I am a biologist with expertise in animal ecology and behaviour who has evolved into a researcher of education. Educationally, I specialise in both quantitative explorations of higher educational systems and innovative methods for teaching & learning. I particularly focus on methods for enhancing learner creativity and autonomy through different educational approaches. Biologically, I retain my doctoral and post-doctoral interests in how stressors (such as agrochemicals) modify invertebrate behaviour and ecology.
I use a variety of techniques to help students reach their full potential in the classroom, laboratory and field. For example, my students have worked with professional clients for over twenty five years (e.g. local consultancies) to deliver valued underraduate consultancy projects. I enjoy teaching on residential field courses in the UK and abroad.
My subject areas include applied ecology (terrestrial and aquatic environments), animal behaviour (particularly invertebrates), ecological fieldwork, research methods and analyses. I also teach staff about higher educational research and practices.
2014 Chair in Higher Education
2009 MAAP in Adult Learning
2002 PGCE (H.E.) Institute of Education
1999 PhD in Animal Ecology
1992 1st class BSc (Hons) in Biology
Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology and chartered biologist (FRSB)
Principle Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (PFHEA)
National Teaching Fellow and member of Association of National Teaching Fellows (ANTF)
Member of the Institute for Environmental Management (MIEEM)
Researcher of higher education practices, particularly innovative approaches to learning and teaching and explorations of the student experience and its measurement. I remain a biologist specialising in the behaviour and ecology of invertebrates.
Former Editor in Chief of the journal 'Bioscience Education' (on behalf of the Higher Education Academy) and consultant to the agrochemical sector.
Previous roles have included Faculty Head of Education, Associate Dean for Learning, Teaching, Assessment and Quality and also Associate Dean for the Student Experience. Professional and curriculum development (includes the Professional Standards Framework and variety of educational research). PhD and postdoctoral supervision and examination. Student surveys and their development and interpretation.
All my doctoral students supervisions have been sucessful, acting as Director of Studies for four candidates researching invertebrate behaviour and ecology. I also supervised a postdoctral student funded by Lonza, Swizterland. More recently I successfuly supervised my first Educational Doctorate (EdDoc) candidate to completion.
Former external for multiple programmes for the University of Central Lancashire and University of Cumbria.
Current research is focused on higher education including modelling the National Student Survey, developing metric benchmarks for NHS funded courses and exploring the role of creativity and play in adult learning. Other work has included research into: student engagement, success and satisfaction; measures of learning gains. I have also completed a range of biological research and consultancy projects including: impacts of stressors such as pesticides on invertebrate behaviour and ecology; ecology of invertebrate pests, predators and other benefical taxa; measures of ecosystem function in aquatic systems.
I have worked on funded projects for both biological and educational research (EU Framework, NHS, Hefce/Higher Education Academy) and been invited as a (keynote) speaker by many societies and institutions (e.g. Society of Biology, Higher Education Academy, St Andrews University, Bangor University, Bristol University etc.).
AM. Langan, WE. Harris (2019). National student survey metrics: where is the room for improvement?. Higher Education. 78(6), pp.1075-1089.
N. Whitton, AM. Langan (2019). Fun and games in higher education: an analysis of UK student perspectives. Teaching in Higher Education. 24(8), pp.1000-1013.
AM. Langan, WE. Harris, N. Barrett, CH. Hamshire, C. Wibberley (2018). Benchmarking factor selection and sensitivity: a case study with nursing courses. Studies in Higher Education. 43(9), pp.1586-1596.
WE. Harris, AM. Langan, N. Barrett, K. Jack, C. Wibberley, et al. C. Hamshire. (2018). A case for using both direct and indirect benchmarking to compare university performance metrics. Studies in Higher Education. pp.1-12.
AM. Langan, F. Smart (2018). Playful learning. Research in Learning Technology. 26(0),
KF. Jack, C. Hamshire, W. Harris, AM. Langan, N. Barrett, et al. C. Wibberley. (2018). ‘My mentor didn't speak to me for the first four weeks’: Perceived unfairness experienced by nursing students in clinical practice settings. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 27(5-6), pp.929-938.
C. Hamshire, N. Barrett, C. Wibberley, W. Harris, AM. Langan (2017). Students’ perceptions of their learning experiences: A repeat regional survey of healthcare students. Nurse Education Today. 49, pp.168-173.
AM. Langan, N. Scott, S. Partington, A. Oczujda (2017). Coherence between text comments and the quantitative ratings in the UK’s National Student Survey. Journal of Further and Higher Education. 41(1), pp.16-29.
AM. Langan, P. Dunleavy, A. Fielding (2013). Applying Models to National Surveys of Undergraduate Science Students: What Affects Ratings of Satisfaction?. Education Sciences. 3(2), pp.193-207.
AM. Langan (2012). You can’t always get what you want. Bioscience Education. 20(1), pp.1-3.
AM. Langan (2012). Quality Street. Bioscience Education. 19(1), pp.1-2.
AM. Langan (2011). That’s Edutainment. Bioscience Education. 17(1), pp.1-3.
AM. Langan (2011). Editorial: Ok(ish) Computer ? the old and the new?. Bioscience Education Electronic Journal. 18,
D. Penney, AM. Langan (2010). Morphometric identification of fossil spiders: Comment. Paleontological Journal. 44(6), pp.644-648.
AM. Langan (2010). The Times They Are a-Changin’. Bioscience Education. 16(1), pp.1-3.
A. Fielding, P. Dunleavy, AM. Langan (2010). Interpreting context to the UK's National Student (Satisfaction) Survey data for science subjects. Journal of Further and Higher Education. 34(3), pp.347-368.
D. Penney, Y. Marusik, C. Wheater, AM. Langan (2009). First Gambian Ricinulei (Arachnida: Ricinoididae): northernmost African record for the order. Zootaxa. pp.66-68.
AM. Langan, DM. Shuker, W. Cullen, D. Penney, R. Preziosi, et al. P. Wheater. (2008). Relationships between student characteristics and self-, peer and tutor evaluations of oral presentations. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 33(2), pp.179-190.
DT. Nicholson, AM. Langan (2007). Feedback and student retention. Learning and Teaching in Action. 6(3), pp.44-50.
AM. Langan, E. Shaw (2006). Responses of the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (L.) to iron phosphate and metaldehyde slug pellet formulations. Applied Soil Ecology. 34(2-3), pp.184-189.
D. Penney, AM. Langan (2006). Comparing amber fossil assemblages across the Cenozoic. Biology Letters. 2(2), pp.266-270.
EM. Shaw, M. Waddicor, AM. Langan (2006). Impact of cypermethrin on feeding behaviour and mortality of the spider Pardosa amentata in arenas with artificial 'vegetation'. Pest Manag Sci. 62(1), pp.64-68.
CP. Wheater, AM. Langan, PJ. Dunleavy (2005). Students assessing student: case studies on peer assessment. Planet. 15(1), pp.13-15.
AM. Langan, CP. Wheater, EM. Shaw, BJ. Haines, WR. Cullen, et al. JC. Boyle, D. Penney, JA. Oldekop, C. Ashcroft, L. Lockey, RF. Preziosi. (2005). Peer assessment of oral presentations: Effects of student gender, university affiliation and participation in the development of assessment criteria. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education. 30(1), pp.21-34.
AM. Langan, CP. Wheater, P. Dunleavy (2004). Biogenic gradients of CO2 and H2O and oviposition by the small white butterfly (Pieris rapae L.) in cages. Applied Entomology and Zoology. 39(1), pp.55-59.
AM. Langan, A. Taylor, CP. Wheater (2004). Effects of metaldehyde and methiocarb on feeding preferences and survival of a slug predator (Pterostichus melanarius (F.): Carabidae, Pterostichini). Journal of Applied Entomology. 128(1), pp.51-55.
AM. Langan, CP. Wheater, PJ. Dunleavy (2001). Does the small white butterfly (Pieris rapae L.) Aggregate eggs on plants with greater gas exchange activity?. Journal of Insect Behavior. 14(4), pp.459-468.
G. Pilkington, AM. Langan, CP. Wheater (2001). Feeding preferences of a predatory beetle (Pterostichus madidus) for slugs exposed to lethal and sub-lethal dosages of metaldehyde. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 98(1), pp.245-248.
KC. Hamer, JK. Hill, LA. Lace, AM. Langan (1997). Ecological and biogeographical effects of forest disturbance on tropical butterflies of Sumba, Indonesia. Journal of Biogeography. 24(1), pp.67-75.
AM. Langan (2022). Educational Metrics and Leadership. In: Leading Innovation and Creativity in University Teaching.
AM. Langan (2019). Playful evaluation. In: Playful Learning Events and Activities to Engage Adults. Routledge,
July 2016, 2017 and 2018: Playful Learning
NHS funded project (£225,000)developing metric benchmarks for nursing courses. We used the novel approach of applying machine learning for factor selection.
Guest editor for the journal of Research in Learning Technology, with an editorial on the theme of Playful Learning.
United Kingdom Engagement Survey (UKES) Advisory Group building the national survey tool and publishing pilot studies.
Invited speaker as an HE expert, often delivering keynote talks. Examples include speaking at; Durham University 2019/20, Leeds Beckett University 2018, Chester University 2017, Coventry University 2017, University of Manchester 2016, Society of Experimental Biology London 2016). I have also delivered invited webinars for example https://tlcwebinars.wordpress.com/tlc-archive/.
Editor in Chief of the journal ‘Bioscience Education’ (2010-2013).
Member of the Higher Education Academy Bioscience Committee (2009-2012)
Former consultant to the agrochemical sector (1993-2010) many contracts and research projects.
National Teaching Fellow for the Higher Education Academy and member of the Association of National Teaching Fellows.
Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.
Editor in Chief of the journal ‘Bioscience Education’ (2010-2013).
Member of the Society for Biology (chartered biologist status).
Member of the Institute for Environmental Management.
Former member of the British Ecological Society and long-standing proponent of its Education, Training and Careers Committee (2004-2012).
Former member of the Higher Education Academy Bioscience Committee.