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Paula Barnard-Ashton

Paula Barnard-Ashton

Occupational Therapist

Followers of Paula Barnard-Ashton1000 followers
location of Paula Barnard-AshtonCity of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

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  • Timeline

  • About me

    Assistant Dean: Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Health Sciences | Adjunct Professor @WitsUniversity | Chair: SAAHE Northern Chapter

  • Education

    • University of the Witwatersrand

      2009 - 2018
      PhD Blended Learning in Occupational Therapy

      Thesis titled: The Integration of Blended Learning into the Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Curriculum (awaiting examination)

    • FPD

      2019 - 2021
      Postgraduate Diploma Health Professions Education and Leadership

      Activities and Societies: School of Education; SAFRI; SAAHE

    • University of the Witwatersrand

      2002 - 2009
      MSc (OT) Occupational Therapy

      Dissertation: A Framework of Uniform Motor Terminology for South African Occupational Therapists Working With Developmental Motor Delay

    • University of the Witwatersrand

      1991 - 1994
      BSc(OT) Occupational Therapy

  • Experience

    • Occupational Therapist

      Jan 1995 - Dec 1995
      Occupational Therapist

    • Self Employed

      Jan 1996 - Dec 2000
      Occupational Therapist

      Managed an independent private practice in specialising in paediatric occupational therapy.

    • Therapists Playroom

      Jun 1997 - Dec 2000
      Co-owner

      This small enterprise was an entrepreneurial drive to improve the quality of therapy equipment available to South African Paediatric Occupational Therapists. We made and supplied gross motor and sensory integration specialised equipment, fine motor and perceptual games and materials and therapy balls.The company continued after I was required to give up my share and contributions when taking an academic position.

    • University of the Witwatersrand

      Jan 2001 - now

      In a drive to accommodate the increasing number of students in the Therapeutic Sciences degrees and the high demands on improving the through-put rates to graduate top quality professionals, the School of Therapeutic Sciences made a strategic decision to incorporate e-learning into the undergraduate curriculum. I was identified as a computer-savvy academic and tasked with managing a project to achieve this goal. e-Learning is now a "way of life".My roles have been:- Project planning: brainstorming, innovation, conceptualisation and strategising.- Project management: including budgeting, procurement, and management of staff. - Infrastructure development and support: Liaising with service providers to upgrade the network infrastructure, creating computing facilities for student use, upgrading hardware in lecture and group rooms.- Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) management: Liaising with the Centre for Health Science Education for the use and maintenance of a server to host Moodle. Front end & administrator support for users.- Change management: "Lead by example" has been a motto in driving change towards blended learning. Inspiring and supporting lecturers and students towards seeing and believing in e-learning.- Train the trainer: Up-skilling lecturers in the use of the VLE, tablet computing, online applications, content management, curriculum design for blended learning.- Curriculum partnership: Collaborating with individual lecturers on the instructional design and curriculum integrity of their modules.- Research, publication and congress presentation.- Chair of the Faculty ITC Committee 2010-2012, 2020-current- Various committee and SENATE task group membershipRecent special project: Design, development, project management - inception to launch of the eZone - an innovative technology rich active flexible learning space. Show less

      • Assisant Dean: Teaching and Learning | Faculty of Health Sciences

        Oct 2024 - now

      • Assistant Dean: Teaching and Learning

        Jan 2023 - Oct 2024

      • eFundanathi Manager

        Jan 2009 - Oct 2024

      • Lecturer in Occupational Therapy

        Jan 2001 - Dec 2018

    • Child Integration Centre

      Jul 2004 - Mar 2006
      Co-owner and Occupational Therapist

      This practice was a partnership between three Sensory Integration trained paediatric occupational therapists. Our vision was to create and maintain a practice of excellence in the field that would attract occupational therapists to gain mentored experience. Each year we would recruit only 1 therapist and then encourage them within a year or two to go out and model our practice standard. Every excellent therapist forever changes the lives of many children and their families.

    • Rival Industrial CC

      Jun 2005 - Dec 2008
      Co-founder of Rival Industrial and editor of RemSpecED

      This small entrepreneurial publishing company produced 2 online and print publication (Manufacturing Hub and RemSpecED). I created and managed the RemSpecEd (Remedial and Special Education) title. This brainchild came from working with countless parents and educators who craved more layman's level information about children who need additional learning and daily life assistance. I was involved in web-design and development | article writing | editing | advertising sales | print layout review and editing | management of design and journalist staff | proposal writing | event and workshop management. Show less

  • Licenses & Certifications

  • Honors & Awards

    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow 2019-2020 Microsoft in Education SA Sep 2019 Congratulations! You have been selected by Microsoft to be a member of the Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow (MIE Fellow) Programme for 2019-20! We are proud to have you as a part of this incredible group of over 300 educators from around the globe.As an MIE Fellow your role in the Community will be to:• Build educator capacity for using technology to improve student learning in your school/university and region.• Model the effective use of Microsoft technologies in the teaching… Show more Congratulations! You have been selected by Microsoft to be a member of the Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow (MIE Fellow) Programme for 2019-20! We are proud to have you as a part of this incredible group of over 300 educators from around the globe.As an MIE Fellow your role in the Community will be to:• Build educator capacity for using technology to improve student learning in your school/university and region.• Model the effective use of Microsoft technologies in the teaching and learning environment.• Be an advocate at conferences, events and trainings for how Microsoft technology can improve learning.• Collaborate with other MIE Fellows and Experts in your region and across the globe. Show less
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Inspiring Fifty SA - Winners list CocreateSANL and The Kingdom of the Netherlands Aug 2019 This is an annual list of 50 inspiring female role models in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in South Africa - Read more: http://cocreatesa.nl/news/inspiring-fifty-2019-winners-announced/
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 2019-2020 Microsoft in Education SA Aug 2019 Congratulations on being selected as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert for 2019-2020! Each year, Microsoft selects Innovative Educator Experts to be part of this exclusive global community paving the way for their peers to share ideas, try new approaches, and learn from each other. We are inspired by your achievements and look forward to working with you throughout the one-year engagement, and beyond.
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow 2018-19 Microsoft in Education Nov 2018 Congratulations! You have been selected by Microsoft to be a member of the Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow (MIE Fellow) Programme for 2018-2019! We are proud to have you as a part of this incredible group of over 300 educators from around the globe.As an MIE Fellow your role in the Community will be to:• Build educator capacity for using technology to improve student learning in your school/university and region.• Model the effective use of Microsoft technologies in the… Show more Congratulations! You have been selected by Microsoft to be a member of the Microsoft Innovative Educator Fellow (MIE Fellow) Programme for 2018-2019! We are proud to have you as a part of this incredible group of over 300 educators from around the globe.As an MIE Fellow your role in the Community will be to:• Build educator capacity for using technology to improve student learning in your school/university and region.• Model the effective use of Microsoft technologies in the teaching and learning environment.• Be an advocate at conferences, events and trainings for how Microsoft technology can improve learning.• Collaborate with other MIE Fellows and Experts in your region and across the globe. Show less
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Learning Idols - 2nd Place Learning Innovation Africa Conference Sep 2018 The purpose of the Learning Innovation Africa (LIA) conference is to showcase learning innovations in South Africa and Africa. In that spirit, Learning Idols was born in 2017- a competition that corporates/schools/education institutions can enter to showcase their unique learning innovations.The competition is similar to “American Idols” or “SA Idols” in that judges shortlist the finalists and then the audience gets to make the final call on 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 2018-19 Microsoft Aug 2018 Congratulations on being selected as a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert for 2018-2019! Each year, Microsoft selects Innovative Educator Experts to be part of this exclusive global community paving the way for their peers to share ideas, try new approaches, and learn from each other. We are inspired by your achievements and look forward to working with you throughout the one-year engagement, and beyond.
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Vice Chancellor's Teaching and Learning Award: Team category University of the Witwatersrand Oct 2017 The Wits eFUNDANATHI Team, comprising Paula Barnard, Janine van der Linde, Lebo Bogoshi and Phiwe Dlamini was presented with the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Team Award and the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Individual Award to Dr Ufuoma Akpojivi.The eFUNDANATHI i eLearningTeam based in the School of Therapeutic Sciences was acknowledged for its pioneering, excellent work that has had a major impact on teaching and learning. The team has undertaken the responsibility for… Show more The Wits eFUNDANATHI Team, comprising Paula Barnard, Janine van der Linde, Lebo Bogoshi and Phiwe Dlamini was presented with the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Team Award and the Vice-Chancellor’s Teaching and Learning Individual Award to Dr Ufuoma Akpojivi.The eFUNDANATHI i eLearningTeam based in the School of Therapeutic Sciences was acknowledged for its pioneering, excellent work that has had a major impact on teaching and learning. The team has undertaken the responsibility for introducing and orientating first year undergraduate and postgraduate students to the University’s online platforms in order to ensure basic digital literacy amongst students. The team trains staff and students on the use and integration of blended online learning strategies andtools, including the use of virtual learning environments to manage course content, online examinations and plagiarism scanning. It also extends to curriculum redesign at a modular, course and degree level. The team further displayed their collaboration and support of other team members Show less
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert 2017-2018 Microsoft in Education (South Africa) Sep 2017 Each year, Microsoft selects innovative educators to share ideas, try new approaches and learn from each other as a global community dedicated to improving student outcomes through technology. As an MIE Expert, educators build their capacity for using technology in both the classroom and curriculum to improve student learning, advise Microsoft and educational institutions on how to integrate technology in pedagogically sound ways and be an advocate at conferences, events and trainings for how… Show more Each year, Microsoft selects innovative educators to share ideas, try new approaches and learn from each other as a global community dedicated to improving student outcomes through technology. As an MIE Expert, educators build their capacity for using technology in both the classroom and curriculum to improve student learning, advise Microsoft and educational institutions on how to integrate technology in pedagogically sound ways and be an advocate at conferences, events and trainings for how Microsoft technology can improve learning. “Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts are inspiring examples of educators applying new ways of teaching and learning in their classrooms that motivate students and empower them to achieve more,” said Anthony Salcito, Vice President, Worldwide Education, Microsoft. “We celebrate and support the work they do every day!” Show less
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Congress Poster Prize (Runner-up) South African Association of Health Educationalists Jun 2012 Poster title: Connecting the Dots: e-learning during public health fieldworkAcknowledgement to SAFRI and the University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutic Sciences and the Department of Occupational Therapy.Runner up at the 2012 SAAHEE International Congress in Bloemfontein
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      SAFRI Fellow Southern Africa FAIMER Regional Institute Jun 2012 Southern Africa FAIMER Regional Institute (SAFRI) fellow 2011-2012 Project: Attitude and Behaviour of Students to e-Learning in a Public Health Setting. Poster title: Connecting the dots: e-Learning During Public Health Fieldwork http://safri.faimerfri.org (Graduates listed by intake year)
    • Awarded to Paula Barnard-Ashton
      Vice Chancellor's Teaching Award (team) University of the Witwatersrand Nov 2010 The Vice Chancellor's Teaching Award (team) was for the contribution of the e-Learning Project team to the development of e-Learning within the School of Therapeutic Sciences particularly within Occupational Therapy.