James Rutherford

He also has over twenty years of AV project management and technical experience in support of learning and teaching.

He has a Master’s in Advanced Educational Practice from UCL Institute of Education, where he explored the creation of physical environments in higher education that enable effective learning and teaching.

James works part-time for City, University of London, as a Senior Educational Technologist and Project Lead for multimedia production and learning space development. In addition to this role he works as a Learning Space Consultant with universities, architects and furniture manufacturers. He has previously worked in managerial roles for learning environment development at the University of Birmingham and University of the Arts London.

Expertise and areas of interest

• Project management of institutional Learning Spaces change projects.
• Learning Spaces design and development consultant.
• Organisational structures for developing new learning environments.
• Video production design for learning and teaching.

Internal committee memberships

• Project lead on LEaD project focused on expanding the programme of piloting wireless collaboration in learning and teaching contexts
• Designed contemporary learning environment for Dept. of Journalism, modelled on a broadcast newsroom designed for multiple channels, by integrating work flows across TV, radio, online and print.

External activities and memberships

• SCHOMS member, executive committee member and vice-chair (2012-2016)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA)
• ALT Learning Spaces Special Interest Group

Conferences and Publications

• Created a RIBA approved CPD package for a British furniture manufacturer, with an exploration of pedagogically-informed learning spaces, aiming to enhance the experience and output of students. Connection CPD
• Rutherford, J. (2015). Creating Physical Learning Environments that Enable Effective Learning and Teaching. Centre for Learning and Academic Development and Learning Spaces, University of Birmingham. This article considers the types of physical environments that are required to enable effective learning and teaching in respect of a student centred, active and collaborative pedagogy.
• Contributor to The UK HE Learning Space Toolkit produced by SCHOMS, AUDE and UCISA to help members from all three professional bodies share best practice and work more effectively when creating learning spaces
• Rutherford, J. (2019). The effective use of video at City, a literature review, a paper investigating how video production design is making a tangible difference in higher education and specifically its implications for learning and teaching
• Workshop lead for conference sessions including “The Pedagogy of Space” and “Why Do We Need Classroom Furniture?” (City, University of London, Anglia Ruskin University, Workplace Trends Conference 2017 – present)
• Presented at the Higher Education Conference for Integrated Systems Europe, Amsterdam in February 2019, alongside City colleague Dominic Pates
• Presented at The Design & Management of Learning Environments Conference 2017 and 2014
• Learning Environment Design website (2010 – present).