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Dr Nicoleta Gaciu

PhD, MPhil, MSc, BSC, MInstP

Senior Lecturer in Education

School of Education, Humanities and Languages

Nicoleta Gaciu
Role
Teaching and supervision
Research
Professional information
Further details

Role

Nicoleta is an active researcher and she has considerable experience in research methods, theoretical Physics, numerical simulations and tutoring various disciplines (Education, Physics, Mathematics, Computing, and Statistics) in universities throughout the UK and Europe. For more than two years, she has worked as a consultant, helping students and professionals with research design and data analysis. After her PhD, she was a Senior Research Fellow at Ashridge Leadership Centre investigating the applications of Physics to Leadership and organizational design. Prior to this, she has taught for many years in both primary and secondary schools. She was also Head of Teaching and Learning Committee and responsible for Continuous Professional Development for primary and secondary teachers.

Teaching and supervision

Modules taught

  • Researching the 'Real' World: Positivism
  • Advanced Research Methods
  • Research2: Methods
  • Chaos Theory
  • Mind and Brain
  • Research Methods in Childhood and Education
  • Dissertation
  • Developing Reflective and Critical Practice
  • Research Informed Practice

Module leader

  • Research2: Methods
  • Research Methods in Education
  • Dissertation
  • Mind and Brain
  • The Reflective Learner

Modules taught

  • Advanced Research Methods in Education (EdD)
  • Contemporary Issues in Education (PGCE Secondary)
  • Physics and Mathematics (PGCE Physics with Maths)
  • Subject studies (PGCE Secondary Science)

Supervision

  • Academic supervisor for BA, MA, EdD and PhD research students
  • International student academic advisor

Research

Research interests: research methods in education, physics and leadership, meta-cognition, learning and teaching strategies, science education, creativity, assessment in HE, statistics with R

Research group membership

Nicoleta is a member of the Institute of Physics (MInstP), Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA), BERA full Member

Groups

Professional information

Memberships of professional bodies

Conferences

  • Gaciu, N. (2018) Using Online Software to Enhance Feedback, Interactivity and Greater Student Participation, the 20th Annual International Conference on Education and the 14th Annual International Conference on Information Technology & Computer Science, Athens Institute for Education and Research, Greece
  • Gaciu, N. (2018) Using Lino and Padlet to enhance feedback and student engagement, Higher Education Annual Conference – Teaching in the Spotlight, 3 July 2018, Birmingham
  • Gaciu, N. (2017) Oral examinations during the course of doctoral studies - developing more reliable and valid assessment techniques, BERA Conference, Brighton 5-7 September 2017
  • Gaciu, N. and Aldridge, D. (2016) A Genealogy of Dualistic Ideas in Research Methods Textbooks, BERA Conference, Leeds 12-15 September
  • Gaciu, N. (2015) Mapping metacognition, lesson planning and reflection for teaching and learning, International Conference ‘Education and Development Cooperation’, University of Cordoba, Spain
  • Gaciu, N. (2013) Exploring metacognitive strategies through MetaCS maps, Oxford Education Research Symposium, University Church of St Mary, Oxford
  • Gaciu, N. (2012) Enhancing the trainee teachers’ learning and teaching Physics through metacognitive strategies, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore,  Milano
  • Gaciu, N. (2012) On the same wavelength: Physics and Leadership, School of Education, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford
  • Gaciu, N. (2007) Invited talk: Physics and Leadership, International Leadership Conference, Ashridge
  • Gaciu,N.,  Gehrig,E. and  Hess, O. (2003)  High-speed modulation properties of segmented contact semiconductor lasers, Deutschen Physikalishen Gesellschaft, Dresden, Germany
  • Crisan,V., Popescu, V., Vernes, A., Andreica, D., Cristea, S., Buda, I. and Gaciu, N. (1994) Electronic States in Y2Fe17Cx, Poster Session, Conference on Balkan Physical Union, Izmir,Turkey
  • Gaciu, N. (2000) Information Technology in teaching and learning 10th National Symposium, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca

Further details

Academic qualifications

  • PhD in Physics (University of Surrey)
  • Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education  (PCTHE) (Oxford Centre for Staff and Learning Development)
  • MPhil in Physics (University of Surrey)
  • MSc in Physics (University of Stuttgart)
  • BSc in Physics (Babes-Bolyai University)

Erasmus

Between 2012 and 2014 I was actively involved with my colleagues from Bordeaux University, Universidad de Córdoba, University de Nantes, and Pädagogische Hochschule Salzburg in the Erasmus programme TTIMS (Teacher Training in Multicultural Settings)