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Dr Alyson Lewis
(she/her)
SFHEA
Teams and roles for Alyson Lewis
Lecturer
Academic and Student Support Services
Overview
Role responsibilities
As Lecturer in Education Development I support the development and delivery of the University’s Education Fellowship Programmes accredited by AdvanceHE. I deliver various workshops for staff with a focus on playful approaches to learning and teaching. My aim is to ensure that continuing professional development in academic development at the University is appropriately research-informed and evidence-based.
Key work/specialisms
- Co-Lead Associate Fellowship Programme
- Co-Lead Launchpad (one-day workshop) for those new to teaching and supporting learning in HE (e.g. Graduate Tutors and Graduate Demonstrators)
- Education Fellowship programmes 'participant-staff forum' Chair
- World Cafe Lead - bringing staff together to discuss important topics in learning and teaching
- Co-Lead the 'Fun and Games in Learning and Teaching' community of practice
Publication
2026
- Lewis, A. K. and Pocknell, N. 2026. Adapting commercial board and card games for educational purposes in higher education. Journal of Play in Adulthood 1720. (10.5920/jpa.1720)
2025
- Pennington, H. and Lewis, A. 2025. Walking the talk: Making space for reflective practice in education development. [Online].The SEDA Blog. Available at: https://thesedablog.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/walking-the-talk-making-space-for-reflective-practice-in-education-development/.
- Pennington, H. and Lewis, A. 2025. Walking the talk: Reflective practice in developing an inclusive and balanced professional learning curriculum. Impact: Journal of the Chartered College of Teaching 25
- Somaratne, P. et al. 2025. Reflecting on our summer immersive learning event and community of practice insights. [Online].Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/LTAcademy/reflecting-on-our-summer-immersive-learning-event-and-community-of-practice-insights/.
2024
- Lowe, C. et al., 2024. Teaching and learning communities of practice toolkit. [Online].AdvanceHE: University of Cambridge. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/teaching-and-learning-communities-practice-toolkit.
- Ferriday, B. , Hackman, M. and Lewis, A. 2024. Gamification in education. DigEd Discuss. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Q0Qy3qEHACP14UPFr5QtA.
- Lewis, A. 2024. Reflect on important topics in learning and teaching through the World Café method. [Online].Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/LTAcademy/reflect-on-important-topics-in-learning-and-teaching-through-the-world-cafe-method/.
- Lewis, A. and Georgis, R. 2024. Reflections from teaching in a flying faculty model. British Council. Available at: https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/short-articles/reports/25-years-of-uk-transnational-education-east-asia.
2023
- Lewis, A. 2023. Understanding how practitioners in Wales assess well-being in the early years curriculum. Education 3-13: International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education 51 (5), pp.780-792. (10.1080/03004279.2021.2011943)
- Lewis, A. 2023. Learning and teaching in a Transnational Education (TNE) context: a valuable professional development experience. [Online].Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/LTAcademy/learning-and-teaching-in-a-transnational-education-tne-context-a-valuable-professional-development-experience/.
- Harris, C. et al., 2023. Making meaningful recommendations for policy and practice: reflections from the evaluation of Ask and Act. Social Research Practice 13 , pp.18-27.
2022
- Thomas, A. and Lewis, A. 2022. Child development from birth to 8 years: an interdisciplinary approach. London: Sage.
- Beauchamp, G. , Lewis, A. and Thomas, A. 2022. Practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of schemas and well-being in the Foundation Phase curriculum. Wales Journal of Education. Available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-practitioners-knowledge-and-understanding-of/id1652299017?i=1000584488545.
2021
- Lewis, A. and Thomas, A. 2021. Practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of schemas and well-being in the Foundation Phase curriculum. Wales Journal of Education 23 (1), pp.3-22. (10.16922/wje.23.1.3)
2020
- Lewis, A. 2020. Understanding the concept of child well-being: domains, dimensions and discourses. In: Williams-Brown, Z. and Mander, S. eds. Childhood Well-being and Resilience: Influences on Educational Outcomes. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. , pp.7-19.
2019
- Lewis, A. 2019. Examining the concept of well-being and early childhood: Adopting multi-disciplinary perspectives. Journal of Early Childhood Research 17 (4), pp.294-308. (10.1177/1476718X19860553)
2017
- Lewis, A. and Poole, R. 2017. Into the great outdoors: opportunities and experiences. In: Thomas, A. and McInnes, K. eds. Teaching Early Years: Theory and Practice. London: Sage. , pp.156-177.
- Lewis, A. and Rees, L. 2017. Understanding well-being in the early years. In: Thomas, A. and McInnes, K. eds. Teaching Early Years: Theory and Practice. London: Sage. , pp.65-85.
- Waters, J. et al., 2017. Exploring the extent of enactment of young children's rights in the education system in Wales. Wales Journal of Education 19 (2), pp.27-50. (10.16922/wje.19.2.3)
2016
- Thomas, A. and Lewis, A. 2016. An introduction to the foundation phase: early years curriculum in Wales. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
2010
- Lewis, A. 2010. Making sense of Swedish practice: is it that different from practice in Wales?. [Online].TACTYC (Training, Advancement & Co-operation in Teaching Young Children): Available at: https://www.tactyc.org.uk/post/our-archived-reflection-papers-2010-2012.
Articles
- Lewis, A. K. and Pocknell, N. 2026. Adapting commercial board and card games for educational purposes in higher education. Journal of Play in Adulthood 1720. (10.5920/jpa.1720)
- Pennington, H. and Lewis, A. 2025. Walking the talk: Reflective practice in developing an inclusive and balanced professional learning curriculum. Impact: Journal of the Chartered College of Teaching 25
- Lewis, A. 2023. Understanding how practitioners in Wales assess well-being in the early years curriculum. Education 3-13: International Journal of Primary, Elementary and Early Years Education 51 (5), pp.780-792. (10.1080/03004279.2021.2011943)
- Harris, C. et al., 2023. Making meaningful recommendations for policy and practice: reflections from the evaluation of Ask and Act. Social Research Practice 13 , pp.18-27.
- Lewis, A. and Thomas, A. 2021. Practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of schemas and well-being in the Foundation Phase curriculum. Wales Journal of Education 23 (1), pp.3-22. (10.16922/wje.23.1.3)
- Lewis, A. 2019. Examining the concept of well-being and early childhood: Adopting multi-disciplinary perspectives. Journal of Early Childhood Research 17 (4), pp.294-308. (10.1177/1476718X19860553)
- Waters, J. et al., 2017. Exploring the extent of enactment of young children's rights in the education system in Wales. Wales Journal of Education 19 (2), pp.27-50. (10.16922/wje.19.2.3)
Book sections
- Lewis, A. 2020. Understanding the concept of child well-being: domains, dimensions and discourses. In: Williams-Brown, Z. and Mander, S. eds. Childhood Well-being and Resilience: Influences on Educational Outcomes. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. , pp.7-19.
- Lewis, A. and Poole, R. 2017. Into the great outdoors: opportunities and experiences. In: Thomas, A. and McInnes, K. eds. Teaching Early Years: Theory and Practice. London: Sage. , pp.156-177.
- Lewis, A. and Rees, L. 2017. Understanding well-being in the early years. In: Thomas, A. and McInnes, K. eds. Teaching Early Years: Theory and Practice. London: Sage. , pp.65-85.
Books
- Thomas, A. and Lewis, A. 2022. Child development from birth to 8 years: an interdisciplinary approach. London: Sage.
- Thomas, A. and Lewis, A. 2016. An introduction to the foundation phase: early years curriculum in Wales. London: Bloomsbury Academic.
Monographs
- Lewis, A. and Georgis, R. 2024. Reflections from teaching in a flying faculty model. British Council. Available at: https://opportunities-insight.britishcouncil.org/short-articles/reports/25-years-of-uk-transnational-education-east-asia.
Videos
- Ferriday, B. , Hackman, M. and Lewis, A. 2024. Gamification in education. DigEd Discuss. Available at: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0Q0Qy3qEHACP14UPFr5QtA.
- Beauchamp, G. , Lewis, A. and Thomas, A. 2022. Practitioners’ knowledge and understanding of schemas and well-being in the Foundation Phase curriculum. Wales Journal of Education. Available at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/1-practitioners-knowledge-and-understanding-of/id1652299017?i=1000584488545.
Websites
- Pennington, H. and Lewis, A. 2025. Walking the talk: Making space for reflective practice in education development. [Online].The SEDA Blog. Available at: https://thesedablog.wordpress.com/2025/11/06/walking-the-talk-making-space-for-reflective-practice-in-education-development/.
- Somaratne, P. et al. 2025. Reflecting on our summer immersive learning event and community of practice insights. [Online].Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/LTAcademy/reflecting-on-our-summer-immersive-learning-event-and-community-of-practice-insights/.
- Lowe, C. et al., 2024. Teaching and learning communities of practice toolkit. [Online].AdvanceHE: University of Cambridge. Available at: https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/knowledge-hub/teaching-and-learning-communities-practice-toolkit.
- Lewis, A. 2024. Reflect on important topics in learning and teaching through the World Café method. [Online].Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/LTAcademy/reflect-on-important-topics-in-learning-and-teaching-through-the-world-cafe-method/.
- Lewis, A. 2023. Learning and teaching in a Transnational Education (TNE) context: a valuable professional development experience. [Online].Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy. Available at: https://blogs.cardiff.ac.uk/LTAcademy/learning-and-teaching-in-a-transnational-education-tne-context-a-valuable-professional-development-experience/.
- Lewis, A. 2010. Making sense of Swedish practice: is it that different from practice in Wales?. [Online].TACTYC (Training, Advancement & Co-operation in Teaching Young Children): Available at: https://www.tactyc.org.uk/post/our-archived-reflection-papers-2010-2012.
Research
My current research projects focus on:
- Understanding the perceived impacts of participating in Cardiff University’s Education Fellowship Programmes;
- Adapting commercial board and card games for educational purposes in Higher Education;
- Student voice on learning and assessment in a Transnational Education (TNE) programme [UK–China flying faculty].
Teaching
Based in the Learning and Teaching Academy (LTA), I teach mainly on Launchpad (workshop for staff new to teaching) and the Associate Fellowship programme which involves supporting colleagues to develop their practice in various areas such as:
- building a learning community
- creating engaging learning environments
- session design and developing activities
- assessment and feedback
- innovation in learning and teaching
I also facilitate workshops for staff with a role in teaching and/or supporting learning around the following areas:
- playful learning and teaching
- gamification and game-based learning
- playfulness and creativity in leadership identity
Biography
My career in education started in 2001 having trained as a primary school teacher specialising in early years (3-to-5 year olds). Since then I have worked in a range of sectors including early years and primary education, forest school, and further education where I delivered foundation degrees and a top-up degree relating to education, learning and development.
On finishing my ESRC funded PhD in 2015 in the School of Social Sciences I joined Bath Spa University (BSU) as a lecturer. The role at BSU involved being course leader for the undergraduate early childhood studies degree, postgraduate tutor for higher education practice and link tutor for collaborative provision at two further education colleges. While at BSU I also developed and delivered an undergraduate Transnational Education (TNE) programme (flying faculty model) to students in Hunan, China.
In 2020, I decided to focus on honing my skills as a researcher and worked in the Government Social Research (GSR) profession in the social justice research team at Welsh Government before joining Cardiff University (May 2022). My main interests are collaborative and cross-cultural learning and teaching environments, play and playfulness in higher education pedagogy and well-being.
Professional memberships
- AdvanceHE
Contact Details
Research themes
Specialisms
- Active Learning
- Wellbeing
- Playfulness
- community of practice
- Pedagogy