G. Wood. London, Springer Verlag: 123-142.
Bell, F. and B. J. Oates (1998). Two frameworks for understanding and evaluating methodologies. Matching Technology with Organisational Needs. D. Avison and D. Edgar-Nevill. Maidenhead, McGraw-Hill.

Conference Proceedings

Bell, F. Zaitseva, E.,Coates, N. (2005),Respecting Difference: Developing Governance of International Online Student Collaboration, Virtuality and Realism in WWW-based Communities. HCI International, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA., Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc.
Whatley, J., Bell, F., Shaylor, J.,Zaitseva, E.,Zakrzewska, D., (2005),CAB - Collaboration Across Borders: Peer Evaluation for Collaborative Learning, InSITE (Informing Science + IT Education), Flagstaff, Arizona
Ferneley,E. Bell, F. (2005),Tinker, Tailor: Information Systems And Strategic Development In Knowledge-Based SMEs, ECIS - Information Systems in a Rapidly Changing Economy
Bell, F. and A. Adam (2004). The problem of integrating ethics into IS practice. ECIS 2004 The European Information Systems Profession in the Global Networking Environment, Turku, Finland.
Bell, F., A. Heinze, et al. (2004). Respect and Values in Educational Discussion Fora - Towards a Progressive Governance. UKAIS 2004 Conference, Glasgow Caledonian University.
Bell, F. and J. Whatley (2004). Trans-national online activities for students - a pragmatic approach. Networked Learning Conference, 2004, Lancaster University, England, UK.
Bell, F. and A. Heinze (2004). Developing Governance of Educational Virtual Communities. IADIS International Conference, Web Based Communities 2004, Lisbon, Portugal.
Bell, F. (2003). Learning Communities - reality or feelgood factor. Education in a Changing Environment, University of Salford.
Bell, F. (2003). Framing E-Learning Communities Within a Wider Context. ALT-C 2003, Communities of Practice, Sheffield.
Adam, A. and F. Bell (2003). Critical Information Systems Ethics. CMS3 - 3rd International Critical Management Studies Conference, Lancaster University Management School, Bailrigg, Lancaster, UK.

Bell, F., D. K. Allen, et al. (2003). Technology, Trust and Rural Tourism: Electronic Re-intermediation via a Virtual Enterprise. UKAIS 2003, University of Warwick.
Whatley, J. and F. Bell (2003). Can students benefit from collaboration across borders? ICHE, International Conference on Higher Education, Portugal.
Bell, F. and P. Handisides (2002). A simple tale of country folk? idiosyncrasies in tourism information standards. eSM@RT, The European Conference on Information and Communication Technology Advances and Innovation in the Knowledge Society, University of Salford.
Whatley, J. E. and F. Bell (2002). The Effect Upon Learning of Collaboration on Teamwork Projects Across Borders. EUNIS2002: The Eighth Conference of European University Information Systems, Porto, Portugal, EUNIS.
Bell, F., D. Howcroft, et al. (2001). From Vendor to Portal: A Case Study of Internet-Enabled Re-configuration. Proceedings of the 7th Americas Conference on Information Systems Association for Information Systems (CD-ROM), Boston, MA.
Whatley, J., F. Bell, et al. (2001). The effect upon learning of collaboration on teamwork projects across borders (abstract). ALT-C 2001: Changing Learning Environments, University of Edinburgh.
Bell, F. and L. Worrall (2000). ICT Distributed Learner Technologies, Learner Support Tools and Issues of Social Impact: Can any Man (or Woman) be an Island? GEMISIS MILLENNIUM CONFERENCE, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Bell, F. and M. C. Jones (2000). (Abstract) Reflections on the use of groupware to support a team-based approach to large-group teaching. Policy, Practice & Partnership, 7th International ALT Conference on Integrating Learning Technology, UMIST, Manchester.
Bell, F. (2000). (Abstract) Using collaborative technology to support reflection in the learning of abstract concepts. Policy, Practice & Partnership, 7th International ALT Conference on Integrating Learning Technology, UMIST, Manchester.
Worrall, L. and F. Bell (2000). (Abstract) ICT Distributed Learner Technologies, Support Tools and Issues of Social Impact: The Refinement and Enhancement of Pedagogy. Policy, Practice & Partnership, 7th International ALT Conference on Integrating Learning Technology, UMIST, Manchester.
Bell, F. (1998). (Extended Abstract) Using SSM and Software Prototyping. OR40, University of Lancaster.
Bell, F. and M. C. Jones (1998). (Poster) A Soft Systems Approach to the Evaluation of Learning Technology. ELT 98: Innovation in the Evaluation of Learning Technology, University of North London.
Bell, F. and B. J. Oates (1997). Two Frameworks For Understanding And Evaluating Information Systems Methodologies. 3rd Annual Conference of the UKAIS, University of Lincoln.
Bell, F. and M. C. Jones (1997). Explorations In University Course Delivery: Using Groupware To Support The Learning Process. BCS 5th Annual Conference on Methodologies, Training and Education of Methodology Practitioners and Researchers, Preston, Springer-Verlag.
Bell, F. (1996). Evaluation Of The Multiview Methodology Using The NIMSAD Framework. 4th BCS Information Systems Methodologies Conference, University College Cork.
Bell, F. and B. J. Oates (1994). A Framework for Method Integration. 2nd BCS Conference on Information System Methodologies, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh.

Seminars/ Workshops Given

Web 2.0 Slam - 'Performing' Innovative Practice, ALT-C 2007, University of Nottingham, September 2007 (with Josie Fraser and Helen Keegan).
Faculty E-Learning Awareness Raising Event, Think Lab, University of Salford, May 2007.
Using Moodle to Support International Student Collaboration Online, Continuing Professional Development Programme, University of Bolton, February 2007.
Approaches to learning in the 'Hearts of Salford' project. Understanding and Responding to Digital and Social Exclusion Workshop. London School of Economics, London, UK, December 12, 2006 (with Smith, S., Lindsay, S. & Bellaby, P.)
Rapporteur at European Cooperation in Education through Virtual Mobility, Online Educa, Berlin, November 2006.
Presentation to British Council Study Visit for Saudi Arabian HE Quality Managers, November 2006.
Blogs, Podcasts and Wikis - harmless fun or part of the future of Higher Education provision?, Salford Learning Innovations Club, November 2006 (with Helen Keegan).
Mixed Method Action Research: Sharing the Benefits and Challenges,1 November 2006, University of Salford (with Wendy Munro).
CABWEB - a Moodle Portal for Collaborative Students Activities, 10 November 2005, at the meeting of Moodle user and interest group, organised by JISC RSC Northwest at Skelmersdale College, Lancashire,UK.
Growing a Project Proposal, Research Funding Workshop, University of Salford, 2005.
Designing and Realising Collaborative Student Activities on CABWEB, ALT-C 2005, Manchester.
International Student Collaboration Online - Project Development, Strategic Context and Practical Implications, Teaching Research and Development Network, University of Manchester.
Designing International Internet-based Activities: Practical Issues and Strategic Implications, Education in a Changing Environment Conference, September 2004 (with Viv Caruana).
"International Mission Impossible? Your challenge, should you choose to accept it: Designing Internet-based activities that contribute to Internationalising the Curriculum.", workshop accepted for ILT Learning and Teaching Conference July 2004 : Delivering Excellence, http://www.ilt.ac.uk/607.asp
"To BB or not to BB? that is the question", University of Salford workshop on the integration of Blackboard with other activities and resources, 6 May, 2004.
Joint SIS/ NUKAIS Research Symposium: "Does Size Matter? - Researching with SMEs in the commercial and not for profit sectors", ISI, Salford , 28 April, 2004
"Symposium: 'Internationalising the Curriculum: a dubious concept, variously interpreted - what is going on in the UK and Europe?", accepted for the Networked Learning 2004 Conference, a research-based conference on networked learning in Higher Education and Lifelong Learning, to be held Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th April, 2004 at Lancaster University, UK , http://www.shef.ac.uk/nlc2004/home.htm
" Less Can Be More", presentation given to UKAIS - IS Learning & Teaching Symposium, Information Systems Institute, University of Salford, 11th December, 2002
Invited Workshop "Enhancing the learning experience through using ICT", with Janice Whatley at Facilitating Online Learning, University of Manchester , 25 Feb, 2002 .
"Enhancing The Learning Experience Through Using ICT Or A Lot From A Little", EDU Workshop, University of Salford , November 2001.
"Supporting Collaborative On-line Learning", Staff Development Workshop (given jointly with Mark Jones), E.D.U., University of Salford, 22 February 2000.
Lifelong Learning Presentation (Learning Space Pilot ), University of Salford, 27 January, 1999.
Staff Development Workshop, E.D.U., University of Salford, 10 December 1998, (workshop given jointly with Chris Procter, Mark Jones, David Bird, Brian Nicholson).
"The Whys and Wherefores of Using Technology to Support Teaching and Learning with Campus-Based Students", UNISCENE Workshop 12 & 13 October 1998, University of Salford.
"Using Groupware to Support Teaching and Learning on Campus-based Courses", Technology for Teaching and Learning Seminar, University of Teesside, Feb 13 1998.

Example of Popfly mashup