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This is a summary of the research work that Matt Townsend has been involved in, some as an individual, some as collaborative work with other professionals and some under the title of Special which was the company Matt founded in 2002 to carry out research and consultancy services.
Empty Homes
Currently I am looking at publicly available data about Empty Homes and how this could be used.
Click here for my first attempt at mapping Cardiff's empty properties using Google Maps.
State of the Nation 2006
Matt Townsend of Special carried out a literary review for the Broadband Wales Observatory during 2006 in to the use of broadband technologies within Wales. This research fed in to BBWO reports.
Internet and Mobile Phones mini-report 2007
Matt Townsend of Special carried out a literary review for the Broadband Wales Observatory during 2006 in to the use of internet on mobile phones. This research fed in to BBWO reports.
Maket Model 2006-2007
Special carried out a series of data collection and analysis exercises for the Broadband Wales Observatory, researching the affordability and availability of broadband throughout Wales and the rest of the UK. The outcomes were three reports showing the changes in affordability over a one year period during 2006-2007. Matt Townsend oversaw this work.
Broadband Bulletin
A monthly newsletter for decision makers in Wales, produced by Matt Townsend for the Broadband Wales Observatory from November 2005 to February 2007.
When the idea of a newsletter was first discussed with Special we demonstrated several possible formats such as e-newsletters, PDF newsletters and printed newsletters. It was decided that the newsletter would be put on the BBWO website in HTML and PDF format and an email notification would be sent out to interested parties - included those within the broadband industry and politicians.
We did an extensive review of possible sources for articles, including press releases, directly contacting companies and government organisations, monitoring of local and worldwide press and industry internet sites and utilising the BBWO's extensive contacts.
An editorial schedule was agreed so that clear deadlines for writing, lay out and distribution could be met. Matt Townsend (Special) put together editorial house style guides for this newsletter from scratch. He was also responsible for compiling ideas for the newsletter, presenting these to managers of the BBWO and then putting together the finalised newsletter including researching, writing, lay-out and editing.
Most of these newsletters are on the BBWO archived website. The BBWO was operated by Cardiff University for the Welsh Assembly Government and its operation ended on 31 March 2007.
http://www.bbwo.org.uk/broadband-2172
Evaluation of Keyskills4U website
Matt Townsend of Special worked with expert educational consultant Vic Dejean to research the usage and effectiveness of this website for key skills students for the Learning and Skills Network. We carried out an extensive set of research during 2005 including focus groups, interviews and a thorough web log analysis. The outcome was a report which the LSN welcomed.
In 2007 Matt Townsend repeated the web log analysis part of the report for the LSN, and again received praise for the work carried out.
In 2008 a final report was done by Matt Townsend pulling together 3 years of existing research along with some new research findings, before the closure of the Key Skills Support Programme.
www.keyskills4u.com
Skills qualifications in Wales - 2003-2005
Evaluation of the impact of discontinuing the tests for Key Skills qualifications in Wales
In November 2003 a review of the Key Skills qualifications was completed by the regulatory authorities in Wales (ACCAC), England (QCA) and Northern Ireland (CCEA). The significant recommendation from the review was to remove the tests from the Key Skills qualifications in Wales.
To evaluate the impact the removal of the Key Skills tests has had in Wales and the effectiveness of the communication and management processes, independent research was commissioned by ACCAC, now part of the Welsh Assembly Government. The research was conducted during the period November 2004 and January 2006, by Peter Munday and Patrick McNeill working with Special.
The outcomes of the research can be found on the Welsh Assembly Government website, including the full report published on 15 March 2006.
http://old.accac.org.uk/eng/content.php?mID=676
Consultations on draft Function Skills Standards in Wales
Working with expert educationalists Peter Munday and Pat McNeill, Special carried out an online consultation in to the introduction of Functional Skills in Wales, which ran alongside a conference and focus group sessions in Llandrindod Wells to advise the Welsh Assembly Government.
Consultation on new skills qualifications for Wales
In February 2005, ACCAC (now DELLS) provided a report to the Welsh Assembly Government on the overlap between the current Adult Literacy/Adult Numeracy and Key Skills qualifications and the fitness for purpose of the assessment regime of Adult Literacy/Adult Numeracy. The advice included the recommendation that the Key and Basic Skills qualifications be converged into one suite of qualifications. Draft converged standards were produced and distributed by Special through a dedicated website, along with an online questionnaire facility for interested parties to provide feedback.
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My research