Mr Andrew Smith

Professional biography

My primary research focus, follows these four domains, each supports research and teaching projects:

1. Developing a hybrid delivery pedagogy, focussed on teacher development within the network engineering and cybersecurity domains
2. Utilising social media as a scalable huetagogical tool for peritheral learning
3. Scalable simulation, for development of entry point network engineering skills
4. Supporting the development of disability engaged teaching, in the domain of network engineering

Current and past projects include:

• Developing Computer Science resources for teachers in Portugal (Erasmus funded, with PT and DK collaborative partners) (Jan 2021)
• Developing an accessible HTML5 cloud based network similator (Oct 2019 - June2020)
• Developed a Discovering Computer Networks BOC - using a HTML5 Cloud Based Network Similator - funded by UFITrust (Completed Oct 2019)
• Engaged with Cisco - supporting disability outreach, resource and curriculum analysis (completed April 2019)
• Engaged with Cisco - supporting the evaluation of resource, engagement with educators and creation of networking specific content for the Computing at Schools community and hosting resource on Open Learn Create (Completed 2018)

I teach at the university, on a number of modules - all predominantly focussed on internationally recognised vocationally focussed professional skills within the Network Engineering and CyberSecurity practitioner domains.

Currently I am:

• Chairing (leading the teaching) - TM257 - Cisco Networking (part one)
• Teaching (module team member) - TM357 - Cisco Networking (part two)
• Supporting development of T829 - CCNP Enterprise (replacing T824/6/7 - CCNP R+S modules)
• Teaching (module team member) - T828 Network Security - includes CCNA-CyberOps and Cisco Network Security BOC
• Chairing TZFM861/2 - Cisco CyberSecurity Operations Microcredential - 15 Credit FutureLearn course
• Chairing TG088 - Linux Essentials
• Chairing TG090 (leading the teaching and academic development) - Vendor Certification module, supporting focussed bids

I also support colleagues offering Networking Essentials and CyberSecurity Essentials content on TM129 and TMXY130.

I lead a Cisco ASC (Academy Support Centre) - this is a first amongst equals focussed initiative, within the global Cisco NetAcad programme. Currently, we support over 263 different organisations, by virtue of an 'open source', 'free membership oriented' methodology. We have won a number of Premier+ and outstanding engagement (employability and gender participation) awards from Cisco.

These organisations are UK focussed, with around 10-15% being global - within the community there are:

• Schools (teaching up to the age of 16)
• Further Education Colleges (including, 6th form, technical, vocational and community colleges)
• Higher Education
• Awarding Organisations
• Education Foccused Charities
• Apprenticeship Training Organisations
• And other non-standard education focussed initiaitves

Beyond this engagement, I also lead on a 'teaching the teachers' project - using a Cisco ITC (instructor training centre). Adapting the Cisco 'face-to-face' model and offering a social media oriented hybrid community based MOOC. This project commenced early 2017 - now by 2021 [at the time of writing] we have reached 11500+ teachers, covering Computer Hardware, Python Programming, Linux, Network Engineering and CyberSecurity. This has been supported by Cisco, CompTIA and the Institute of Coding.

In addition, I have led a number of funded microprojects, supporting:

1. Teaching teachers ITEssentials/A+, funded by CompTIA to 1192 global educators (2018)
2. Developing a 'blended learning essentials' resource base for vocational educators (2019) which was repurposed for Covid19 during early stages of the 2020 lockdown
3. Supporting Royal National College for the Blind - teaching their teaching team how to deliver Cisco Networking - collaborated with Curtin University and Cisco - forming basis a global disability 'expert base'
4. Supported a range of 'teacher outreach' courses - focussing on Networking Principles, Network Security and CyberSecurity Operations. 
5. Importing/Converting the Cisco Introduction to the Internet of Everything course onto the OpenLearn platform (2017)

In Oct 2020, I was awarded HEA (Advance-HE) Senior Fellowship status (SFHEA) based on teaching as well as my impact and engagement. 

• Currently leading a six way teaching the teachers project, with Cisco, the Institute of Coding, Birmingham City University, University of Wales: Trinity St David and Technological University: Dublin. Running from May 2020, now extended until January 2021, this has been extended into an ongoing initiative, continuing to extend teacher skills and also offer the DevNet Associate.
• Working with Cisco and other 'academic leaders' within a global disability engagment project, focussed on enablement within the Network Engineering domain. 
• Ongoing engagement developing cloud, network technician and cybersecurity technologist qualifications with multiple awarding organisations

• Member of Cisco global advisory group
• Member of LPI (Linux Professional Institute) - academic advisory group
• Honorary Research Associate - Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia