Dr Geoff Walton

Who am I?

I am Senior Lecturer in Information and Communications at Manchester Metropolitan University (from August 1st 2016). I am Programme Leader for the MA Library & Information Management. I teach on the following Units: (Pg) Information Organisations & Their Management, Introduction to Health Librarianship, E-Learning and the Organisation, Digital Rights and Information Organisation & Search; (Ug) Digital Organisations.

I recently completed an E-Learning Portal funded project for Jeff Gosling Hand-Controls working in collaboration with eGenius (now Digital Candle) and DualFocus. This was part funded by an Innovation Voucher.

I was previously at Northumbria University for 3 years where I secured British Academy/ Leverhulme Trust funding (with Ali Pickard). I worked on a number of research projects including the EU AMORES project (Discovering a love for literature through digital collaboration and creativity). I was Principal Supervisor for research projects on information literacy in Vietnam and qualitative big data.

Before Northumbria University I had a dual role at Staffordshire University of Senior Researcher in the Faculty of Arts and Creative Technologies and Academic Skills Tutor Librarian (Information Services). As Senior Researcher I secured over €300,000 in EU funding and £20,000 AHRC funding.

I have been a Chartered Information Professional/Librarian for over 20 years. I was SLA Europe Information Professional 2010. My paper for the Journal of Documentation won an Emerald Literati Highly Commended Award in 2012.
I am particularly interested in the cognitive, metacognitive and affective processes involved in becoming information literate. I have research interests in a number of areas such as digital personae, digital literacy, discourses in information literacy, social enterprise and webometrics/analytics.
I am Chair of the Editorial Board for the Journal of information Literacy. I am currently a committee member for CILIP's Information Literacy Group (ILG). I chair ILG's Research Bursary panel.
In a previous life I had very long hair and played guitar, bouzouki and bodhran in folk bands, Boneshaker, Greensward, Cut-Throat Jake, Full Circle, the Canal Siders and electric guitar and bouzouki in the rock band Heymaker. As a musician I appeared on Saturday Superstore, Woman's Hour, Folk on 2, BBC Breakfast, Stoke in Bloom (documentary), the World Service and numerous local radio stations in the UK.

Why do I teach?

I like doing it and I want to help people to achieve their professional goals.

Words of wisdom

Bloom where you are planted

How I’ll teach you

I like asking questions and doing lots of activities.

Academic and professional qualifications

PhD in Information Science

MA in Information Studies

PgCHPE (SEDA accredited)

BA (Joint Hons) Psychology & Sociology

FHEA

Chartered Member of CILIP

Previous employment

Northumbria University - Senior Lecturer

Staffordshire University - Senior Researcher

Staffordshire University - Academic Skills Tutor Librarian

Staffordshire University - Research-Informed Teaching Project Co-ordinator

Staffordshire University - Assistant Librarian

Staffordshire County Council - Videotext Editor

Rural Action Network - Casual Information Officer

Staffordshire County Council - Library Assistant

Self employed Musician

NACRO - Community Worker

Research expertise

• Information literacy,
• digital literacy,
• information discernment,
• information behaviour,
• e-learning,
• misinformation,
• volunteering in public libraries.

Publications

• Featured Works

  L. Brannon, L. Gold, J. Magee, G. Walton (2022). The Potential of Interactivity and Gamification Within Immersive Journalism &; Interactive Documentary (I-Docs) to Explore Climate Change Literacy and Inoculate Against Misinformation. Journalism Practice. 16(2-3), pp.334-364.

• Books (authored/edited/special issues)

  M. Hepworth, G. Walton, A. Spink, JE. Mai (2013). Developing People’s Information Capabilities: Fostering Information Literacy in Educational, Workplace and Community Contexts. M. Hepworth, G. Walton. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  M. Hepworth, G. Walton (2013). Preface. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

  G. Walton, A. Pope (2011). Information Literacy. G. Walton, A. Pope. Chandos Publishing.

  D. Parkes, G. Walton (2010). Web 2.0 and Libraries. D. Parkes, G. Walton. Chandos Publishing.

  M. Hepworth, G. Walton (2009). Teaching Information Literacy for Inquiry-Based Learning. Chandos Publishing.

  G. Walton, A. Pope (2006). Information Literacy. G. Walton, A. Pope. Chandos Publishing.

• Journal articles

  L. Brannon, L. Gold, J. Magee, G. Walton (2022). The Potential of Interactivity and Gamification Within Immersive Journalism &; Interactive Documentary (I-Docs) to Explore Climate Change Literacy and Inoculate Against Misinformation. Journalism Practice. 16(2-3), pp.334-364.

  D. Sales (2020). Definición de alfabetización informacional de CILIP, 2018. Anales de Documentación. 23(1),

  HT. Ngo, AJ. Pickard, G. Walton (2019). Information literacy capabilities of upper secondary students: the case of Vietnam. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication. 68(6/7), pp.453-470.

  G. Walton, H. Ngo, A. Pickard (2019). The information literacy capabilities of upper secondary students: The case of Vietnam. Global Knowledge, Memory and Communication. 68(3), pp.191-206.

  G. Walton, AJ. Pickard, L. Dodd (2018). Information discernment, mis-information and pro-active scepticism. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science. 50(3), pp.296-309.

  B. Casselden, G. Walton, A. Pickard, J. Mcleod (2017). Issues of quality and professionalism of library volunteers. Performance Measurement and Metrics. 18(2), pp.118-126.

  G. Walton (2017). Information literacy is a subversive activity: developing a research-based theory of information discernment. Journal of Information Literacy. 11(1), pp.137-155.

  G. Walton, D. Williams (2016). Information: interactions and impact (i3) 2015. Journal of Information Literacy. 10(1), pp.99-101.

  S. Goldstein, C. Morrison, J. Secker, G. Walton (2015). ECIL 2015: Information literacy in the greenhouse. Journal of Information Literacy. 9(2), pp.133-135.

  A. Gröppel-Wegener, L. Raven, H. Bowstead, K. Vigurs, G. Walton (2015). Exploring ?academic depth? in Higher Education A collaborative evaluation of a visual method for facilitating information discernment for HE students from varied disciplines. Innovative Practice in Higher Education. 2,

  G. Walton (2014). AMORES - Discovering a love for literature through digital collaboration and creativity. Journal of Information Literacy. 8(1), pp.85-88.

  G. Walton, M. Hepworth (2013). Using assignment data to analyse a blended information literacy intervention: A quantitative approach. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science. 45(1), pp.53-63.

  J. Cleland, G. Walton (2012). Online peer assessment: helping to facilitate learning through participation. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. 4, pp.n/a-n/a.

  G. Walton, M. Hepworth (2011). A longitudinal study of changes in learners' cognitive states during and following an information literacy teaching intervention. Journal of Documentation. 67(3), pp.449-479.

  A. Pope, G. Walton (2011). Introduction. LEGISLATIVE STUDIES QUARTERLY. 32(1), pp.1-15.

  K. Puttick, A. Pope, G. Walton (2010). The enquiring minds project at Staffordshire University: integrating information literacy into the curriculum and assessment. Legal Information Management. 10, pp.104-108.

  K. Morgan, G. Walton (2008). InfoZone: an enticing Library and IT induction?. Journal of Information Literacy. 2, pp.94-105.

  S. Andretta, A. Pope, G. Walton (2008). Information literacy education in the UK: reflections on perspectives and practical approaches of curricular integration. Communications in Information Literacy. 2, pp.36-51.

  G. Walton, J. Barker, M. Hepworth, D. Stephens (2007). Using online collaborative learning to enhance information literacy delivery in a Level 1 module: an evaluation. Journal of Information Literacy. 1, pp.13-30.

• Chapters in books

  G. Walton, F. Johnson, D. Stewart, G. Young, H. Case-Wyatt (2023). Introduction to Healthcare Knowledge and Library Services. Facet,

  M. Hepworth, G. Walton (2014). Introduction — Information Literacy and Information Behaviour, Complementary Approaches for Building Capability. M. Hepworth, G. Walton. In: Library and Information Science. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.1-11.

  E. Johnston, G. Walton (2013). Summon, information literacy and ?Step Up To HE?. E. Coonan. In: Teaching, not telling: Proceedings of the 2nd UK Information Literacy and Summon Day. UK Information Literacy and Summon Day, pp.20-29.

  G. Walton, J. Cleland (2013). Strand 2: becoming an independent learner. J. Secker, E. Coonan. In: Rethinking information literacy: a practical framework for teaching. Facet, pp.13-26.

  A. Groppel-Wegener, G. Walton (2013). The Fishscale of academicness. In: Only connect? discovery pathways, library explorations and the information adventure. Innovative Libraries, pp.15-38.

  G. Walton (2013). Online Conversation: Information Literacy as Discourse between Peers. S. Kurbanoglu, E. Grassian, D. Mizrachi, R. Catts, S. Spiranec. In: Communications in Computer and Information Science. Springer International Publishing, pp.373-379.

  G. Walton (2010). From online discourse to online social networking, the e-learning Holy Grail?. D. Parkes, G. Walton. In: Web 2.0 and libraries: impacts, technologies and trends. Chandos, pp.33-65.

  G. Walton (2010). Online social networking, the e-learning holy grail?. In: Web 2.0 and Libraries. Elsevier, pp.33-65.

  A. Pope, G. Walton (2009). Information and media literacies: sharpening our vision in the twenty first century. M. Leaning. In: Issues in information and media literacy: education, practice and pedagogy. Informing Science Press, pp.1-29.

  J. Adams, A. Pope, G. Walton (2008). Using Web 2.0 to enhance the Staffordshire University Assignment Survival Kit (ASK). J. Parker, P. Godwin. In: Information literacy meets library 2.0.. Facet Publishing, pp.139-150.

  G. Walton, J. Barker, M. Hepworth, D. Stephens (2007). Facilitating information literacy teaching and learning in a level 1 Sport & Exercise module by means of collaborative online and reflective learning in the Blackboard virtual learning environment (VLE). S. Andretta. In: Change and challenge: information literacy for the 21st century. Auslib Press, pp.169-202.

  A. Pope, G. Walton (2006). Information literacy: recognising the need - an introduction. G. Walton, A. Pope. In: Information Literacy. Elsevier, pp.3-11.

  M. Hepworth, S. Probets, F. Qutaishat, G. Walton (2006). Personalisation initiatives in the public and academic domain. A. Cox. In: Portals: People, processes, technology. Facet Publishing, pp.38-51.

  A. Pope, G. Walton (2006). Background to the conference. In: Information Literacy. Elsevier, pp.1-2.

• Conferences

  B. Scaife, G. Walton (2022). Improving Wayfinding in a UK Higher Education Institution Library. In: Information Literacy in a Post-Truth Era: 7th European Conference on Information Literacy, ECIL 2021, Virtual Event, September 20–23, 2021, Revised Selected Papers. Online, 20/9/2021. pp.648-660.

  G. Chowdhury, J. Boustany, S. Kurbanoğlu, Y. Ünal, G. Walton (2017). Preparedness for Research Data Sharing: A Study of University Researchers in Three European Countries. In: DIGITAL LIBRARIES: DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE FOR DIGITAL LIVES. Chulalongkorn Univ, Fac Arts, Dept Lib Sci, Bangkok, THAILAND, 13/11/2017. pp.104-116.

  L. Dodd, G. Chowdhury, M. Harvey, G. Walton (2017). Information Seeking Behaviour of Aspiring Undergraduates on Social Media: Who Are They Interacting with?. In: DIGITAL LIBRARIES: DATA, INFORMATION, AND KNOWLEDGE FOR DIGITAL LIVES. Chulalongkorn Univ, Fac Arts, Dept Lib Sci, Bangkok, THAILAND, 13/11/2017. pp.245-255.

  HT. Ngo, GL. Walton, AJ. Pickard (2016). Teaching and Learning Information Literacy in Upper Secondary Schools in Vietnam. In: Communications in Computer and Information Science. pp.499-506.

  M. Childs, V. Estatiev, J. Hetherington, G. Jugo, T. Richardson, et al. G. Walton. (2015). Connecting to Reading: Inspiring Young Children to Read Through the Creation of Digital Artefacts and use of Social Media. In: PROCEEDINGS OF THE 14TH EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON R-LEARNING (ECEL 2015). Univ Hertfordshire, Hatfield, ENGLAND, 29/10/2015. pp.147-155.

Grants

2016-17 CILIP Information Literacy
Group

Information discernment and
psychophysiological well-being in response to misinformed stigmatization

PI Dr Geoff Walton 
 
£9,999.26

2014-16 British Academy/ Leverhulme Trust 
 
Proactive and passive scepticism; extending digital literacy to survive misinformation, myth and conspiracy theory and support empowered citizenship.SG141574

PI: Dr Geoff Walton
(replacing Dr Ali Pickard) 
 
£9,515.51
 
2013-15 EU Comenius Multilateral 
 
AMORES 540492-LLP-2013-1-HR-COMENIUS-CMP
PI for Workpackage 2, member
of Steering Group
PI: Gordana Jugo (CARNet, Croatia) 
 
€299,500

2013 EU Leonardo
 
RESIDENCY UK/13/LLP-LdV/TOI-689
Bid writer and designated
project manager. (Not taken up due to change of institution)
PI: Mark Webster 
 
€251,000 
 
2013 VCs Teaching-led small
research grants – Staffordshire University 
 
Testing the Fish-scale of academicness

Co-PI: Dr Alke Groppel-Wegener Dr Geoff Walton 
 
£5,000

 2012 Higher Education Innovation
Fund (HEIF) 5 - Staffordshire University 
 
UniverSES: University Social Enterprise Strategy

PI: Dr Geoff Walton
 
£9,977
 
2012 Higher Education Innovation
Fund (HEIF) 5 - Staffordshire University
 
AsktheApp – designing a mobile application for iPhone and android.
PIs: Dr Geoff Walton & David Parkes 
 
£100,000 
 
2011 AHRC
 
And the Doctor Said... (aka
Medical Histories: Creating Health Narratives) AH/J006017/1
P Is: Mark Webster
(Staffordshire University),                
Co-Investigator Dr Alannah
Tomkins (Keele University)        
Project Team: Dr Geoff
Walton (bid writer, Steering Group member, Website Curator), Penny Vincent,
Dr Lisa Mansell. 
 
£26,977 
 
2010 Teaching Quality Enhancement
Fund (TQEF) - Staffordshire University 
 
Online Peer Assessment: An Innovative Strategy in Enhancing the Educational Practice of First Year
Students in Higher Education
PIs: Dr Geoff Walton &
Dr Jamie Cleland
 
£2,000

2009 Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF) - Staffordshire University 
 
The experience of non-traditional students in HE
PIs: Dr Peter Beaney &
Dr Geoff Walton
 
£3,500
 
2009 LearnHigher 
 
Extending the applicability of ASK (Assignment Survival Kit) to support a wider range of learners
PIs: Geoff Walton, Alison
Pope & Julie Adams 
 
£3,984 
 
2008 Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF) - Staffordshire University 
 
Extending the applicability of ASK (Assignment Survival Kit) to support a wider range of learners.
PIs: Geoff Walton, Alison
Pope & Julie Adams

 £3,000

2006 Teaching Quality Enhancement Fund (TQEF) - Staffordshire University 
 
Using information literacy as a means of promoting the research process in Level 1 students

 PIs: Geoff Walton &
Jamie Barker 
 
£3,000