Mr Adam Fowler

School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies

Photo of Mr Adam Fowler

Contact Details

MediaCity UK, Room 2.08a, 2nd Floor, Salford Quays, M50 2HE

Current positions

Senior Lecturer

Biography

I gained my first teaching qualification, a PGCE (Distinction), in 1987 and taught in Scotland, Chicago and the Falkland Islands before entering freelance journalism. I have spent over 30 years as a radio producer making hundreds of long-form documentaries, mostly for BBC Radio 4, with a brief stint teaching radio at the University of Stirling between 1998 and 2001. For the last 13 years I have been Co-Director of Overtone Productions and have won many audio awards in the UK and internationally. I began teaching sound design, radio and podcasting modules at Salford university in 2018 and successfully completed my PGCAP in 2023 when I also gained my promotion to Senior Lecturer. I took on the role of Chair of Taught Ethics for the School of Arts, Media and Creative Technologies in 2020.

Areas of Research

Podcasting Pedagogy: Almost as a byproduct of the teaching of technical, editorial and production skills, I have observed increased engagement levels when students are asked to deliverer critical evaluations and self-reflections as podcasts rather than essays. I feel that the benefits, including inclusivity, accessibility and equity of opportunity; can be replicated in any academic discipline, not just media-related programmes. To that end, I am keen to demonstrate how to facilitate podcasting activities including formative and summative assessments and to develop ways of empirically capturing increased engagement and inclusivity.

Teaching

I module-lead and teach four modules: Podcasting and Radio Features (L5), Advanced Podcasting and Radio Features (L6), Creative Audio (L5) and Advanced Creative Audio (L6.) After developing these for five years, I have enhanced student engagement and participation. I also supervise Final Year Project students on the podcasting, radio documentary, and sound design options. I contribute occasional part-lectures for the theory module: Media Texts which has enriched my own pedagogy and informed my thoughts on future professional development and career. I am keen to further develop my collaborations with colleagues who teach the theory side of audio, radio and podcasting.
I am liaising with Salford University’s Learning and Teaching Enhancement Centre to develop a theoretical underpinning of my “Podcasting for Engagement and Assessment” ideas, as presented at the 2023 LTEC Festival. This with a view to collaborating with academics across the university to incorporate podcasting into their teaching and their students’ learning, particularly from an EDI perspective.
I have an interest in co-creation with students. My current L6 Advanced Creative Audio module was co-created by the students when they were participating in the L5 Creative Audio module.

Qualifications and Recognitions

Qualifications
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice

    2022 - 2023
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education (Primary)

    1986 - 1987
  • Bachelor of Arts Degree

    1979 - 1982

Publications

Publications