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Christine Harrison

Professor Christine Harrison

Professor of Science Education

Research interests

  • Policy
  • Education

Biography

Prof Chris Harrison taught science in secondary schools for 13 years before joining King's to run the Biology PGCE ITE course in 1993. She moved on to coordinate the 3 PGCE ITE science courses for Biology, Physics and Chemistry and built in integration and research-informed practice as well as continuing to champion the importance of disciplinary knowledge and strengthen practical work skills and competencies.

She is known for her talent at bridging the divide between science education research and practice and is a popular speaker at both research and professional education conferences. She was promoted to Professor of Science Education in 2019.

Research

Prof Harrison's research is classroom-based and is focused on how teachers conceptualise and enact assessment and pedagogy. She led on the work with science and maths teachers on Assessment for Learning using the ideas of the 1998 seminal review of Formative Assessment by Paul Black & Dylan Wiliam, using ideas from her PhD study on science assessment practices in lower secondary schools to shape the collaborative action research project KMOFAP (1999-2021).

More recent work has focused on assessment at times of change such as when STEM teachers adopt an inquiry approach to teaching (SAILS & ASSISTME EU FP7 projects) and the effects of moving GCSE science practical work assessment to paper-based formats.

For further information please see her Research Staff Profile.

Christine a member of the Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics with a specialism in science education.

Teaching

Chris teaches on the Biology and Science ITE course (PGCE), supporting new teachers in their first steps into the classroom.

She also provides lectures and workshops on the STEM Education Master's course and provides dissertation support across a broad range of topic areas. 

PhD supervision

Chris is an experienced PhD supervisor and is happy to consider studies in:

  • classroom assessment.
  • teacher instruction practices.
  • practical work and inquiry science teaching.
  • pre-service teacher education.
  • professional learning in STEM.

Chris's own research tends to evolve from empirical studies where she often works closely with teachers in the classroom. She has expertise in qualitative research, particularly focused on interviews, focus groups interviews and classroom practice and quasi-experimental analysis of classroom change and attainment.

 

Research

CRESTEM PGCE outside
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)

Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)

Education
Centre for Innovation in Teacher Education and Development (CITED)

The Centre for Innovation in Teacher Education and Development (CITED)

Generic science image
Strategies for Assessment of Inquiry Learning in Science

The SAILS project aimed to help prepare teachers to teach science through an inquiry approach and be more confident and competent in their assessments.

Project status: Completed

News

CRESTEM welcomes international researchers to discuss the use of fine-grained sampling methods in STEM education research

The Centre for Research in Education in STEM recently welcomed an international research team at King’s College London to share ideas about microgenetic...

CRESTEM team with 3 international visitors

Chartered College of Teaching Awards Founding Fellowship

Dr Christine Harrison, Reader in Science Education, School of Education, Communication and Society at King's College London is awarded Founding Fellowship by...

A teacher in front of a class

Events

19Jun

2024 ECS Annual Lecture: The Future of Assessment in Higher Education

The 2024 annual lecture at the School of Education, Communication and Society at King's College London discuss the future of assessment, one of the most...

Please note: this event has passed.

24Oct

Roundtable: Using Assessment for Learning in digital environments

Join the STEM Education Hub for a dynamic roundtable on Assessment for Learning (AfL) with experts from Brazil and the UK. Discover how AfL empowers STEM...

Please note: this event has passed.

30Jun

Innovations in Pedagogy, Assessment for Learning & Classroom Practice: The influence of the work of Paul Black

This event will celebrate the influential work of Paul Black in educational practice in STEM, which has been commented and analysed in a Festschrift that will...

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

It's Just Research, Ep. 7: Transforming Education Through Formative Assessment, with Christine Harrison

Professor Harrison discusses her pivotal collaborations with Professor Paul Black, which influenced her career path and the broader educational landscape.

Its just research podcast 1903x558 v2

Research

CRESTEM PGCE outside
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)

Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)

Education
Centre for Innovation in Teacher Education and Development (CITED)

The Centre for Innovation in Teacher Education and Development (CITED)

Generic science image
Strategies for Assessment of Inquiry Learning in Science

The SAILS project aimed to help prepare teachers to teach science through an inquiry approach and be more confident and competent in their assessments.

Project status: Completed

News

CRESTEM welcomes international researchers to discuss the use of fine-grained sampling methods in STEM education research

The Centre for Research in Education in STEM recently welcomed an international research team at King’s College London to share ideas about microgenetic...

CRESTEM team with 3 international visitors

Chartered College of Teaching Awards Founding Fellowship

Dr Christine Harrison, Reader in Science Education, School of Education, Communication and Society at King's College London is awarded Founding Fellowship by...

A teacher in front of a class

Events

19Jun

2024 ECS Annual Lecture: The Future of Assessment in Higher Education

The 2024 annual lecture at the School of Education, Communication and Society at King's College London discuss the future of assessment, one of the most...

Please note: this event has passed.

24Oct

Roundtable: Using Assessment for Learning in digital environments

Join the STEM Education Hub for a dynamic roundtable on Assessment for Learning (AfL) with experts from Brazil and the UK. Discover how AfL empowers STEM...

Please note: this event has passed.

30Jun

Innovations in Pedagogy, Assessment for Learning & Classroom Practice: The influence of the work of Paul Black

This event will celebrate the influential work of Paul Black in educational practice in STEM, which has been commented and analysed in a Festschrift that will...

Please note: this event has passed.

Features

It's Just Research, Ep. 7: Transforming Education Through Formative Assessment, with Christine Harrison

Professor Harrison discusses her pivotal collaborations with Professor Paul Black, which influenced her career path and the broader educational landscape.

Its just research podcast 1903x558 v2