Matthew Eaves is Director of Chelmsford based Creative Learning Systems Ltd, a commercial venture working to make learning more engaging through the use of new and emerging technologies.
Matthew works with technology for creative purpose, and delivers a range of learning, technology, creativity and research projects worldwide for charities, corporations, governments, broadcasters, museums and education institutions to research and enrich learning.
A bit about Matthew….
- Diagnosed with dyslexia aged nine, struggled with traditional teaching and learning.
- Performed well in GCSE’s (except Maths and English!) by selecting where possible subjects that allowed independent flexible learning, creative thinking and problem solving.
- Spent evenings and weekends during College/University years juggling between team leading for a major retailer and running programmes and activities for a youth organisation.
- Graduated in 2000 with a First Class BSc. (Hons) degree in Business Information Systems.
- University ‘Final Dissertation’ project software launched by an organisation, and is still in use nationally.
- Hired by Professor Stephen Heppell to work on creativity in learning through technology projects at Ultralab (1990-2006) (closed December 2006).
- Spent seven years working for the lab all over the globe with broadcasters, governments, companies, charities and education institutions… Notable projects include (most enjoyed projects in yellow!):
- 2000
- NPQH: Reshaping taught course materials by the National College of School Leadership for delivery online.
- Supporting Stephen Heppell’s Ultralab (1990-2006) Digital Creativity Summer School 2000 celebration event at the Millennium Dome.
- 2001
- Developing the research phase (with gifted and talented young people, and with notschool.net) of what became lifeboats.tv for the Royal National Lifeboat Institute.
- Developing the Ultralab (1990-2006) Digital Creativity Summer School 2001 Project, and overseeing DVD production/celebration events at the V&A (again in 2002, 2003 (1) (2) (3) (4), 2004 (international), 2005 (1) (2), 2006 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)).
- 2002
- Filming, project management and development phase of Lifeboats.tv video based website (now offline: 2007)) (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (review).
- BETT Goes to the Movies (rebranded in 2004 as ‘Create at BETT’) organising and working with young people on the only stand at the BETT show fully staffed by young people being creative with technology in learning. (again in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006)
- Part of the Input CBBC research team working for ‘Future TV’ department (Children’s BBC) in the North of England to research the future of children’s television. Read the BBC reflection.
- 2003
- Delivering the Peace Process Digital Film Project with youth in Northern Ireland bringing together communities in conflict.
- Fast Track Teaching DVD filming and production for aspiring Head Teachers with Hal MacLean.
- ‘The Really Creative School Event’, a cutting edge internet broadcasting project with School Heads in Bolton.
- October/Novermber working at Ultralab (1990-2006) South (Rebranded 2005: Core Education) in Christchurch New Zealand:
- Promoting the newly opened Ultralab (1990-2006) in meetings, proposals and presentations across the country.
- Running a pilot version of ‘Input CBBC’ for National Television Broadcaster ‘TVNZ’.
- Visiting lots of schools, including this one.
- 2004
- International Certificate of Digital Creativity (ICDC) pilot project for Creative Partnerships with Kris Popat.
- Every Object Tells a Story creativity events at the V&A museum for everyobject.net project with Channel 4 Television and Culture Online.
- Heading up the research and filming team behind the ‘14-19 Reform’ National Reaction project for the DfES.
- Organisation of the creative technology driven side of the ‘Executive Learning Workshop’ for Oracle and global business schools in Annecy, France and the follow up conference at the London Business School.
- Technology visioning for ‘Pirate BBC Essex Radio’ Project - Celebrating 40 years of Pirate Radio off the coast of Harwich.
- Researching and delivering the ‘Rural Norfolk Federation Rural Schools Together Online Creativity Project’ with Hal MacLean.
- Digital Creativity Projects are featured at BAFTA Interactive Festival event ‘Be Very Afraid‘ in London.
2005
- Showcasing Digital Creativity projects from around the world as one of the three selected ‘leaders’ in digital creativity in technology projects at Becta’s national conference on ‘Digital Creativity’.
- Presenting the work of Ultralab (1990-2006) in creative technologies at Jesus College, Cambridge.
- Korean TV project with Chessington Community College to engage and induct new arrival Korean nationals in school life.
- Working for the British Council in Thailand to help engage young Muslims in tourism regeneration through film after the tsunami in Patong followed by a period of training staff in creative technology in learning in Bangkok.
- Part of the steering group of the Essex Broadband Partnership project with Essex County Council.
2006
- Supporting the BBC Blast launch the BBC Blast Truck tour 2006 to the Director General of the BBC.
- Lead Facilitator on the BBC Blast National Truck tour nationwide (London (training), Liverpool, Derry, Belfast, Manchester, Cardiff, White City and Hull. See the tour highlights, read my reflections (1) (2).
- Overseeing the Digital Teacher Network project for Ultralab (1990-2006).
- Planning and delivering the brilliant BBC 2 Christmas Ident Project with six year olds and BBC Wales. See the outcome.
- Part of the ‘eSwap’ research team, a JISC funded research into the use of e-Porfolio solutions in a learners journey.
- Developed the pilot for BBC Northern Ireland Mental Health Campaign in Animation.
- 2000
- In December 2006 Ultralab (1990-2006) was closed down by Anglia Ruskin University after sixteen years of success, and I along with the rest of the team was made redundant. Read my departure message and my review of seven years at Ultralab (1990-2006).
In January 2007 I joined forces with colleagues to form Cleveratom (2006-2011) Ltd, with the objective of continuing some of the good work of the lab in a commercial setting.
- 2007
- Organising Cleveratom (2006-2011) and the ‘Create at BETT’ schools for our stand at the BETT Show at Olympia.
- Working with Hal MacLean on the Networked Identity project at the Science Museum.
- Running a Film Workshop on the BBC Blast Truck in Hatfield.
- Overseeing digital creativity projects for Anglia Ruskin University, Saffron Walden County High School, University of East Anglia and staff at City College Norwich.
- Running the podcasting side of the ISO conference in London with Alex Blanc.
- Working alongside Hal MacLean and Alex Blanc on ‘Virtually There’, a research study of the use of Virtual Learning Environments in Yorkshire and the Humber region for the YHGfL (Yorkshire and Humber Grid for Learning Foundation) which was published as a book and DVD production. My roles included:
- Filming for the DVD production.
- Editing the eight films for Hal to make into a DVD while Alex laid out the research text as a book.
- Together we launched ‘Virtually There’ in Castleford. The whole project was a great team effort.
- Calling on skills developed back in 2000 I worked with MacMillan Cancer Support to turn a taught course for nurses into an online experience.
- Was part of the BAFTA panel for the East of England judging of the Orange 60 Seconds of Fame Film Awards.
- Working with students with ASD to design a suitable physical and virtual social and learning environemt known as ‘RUGroom’, a cutting edge centre for students with ASD in Norwich.
- 2008
- Continuing work with City College Norwich on the RUGroom project, including:
- Working weekly with students and staff to engage with new and emerging technologies in teaching and learning.
- Supporing of rugroom.net software roll out within the RUGroom environment.
- Supporting training needs to upskill staff.
- Documenting research findings from the RUGroom project.
- Design and development of rugroom.tv, a cutting edge television and radio facility being built adjacent to RUGroom
- Working with BBC Blast Northern Ireland and NIDYA (Northern Ireland Deaf Youth Association) on a film, music and animation project.
- Continuing work with City College Norwich on the RUGroom project, including:
- 2007
- I need to write about 2009 and 2010 when I get time here…
- In February 2011 I joined the new Creative Learning Systems Ltd team, a team focused on three things: Learning Consultancy, Software Development and Creativity Workshops.
- I’m also
- Married to Justina next year.
- Going to be a Dad in May.
- An author, buy it on Amazon (and in good book shops too).
- A big fan of social networks and online learning communities.
- Interested in special needs education, ASD and Autism.
- Working on many digital creativity projects and maintaining the digitalcreativity.org website.
- Keeping track of my research here and here.
- Sometimes in the media.
- Always Networking, Advertising and Marketing.
- Finding myself doing a lot of Strategic Consultancy.
- Talking to the press.
- Involved in New Business Development and part of a lot of our future business and project proposals.
- A big fan of chips with cheese on.
- Trying to get fitter.
