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Mark Plater

Mark Plater coordinates and teaches on the Secondary PGCE Religious Education programme. He also teaches various undergraduate and Master's level theology modules, with an emphasis on world religions and education. He has a special interest in fieldwork, and leads annual visits to London, Europe and India in addition to various day trips. Mark joined the staff of Bishop Grosseteste University in 2006 following a wide-ranging career in secondary school teaching, advisory work and four years as Director of Education at the Diocese of Southwell, Lincolnshire.

Teaching

Mark’s teaching contribution is varied, including secondary PGCE teaching and various undergraduate and postgraduate Theology modules. The Theology modules include World Religions, Religious Conflict and Dialogue, Asian Beliefs, Green Theology and Holocaust Education. Mark also coordinates the 3forRE scheme, and the Farmington Fellowships programmes at BGU, both of which are for classroom based RE research.

Mark’s ongoing research interest is in teaching about mystery and the mysterious, with a special focus on Hallowe’en. Other research interests have included: maximising the value of assessment feedback to students, the impact of field visits, and the interplay between professional and personal development. Recent research projects in progress include the What is RE for? survey with members of SACREs (Standing Advisory Councils for Religious Education) RE teachers and others, and the ITT Pathfinder research being carried out on behalf of the Church of England Education Office.

Plater, M (2017) ‘Re-Souling Spirituality: redefining the spiritual dimension in schools’, International Journal of Children’s Spirituality 22:1, pp14-23.

Plater, M (2017) Book Review: Holistic Education and Embodied Learning, by J Miller & K Nigh (Eds.), 2017. International Journal of Children’s Spirituality, 2017.

Plater, M (2017) Book Review: Young People’s Attitudes to Religious Diversity, by Elisabeth Arweck (ed.), 2017. RE Today 2017, 34:3, pp71-2.

Plater, M (2016) ‘The Aims of Outcomes of RE: embracing diversity.’ Prof. Ref. in RE Today, 34:1 pp. 57-59

Plater, M (2013) ‘Childrens attitudes towards Hallowe’en’, British Journal of Religious Education 35:2 [view article]

Plater, M (2010) Spooky spirituality : Exploring the Paranormal in HE, Discourse: Learning and Teaching in Philosophical and Religious Studies Vol 9: No 2 pp99-112

Plater, M (2008) ‘Are you sitting (too) comfortably?’, RE Today 26:1

Plater, M (2007) ‘Student Assesment Feedback’, Practitioner Research in Higher Education 1 (1) 46-50.

Plater, M (2007) ‘Toil & trouble revisited: Hallowe’en in schools’, British Journal of Religious Education 29:2

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