Newcastle University

Background

Anthony Blake joined the School of Education, Communication and Language Sciences in May 2000, having worked in primary schools in Newcastle and Gateshead as a teacher and deputy head teacher since 1977. He has both an M.Litt. and Ed.D. from Newcastle University and is a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

Research Interests

Anthony’s personal research interests have centred around teaching for understanding in science (in particular young children’s understanding of earth science)and the fictional representations of teachers and teaching in different media forms which have informed aspects of his teaching. Workshops in Primary Science (PGCE) draw on his doctoral work into young children's understanding in science, specifically Earth Science, while his research into the construction of media identities of teachers and teaching underpin the design and content of specific modules in the Reflective Practitioner (PGCE), the BA Media, Communication & Cultural Studies and MEd (Practitioner) programmes. His current research interest is in the nature of understanding in the teaching and learning of History in school, specifically in terms of creativity and the use of film and television drama.

Current Work

Current research activity in collaboration with colleagues from Newcastle and Durham universities is focused on the trainee teacher's understanding of creativity in Primary school history and the role of film in supporting historical thinking by Secondary school-age students.

Undergraduate Teaching

Anthony teaches two modules on the BA (Hons) Media, Communication & Cultural Studies: COM2066: 'Representations and images of teachers and teaching in literature, film and television' and COM2079: 'Roots to Rome:"Telling History" in British TV Drama'.

Postgraduate Teaching

As well as teaching primary science, Anthony is module leader for the Reflective Practitioner on the Primary PGCE course and the MEd (Practitioner) module, EDU 8196 Students, Teachers and Managers in Popular Culture: Representations and Images in Film, Television and the Press.

• Edwards G, Blake A. Disciplining the practice of creative inquiry: The suppression of difference in teacher education. International Journal of Research and Method in Education 2007, 30(1), 33-55.
• Blake A. Do young children's ideas about the Earth's structure and processes reveal underlying patterns of descriptive and causal understanding in earth science?. Research in Science & Technological Education 2005,23 1 59-74.
• Blake A. Helping young children to see what is relevant and why: Supporting cognitive change in earth science using analogy. International Journal of Science Education 2004,26 15 1855-1873.
• Blake A, Newton LD, Newton DP, Brown K. Do Primary History Books Show a Concern for Explanatory Understanding?. Westminster Studies in Education 2003, 26(2), 149-159.
• Newton LD, Newton DP, Blake A, Brown K. Do Primary School Science Books for Children Show a Concern for Explanatory Understanding?. Research in Science & Technological Education 2002, 20(2), 227-240.
• Blake A, Newton DP, Brown LD. Is understanding a priority in elementary science teaching?. In: Nata, R, ed. Progress in Education. New York: Nova Science, 2002, pp.139-154.
• Blake A. Developing young children's understanding: an example from Earth Science. Evaluation & Research in Education 2001, 15(3), 154-163.
• Blake A, Edwards G. From "Hope & Glory" to "Waterloo Road": mediating discourses of 'crises' surrounding schools and schooling in British television drama, 1999-2011. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education 2013, 34(3). In Press.
• Blake A, Edwards G. Creative Thinking and Problem Solving in History and the Humanities. In: Newton, L.D, ed. Teaching for Creativity and Problem Solving Across the Primary Curriculum. London: Routledge, 2012. In Press.
• Blake A. How do young children engage with ‘reel’ history and what impact does this have on their ‘historical thinking’?. 2011.
• Blake A. The use of fictional and semi-fictional mainstream film and television to support young children’s understanding of the past. . 2011. In Preparation.
• Blake A, Cain K. History At Risk? A Survey Into The Use Of Mainstream Popular Film In The British Secondary School History Classroom. International Journal of Historical Learning, Teaching and Research 2011, 10(1), 88-98.
• Blake A, Edwards G, Newton DP, Newton LD. Some Students' Conceptions of Creativity in Primary School History. International Journal of Historical Learning Teaching and Research 2010, 9(2), 15-24.