About
Natasha joined the School of Education in 2001 and is a research fellow in the Department of Disability, Inclusion and Special Needs (DISN). She is currently working on the AHRC funded project 'Cultural Intermediation and the Creative Economy' examining how cultural intermediation has developed historically. She has been involved in a wide range of interdisciplinary research projects with colleagues in education. These include colleagues in DISN, the E-Learning Team, Undergraduate Tutors, PGCE Tutors, the Centre for Research in Dental and Medical Education (CRMDE), as well as colleagues in the Institute of Applied Social Studies, the Department of English, the West Midlands Deanery and the Department of Health Services at the University of Warwick. She has previously been the Deputy Director for Post Graduate Research Studies in the School of Education.
Qualifications
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EdD Birmingham
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MPhil Politics Keele
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BA History and Politics Keele
Research
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Histories of education
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Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.
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Activity theory.
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Inclusion and special needs.
Current research projects
Cultural Intermediation and the Creative Economy.
This project is looking at processes of cultural intermediation in the creative urban economy. This work is being funded under the Connected Communities initiative and is a joint research project between the University of Birmingham, University of Salford, Birmingham City University, Liverpool John Moores University, City University and the University of Cardiff as well as Visiting Arts.
Natasha is working with Professor Ian Grosvenor on Work Package II - The Historical Evolution of Cultural Intermediation. In order to better analyse the contemporary operation of cultural intermediation, and how it might be improved, situating it within its historic context is essential. Exemplars of intermediation activity in each of the four areas of the creative economy will be investigated through the historic record. This will involve the use of archive material in Birmingham and Manchester held by arts organisations, NGOs, local authorities, museums, community groups and individuals. Investigations will look at intervals of expansion and economic uncertainty: 1955-1965 (growth); 1975-1985 (decline); 1995-2005 (growth).
A link to the project blog may be found here http://culturalintermediation.wordpress.com/
Recent research projects
The changing nature of 'connectivity' within and between communities. A link to the project blog may be found here http://connectedcomms.wordpress.com/
Educational provision and outcomes for people on the autism spectrum
Measuring Educational Engagement, Progress and Outcomes for Children with Special Educational Needs: A Review.
The purpose of this research study is to explore how best to measure and assess how children with special educational needs are doing in the education system, in order to ensure that the system is adequately serving their needs.
Extended Services Provision in Birmingham: Phase Three Evaluation.
The present (third) phase of the evaluation has six aims:
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Assess further developments in inter-agency working, projects and the core offer. Monitor and assess developments in action planning and the City’s management of the programme.
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Monitor and report on the achievement of selected clusters in relation to the indicators, outcomes and core offer.
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Describe, analyse and report on the engagement of schools and school leaders with their clusters, identifying good practice and barriers to participation.
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Describe and analyse the views and experiences of children, young people and parents on the impact of provision made by extended services clusters.
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Identify, report and share good practice in terms of provision, process and performance in selected clusters.
With Dr Sarah Parsons and Dr Kay Fuller and Professor Hywel Thomas.
Evaluation of the RCGP Curriculum (September 2008 – December 2010). Funder: RCGP
This work focuses on the evaluation of the new postgraduate medical training curriculum for general practitioners.
With Dr Julie Bedward, Dr Sarah Burke, Professor Hywel Thomas and Dr Ian Davison
Dental Appraisal (June 2009 – June 2010). Funder: Strategic Health Authority West Midlands
This project, commissioned by the Strategic Health Authority in the West Midlands/West Midlands Workforce Deanery, aims to recruit and train GDP appraisers (4) and prepare appraisees (12 to 16) for an appraisal process. A key part of the appraisal process will be about supporting reflection on learning and development needs. The appraisal process will be prepared, piloted and evaluated in one PCT. With Dr Graham Butt.
Research Capacity Building - Body representation in super-hero comics, with particular reference to the representation of disability. Funder: School of Education
This research will look at the construction and modes of representation of characters with impairments in comic books, given their central role in children’s popular culture. Are disabled characters seen metaphorically, as representing illness or disease? Are they idealised, as saintly or brave? Are they seen as exotic and different or alien – objects of suspicion, or are they aggrandised and seen as superheroes or ‘supercrips’ – invested with special power? What might be the origins and/or the consequences of such potential framing? With Professor Gary Thoma
Publications
Macnab, N., Visser, J. and Daniels, H. (2008) Provision in Further Education Colleges for 14 to 16 Year Olds with Social, Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties, British Journal of Special Education, vol. 35, no. 4, pp.241-246.
Daniels, H., Leadbetter, J., Soares, A. and Macnab, N. (2008) Promoting Creativity within and across schools: An application of Activity Theory, Cultural Historical Psychology, no. 2 (Moscow) pp.21-31.
Macnab, N. and Thomas, G. (2007) Quality in research and the significance of community assessment and peer review: education's idiosyncrasy, International Journal of Research and Method in Education, Special Issue Quality in Educational Research, 30, 3 pp. 339-352.
Daniels, H., Leadbetter, J., Soares, A. and Macnab, N. (2007) Learning in and for cross-school working, Oxford Review of Education, vol. 33, no. 2, pp.125-142.
Macnab, N., Visser, J. and Daniels H. (2007) Desperately seeking data: methodological complications in researching ‘hard to find’ young people, Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, vol. 7, no. 3, pp.142-148.
Visser, J., Daniels, H. and Macnab, N.(2005) Missing-Children and Young People with SEBD, Support for Learning, vol. 10, no. 1, pp.43-5
Publications 2001 - 2009 (PDF 326 KB, opens new window)