Ken Marks M.A.,PGCE, Dip Soc Admin

Tel: (+44) (0)114 222 8179
Fax: (+44) (0)114 279 6236
Email: k.marks@Sheffield.ac.uk
Room: 3.10







Research Interests

Ken´s main area of research is Traveller education and, in particular, the challenges posed by a mobile lifestyle.

In numerical terms the largest UK mobile communities are Gypsies, Irish Travellers, Scottish Travellers and Showmen (the Fairground community). Substantial numbers of families overwinter at a regular base but then travel for economic reasons, especially during the period April-October. This both disrupts schooling provision and interrupts the learning process.

Ken´s recent research has focused on the use of ICT to bridge the gap between these young learners and their winter-base schools. He is also currently (2007) involved with evaluating an ICT-based project which seeks to re-engage KS4 pupils who have effectively left school. This research has been focused through a series of e-learning and mobility projects (E-LAMP), mainly funded through the Nuffield Foundation and the DfES/DCSF.

Recent Publications

Marks, K and Rowlands, M (2010) Home Access on the Move: Providing for mobile families NATT+, Leeds

Holmes P., Knaepkens L., and Marks K (2001) 'Fighting Social Exclusion through ODL: the development of initiatives with the children of Traveller communities' in Trindade, A.R. (ed) New Learning. Universidade Aberta, Portugal.

Marks, K. (2003) 'EFECOT: supporting the travelling tradition' in Bradley J (ed) The Open Classroom: distance learning in and out of schools. Kogan Page, London and New York

Marks, K (2004) Traveller Education: changing times, changing technologies Trentham Books, Stoke on Trent.

Marks, K (2005) 'Developments in supported distance learning' in Tyler C. (ed), Traveller Education: accounts of good practice. Trentham Books, Stoke on Trent.

Marks, K (2005) `Responding to Traveller mobility´ in Race Equality Teaching Vol 24(1) pp. 43-46.

Marks, K (2006) `School Supported Distance Learning´ DfES Publications, Nottingham.

Marks, K and Wood, M (2007) `Supporting Traveller Children´ in Richards, G and Armstrong, F (eds), Key Issues for Teaching Assistants Routledge, Abingdon.

Marks, K (2008) Traveller children and ICT: The ELAMP projects Race Equity Teaching Vol 26, No 2

D´Arcy, K and Marks, K (2008) Disengaged Traveller children and ICT: The ELAMP Project Race Equity Teaching Vol 27, No 1