Profile

Research Interests

Stephen’s research interests include E-Learning, web 2.0 tools, social media, and the use of multimedia in learning and teaching, particularly in the associated affordances for social constructivist styles of learning, as well as the critique of dominant discourses concerning students’ digital literacies. In 2017 he successfully completed his doctoral research into the use of digital audio (mp3) for feedback purposes, an area in which he has also been involved in national research projects, such as TALENT (2000-2002) and Sounds Good (2008-2009). He also has recent publications on student experience, the use of technology and social media by students, and perceptions of risk in young people using the internet.

Teaching

Stephen’s areas of interest include research methods and methodology, philosophy of education, politics of education, digital childhoods, education and technology, design, and learning and teaching with new technologies.

Administrative Responsibilities

Stephen is a member of the University Regulations Review Group (Vice-chair), the Digital Learning and Student Experience Task Group, the Mitigating Circumstances Board, the Research Committee, the Research Degree Sub-Committee, the Research Ethics Committee, the Research Degree Sub-Committee Management Group and University Senate.

Membership of Professional Organisations

Stephen is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a member of NASEN (National Association for Special Educational Needs), a member of BERA (British Educational Research Association) and also a member of TIESA (The International Education Studies Association), for which he sits on the Executive Committee as Managing Editor for TIESA journals. He is on the Board of Reviewers for the journals: Pastoral Care in Education, Educational Futures, Vulnerable Children and Youth Studies, and Transformations, sits on the International Advisory Board for the Spanish education journal Magister, and is currently co-editor of Educational Futures.

Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals

Dixon, S. & Marriott, S. (2025) ‘Sounding better: perceptions of audio feedback from students with dyslexia’. Dyslexia Review, 35(2), pp.6-11 

Edgar, A. & Johnson, B, & Dixon, S. (2024) ‘”A Debt on your Heart”: Exploring the impact of student precarity on Education Studies students at a UK university.’ Educational Futures, 15(2), pp.61-83 (Available at: https://educationstudies.org.uk/?p=30378)

Johnson, B, Dixon, S., & Edgar, A. (2024) ‘The transformative potential of critical pedagogy for Education Studies students in interrogating neoliberalism’, Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies, 22(1), pp.1-25

Dixon, S. (2023) ‘Don’t panic (yet): The implications of ChatGPT for Education Studies in the UK’, Educational Futures, 14 (1), pp.96-116 (Available at: https://educationstudies.org.uk/?attachment_id=20891)

Dixon, S. (2022) ‘Old wine in new bottles: Utilising audio feedback for summative assessment’, Educational Futures, 13 (1), pp.73-86

Dixon, S. (2015) ‘The pastoral potential of audio feedback: a review of the literature’, Pastoral Care in Education: An International Journal of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, 33 (2), pp.96-104

Dixon, S., Sanders, R. & Griffin, S. (2013) ‘Education Studies Students 2.0?’ Educational futures, 6(1), pp.41-57 (Available at: (Available at: https://educationstudies.org.uk/journal/ef/educationalfutures-november-2013/education-studies-students-2-0/dixon-et-al-f/)

Dixon, S. & Sanders, R. (2011) ‘Dangerous Assumptions – what our media students have taught us’ Media Education Research Journal, 2 (2), pp.12-25

Dixon, S. (2010) ‘Sounding Good: Exploring the potential of audio feedback’ Educational futures, 2(3), pp.29-37  Available at: (Available at: https://educationstudies.org.uk/journal/ef/volume-2-3-2010/sounding-good-exploring-potential-audio-feedback/vol_23_dixon_final_1/)

McDougall, J. & Dixon, S. (2009) ‘Doing Media 2.0’ Networks, 8, pp.23-25 (Available at: http://www.academia.edu/8343976/Doing_Media_2.0)

Chapters in Books 

Dixon, S. (2021) ‘Foreword’, in Taekke, J. & Paulsen. M. (2021) A New Perspective on Education in the Digital Age: Teaching, Media and Bildung. London: Bloomsbury

Dixon, S. (2020) ‘Young People and Digital Media’, in Cronin, M. & Brotherton, G. (Eds) (2020) Working with Vulnerable Children, Young People and Families. 2nd Edition. Abingdon: Routledge, pp.122-145

Dixon, S. (2018) ‘Children and Technology’, in Bright, C., Tatton, A. & Thomas, L. (2018) Supporting Children and Young People in Schools: A guide for Foundation Degree Students. Abingdon: Routledge, pp.88-99

Dixon, S. & Sanders, R. (2016) ‘Technology’, in Trotman, D., Willoughby, R. & Lees, H. (Eds) (2016) Education Studies: The Key Concepts. Abingdon: Routledge, pp.221-225

Dixon, S. (2013) ‘Young People, Digital Media and Risk: A Problem of Polarisation’, in Cronin, M. & Brotherton, G. (Eds) (2013) Working with Vulnerable Children, Young People and Families. Abingdon: Routledge, pp.157-180

Conferences and Other Research Activity

Dixon, S., Edgar, A. & Johnson, B, (2025) ‘Education Studies and Change: designing degree courses with the new QAA Education Studies Subject Benchmarks’. TIESA Annual Conference, Nottingham Trent University

Dixon, S. (2025) ‘Publishing in Education Journals’. TIESA Annual Conference, Nottingham Trent University 

QAA (2025) Subject Benchmark Statement: Education Studies. Gloucester: QAA

Dixon, S., Edgar, A. & Johnson, B, (2024) ‘Not so Radical? A critique of anonymised marking and feedback practices in higher education’. TIESA Annual Conference, University of Winchester

Dixon, S., Edgar, A. & Johnson, B, (2023) ‘Co-constructing critical change: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the lived experience of Education Studies Students in a neoliberal world’, BESA Annual Conference, University of Derby

Dixon, S. (2022) ‘Hearing Voices: undergraduate students’ experience of digital audio feedback’, Personalised Pedagogies – Inclusive, Empowering and Progressive Higher Education for All, University of Hull Learning and Teaching Conference. Teaching Excellence Academy, University of Hull.  Available at: https://uoh.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=06d0a1ba-4cdc-4d4d-9198-aed10109dab0

Dixon, S. (2022) ‘Education, Technology and Social Justice: Reflections on Digital Divides’, BESA Annual Conference. Manchester

Dixon, S. (2022) ‘L&T Chat Show Episode 7 – Steve Dixon on creating and using audio feedback’. L&T Chat Show [podcast interview]. Available at: https://anchor.fm/landtchatshow/episodes/LT-Chat-Show-Episode-7—Steve-Dixon-on-creating-and-using-audio-feedback-e1hdp3i

Dixon, S. (2020) The push for online content. British Education Studies Association. Available at: https://educationstudies.org.uk/blog-post-the-push-for-online-content/

Dixon, S. (2019) Poodll Podcast. Audio Feedback Toolkit, Sheffield Hallam University. Available at: https://melsig.shu.ac.uk/melsig/resources/audio-feedback-toolkit/audio-feedback-the-voices-of-innovators-temporary/

Dixon, S. (2019) ‘We want to see the cat! A case study of webinar-based learning and student experience’, BESA Annual Conference. University of Trinity St David’s, Swansea

Dixon, S. (2017) Keynote – ‘Using POODL for Audio Feedback’, Arden University Learning and Teaching Conference. Arden University

Dixon, S. (2017) Keynote – ‘Using POODL in Assessment’, Learning and Teaching Conference. University of Warwick

Dixon, S. (2016) ‘Audio Feedback: Troubling to hear’, Troubling Research Conference. Birmingham

Dixon, S. (2016) ‘Student perceptions of audio feedback’, BESA Annual Conference. Wolverhampton University

Dixon, S. (2014) ‘Audio Feedback Revisited: A Pastoral Dimension?’, BESA Annual Conference. University of Glasgow

Dixon, S. (2013) ‘Young People and Digital Media: A Problem of Polarisation’, Hidden Truths: Understanding Vulnerability in 21st century Britain. Birmingham Newman University

Dixon, S. & Sanders, R. (2012) ‘Education Studies Students 2.0?’, BESA Annual Conference. University of Hull

Sanders, R. & Dixon, S. (2011) Closing The Gap [DVD], Stoke City Council

Dixon, S. (2011) ‘Participation Discourse Wordle’ [image], Media Education Research Journal, 2 (1), p.5 (Available at: http://www.merj.info/MERJ%202.1-Editorial.pdf)

Trotman, D., Tucker, S., Martyn, M. & Dixon, S. (2011) ‘Towards a Pedagogy of the Possible’, ATINER 2011. Athens Institute for Education and Research

Dixon, S. & Sanders, R. (2011) ‘Questioning the Digital Native Assumption’, CAL 11. Manchester Metropolitan University

Dixon, S. & Sanders, R. (2011) ‘Teaching Media 2.0’, Media Education Summit. Birmingham City University

Dixon, S. (2009) ‘Now I’m a Person: Feedback by audio and text annotation’, A Word in Your Ear. Sheffield Hallam University (Available at: http://research.shu.ac.uk/lti/awordinyourear2009/docs/Dixon-Now-Im-a-person_.pdf)

Dixon, S. (2009) ‘Audio Feedback audio case study from Newman University, Birmingham’, A word in Your Ear. Sheffield Hallam University (Available at: http://research.shu.ac.uk/lti/awordinyourear2009/audio/dixon-steve-newman.mp3)

Dixon, S. (2009) ‘Sounding Good’, BESA Annual Conference. University of Stafford

Dixon, S. (2005) ‘E-Learning Conference Workshop’, BECTA Annual Conference. Birmingham

Dixon, S. (2003) ‘Web Learning Conference Workshop’, MAPE Annual Conference. Birmingham

Dixon, S. (2003) ‘Online Learning Conference’, JISC – E-Learning. Coventry University

Dixon, S. (2003) ‘Web Conference Workshop’, MAPE Annual Conference. Birmingham

Dixon, S. (2001) ‘Online Learning’, TALENT Conference. Birmingham

Dixon, S. (2000) ‘Using Networked Technologies for Teaching and Learning’, TALENT Conference. University of Leicester

Non-refereed Journal Articles

Dixon, S. (2015) ‘E-safety for the i-generation’, Pastoral Care in Education: An International Journal of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, 33 (2), pp.129-30

Dixon, S. (2011) ‘Politics 2.0: Book and Resources Reviews’, Media Education Research Journal, 2(1), pp.5-8 (Available at: http://www.merj.info/pdf/Morozov%20&%20Lievrouw%20review.pdf)

Dixon, S. (2010) ‘Personal Connections in the Digital Age’, POV – Journal of the Media Education Association, 2 (2/3)

Dixon, S. (2010) ‘Video Production Resources Review’, Media Education Research Journal, 1 (1), pp.100-102

Barnard, D. & Dixon, S. (2007) ‘Brand New’, Education Executive, 25, pp.18-20

Dixon, S. & Upton, C. (1999) ‘Local History and the World Wide Web’, Society of Archives Newsletter (Archives in Education Issue), 17, pp.7-8

Dixon, S. (1998) ‘The ABTAPL Website – Now Online’, Bulletin of the Association of British Theological and Philosophical Libraries, 5 (2), p.2

Dixon, S. (1998) ‘Keeping in Touch: The ABTAPL Mailing List’, Bulletin of the Association of British Theological and Philosophical Libraries, 5 (1), pp.5-8