
Dr Charlie Smith
Liverpool School of Art and Design
Faculty of Arts Professional and Social Studies
Email: C.R.Smith@ljmu.ac.uk
Telephone: 0151 904 1191
As a National Teaching Fellow, Dr Smith is a passionate advocate of student-centred learning. He works as a Studio Design Tutor across the undergraduate and postgraduate Architecture programmes, where he tutors and lectures with undergraduate cohorts on taught modules in Design, History and Theory, and Practice and Legislation. In the postgraduate programme he is a Studio Design Tutor and Specialist Study Tutor, guiding students through the development of dissertations and thesis design projects. He also teaches on the MA in Urban Design programme and on LJMU’s Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice.
As a Reader in Creative Pedagogies, Dr Smith's research focuses on learning and teaching in creative programmes - and in particular on assessment and feedback - and the impact of these to enhance and enrich the student learning experience. He has published and presented internationally in this field. The outcomes of his work are implemented through continual enhancement and innovation of the learning and teaching experience, and he contributes to the development of best practice in education across his Faculty and the University. Dr Smith participated in the development of learning and teaching in his subject area at government level through inclusion on the education panel of the Farrell Review. He achieved recognition as a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in 2014, and in 2016 he was awarded an Individual Teaching and Learning Excellence Award.
Dr Smith has innovated ways in which studio design work can inform research, creating collaborative partnerships with students, and which has also led to international publications. He also undertakes research in library architecture, focusing on how digitisation and new programmatic challenges are affecting these civic and cultural landmarks in towns and cities. He has generated considerable external consultancy work, including involvement in cutting-edge projects for zero-carbon buildings. In 2015 Dr Smith was awarded 'Outstanding Paper' in the Emerald Literati Awards, and in 2020 he was awarded 'Highly Commended'.
Degrees
2009, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, PG Cert, Learning and Teaching in Higher Education
2001, Royal Institute of British Architects (NW), United Kingdom, Advance Diploma, Professional Practice in Architecture
2001, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, PhD, Sustainable Urban Housing
1998, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, MA, Architecture and Urban Design
1996, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, Postgraduate Diploma, Architecture
1993, Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom, BA (Hons), Architecture
Academic appointments
Reader in Creative Pedagogies, School of Art and Design, Liverpool John Moores University, 2018 - present
Senior Lecturer, School of Art and Design, Liverpool John Moores University, 2005 - 2018
Highlighted publications
Smith CR. 2021. Architecture Students’ Uptake and Use of Formative and Summative Feedback Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Burns S, Fourie-Malherbe M, Griesel G, Smith C, Tripp AR, van Aswegen A. 2020. Progressive Studio Pedagogy: Examples from Architecture and Allied Design Fields Smith C. :1-146 Routledge. Abingdon 9780367649135 Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2020. How does the medium affect the message? Architecture students’ perceptions of the relative utility of different feedback methods. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Journal article
Smith C. 2024. Design review dialogues: A study of reviewer-student verbal interaction in a signature feedback method Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education, :1-13 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CHARLES. 2022. Socio-Constructivist Pedagogy in Physical and Virtual Spaces: The Impacts and Opportunities on Dialogic Learning in Creative Disciplines Burns SEAN, Wilson MATTHEW. Architecture_MPS, 22 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2021. Architecture Students’ Uptake and Use of Formative and Summative Feedback Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2020. How does the medium affect the message? Architecture students’ perceptions of the relative utility of different feedback methods. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education, DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2020. When Students Become Critics: Reviewing peer reviews in theory and practice Charrette, 6 :71-92 Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2019. An evaluation of community-managed libraries in Liverpool Library Management, 40 :327-337 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2018. Small group work: Dodging potential pitfalls to reach the pedagogic possibilities Innovations in Practice, 12 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2017. The influence of hierarchy and layout geometry in the design of learning spaces Journal of Learning Spaces, 6 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2017. Are We Throwing Out the Books with the Bathwater? Dilemmas Over New Directions in Library Design International Journal of the Book, 15 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2017. Mind the Gap! Students’ Expectations and Early Experiences of Higher Education Innovations in Practice, 11 :23-28 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2017. Take the Red Pill: A Journey into the Rabbit Hole of Teaching Informed Research. Charrette, 4 :126-136 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2016. Self-directed learning: a toolkit for practitioners in a changing higher education context Innovations in Practice, 10 :15-26 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith C. 2015. The Library as a Hybrid Building: New Forms and Complex Programmes International Journal of the Book, 14 :29-37 DOI Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2014. Future of the Book and Library Creatively Explored New Library World, 115 :211-224 DOI Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2014. Fusing Technology and Design in the Studio Charrette, 1 :115-126 Author Url Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2011. Understanding Students’ Views of the Crit Assessment Journal of Education in the Built Environment, 6 :44-67 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2010. A Reflection on the Pros and Cons of the ‘‘Crit’’ as a Method for Delivering Feedback and Conducting Assessment Innovations in Practice, 2 :104-111
Chapters
Smith C. 2024. Smart Libraries and Library 3.0 Encyclopedia of Libraries, Librarianship, and Information Science, First Edition, Four Volume Set 3 :V3:371-V3:387 DOI
Smith C. 2023. Smart Libraries and Library 3.0 Baker D, Ellis L, Machin Mastromatteo JD. Encyclopedia of Libraries, Librarianship, and Information Science Manage Elsevier 9780443157851 DOI Author Url Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2022. Charlie Smith Abegglen S, Neuhaus F, Wilson K. Voices from the Digital Classroom: 25 Interviews about Teaching and Learning in the Face of a Global Pandemic :80-87 LCR Publishing Services. Calgary 978-1773852782 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith C. 2020. Strategies for Nurturing Evaluative Judgement in Design Students Smith C. Progressive Studio Pedagogy: Examples from Architecture and Allied Design Fields :100-124 Routledge. Abingdon 9780367649135 Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2016. The Influence of Digital Media on the Design of Libraries Baker D, Evans W. The End of Wisdom? The Future of Libraries in a Digital Age. 1 :45-48 Chandos 9780081001424 DOI Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2016. Presence, Permeability and Playfulness: Future Library Architecture in the Digital Era Baker D, Evans W. Digital Information Strategies: From Applications and Content to Libraries and People :229-244 Chandos Publishing 978-0-08-100251-3 DOI Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2015. Chasing the Grail - Reconciling Priorities to Improve New Housing Cairns G, Isaac-Menard R, Potts G. Housing The Future – Alternative Approaches for Tomorrow :53-67 Libri Publishing. Faringdon 978-0-9933706-0-1 Author Url
Conference publication
Smith CR. 2021. Three Paths Through the Forest: An Exploration of the Teaching-Research Nexus Sanderson L. . AMPS Proceedings Series 22 Teaching-Learning-Research: Design and Environments, Teaching-Learning-Research: Design and Environments 1 :179-188 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Smith C. 2020. Two Tales from the Library: The Erosion of Public Realm and New Forms of Space McLane Y, Pable J. AMPS Proceedings Series 18.1. Experiential Design – Rethinking Relations between People, Objects and Environments, Experiential Design – Rethinking Relations between People, Objects and Environments 1 :60-71 Author Url Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2016. Take the red pill: A journey into the rabbit hole of teaching informed research Research Based Education 2016, Research Based Education - Association of Architectural Educators 2016 2 Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2016. The Library as a Hybrid Building: New Forms and Complex Programmes International Journal of the Book, The 13th International Conference on Books, Publishing, and Libraries, Vancouver 14 :29-37 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2014. The Student-Directed Learning Landscape: Academia Without Academics? Higher Education Academy Annual Conference 2014 - Preparing for learning futures: the next ten years Publisher Url
Smith CR. 2013. Evaluating Architecture Students’ Perspective of Learning in Peer Reviews DRS // CUMULUS - The 2nd International Conference for Design Education Researchers 1 :343-355 Author Url Publisher Url
Smith CR. ‘“Yet Another Apartment Block…?!” A Critique of Housing Provision in Cities, and Qualities That Make Urban Houses Desirable.’ AMPS Conference Publication Series 8. Government and Housing in a Time of Crisis: Policy, Planning, Design and Delivery., Government and Housing in a Time of Crisis: Policy, Planning, Design and Delivery 8 Author Url Publisher Url Public Url
Books (authored)
Burns S, Fourie-Malherbe M, Griesel G, Smith C, Tripp AR, van Aswegen A. 2020. Progressive Studio Pedagogy: Examples from Architecture and Allied Design Fields Smith C. :1-146 Routledge. Abingdon 9780367649135 Publisher Url
Book review
Smith CR. 2018. David Boud, Rola Ajjawi, Phillip Dawson and Joanna Tai (Eds.) (2018) Developing Evaluative Judgement in Higher Education, Abingdon: Routledge (978-1-138-08935-8 [Pbk], 202pp) Innovations in Practice, 12 :69-72 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Smith CR. 2016. Book Review: Elizabeth Boling, Richard A. Schwier, Colin M. Gray, Kennon M. Smith, & Katy Campbell (Eds.) (2016) Studio Teaching in Higher Education, Abingdon: Routledge (978-1-138-90243-5 [Pbk], 300pp) Innovations in Practice, 10 :161-163 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Smith C. Naomi Winstone and David Carless (2020) Designing Effective Feedback Processes in Higher Education: A Learning-Focused Approach, Abingdon: Routledge (ISBN 978-0-8153-6163-3 [Pbk], 208pp) Innovations in Practice, 13 :73-76 DOI Publisher Url Public Url
Artefact
Smith CR. 2006. Salford City Academy
Thesis/Dissertation
Smith CR. Procuring the urban house in paradise Public Url
Conference presentation:
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, UK, 3rd Annual Students at the Heart Conference, "Building a LJMU Shared Assessment and Feedback Toolkit: Resources and Strategies". 2024
Oral presentation, Manchester, UK, International Assessment in Higher Education (AHE) Conference, "Evaluating Verbal Feedback on Student Presentations: How Dialogic Interactions in Design Reviews Support Participation and Learning". 2023
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, 2nd Annual Students at the Heart Conference, "Formative Conversations: Developing Dialogic Exchanges Around Student Feedback". 2023
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "Creative Conversations: Dialogic Learning in Virtual Spaces". 2021
Video presentation, Ball State University, USA; Beaconhouse National University, Pakistan; University of Pretoria, South Africa; University of Kassel, Germany., Online Education – Teaching in a Time of Change, "Socio-Constructivist Pedagogy in Physical and Virtual Spaces: The Impacts and Opportunities on Dialogic Learning in Creative Disciplines.". 2021
Video presentation, Manchester, Teaching-Learning-Research: Design and Environments, "Three Paths through the Forest: An Exploration of the Teaching-Research Nexus". 2020
Video presentation, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA, Experiential Design – Rethinking relations between people, objects and environments, "Two Tales From the Library: The Erosion of Public Realm and New Forms of Space". 2020
Oral presentation, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK, Advance HE Teaching and Learning Conference – Teaching in the Spotlight: Innovations for Teaching Excellence, "Understanding Students’ Use of Feedback – A Research Project Studying Undergraduate and Postgraduate Architecture Cohorts". 2019
Oral presentation, Manchester, UK, Seventh International Assessment in Higher Education (AHE) Conference, "'What Do They Do With My Feedback?' A Study of How Undergraduate and Postgraduate Architecture Students Perceive and Use their Feedback". 2019
Video presentation, Stevens Institute of Technology, New Jersey, New York, USA, Education, Design and Practice – Understanding Skills in a Complex World, "Strategies for Nurturing Evaluative Judgement by Design Students". 2019
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "Feedback: What do Students (Actually) do with it?". 2019
Oral presentation, Macdonald Hotel, Manchester, UK, International Assessment in Higher Education (AHE) Conference: Transforming Feedback – Research and Development, "Student Learning Through Feedback: The Value of Peer Review?". 2018
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "Small Group Work: Dodging the Potential Pitfalls to Reach the Pedagogic Possibilities". 2018
Oral presentation, Imperial College London, London, UK, Fifteenth International Conference on Books, Publishing and Libraries, "Are We Throwing Out the Books with the Bathwater? Dilemmas over New Directions in Library Design". 2017
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "Mind the Gap! Level 4 Students’ Expectations, Experiences and Retention in Higher Education". 2017
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "Taking Stock on Retention: Where to Next?". 2017
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Government and Housing in a Time of Crisis: Policy, Planning, Design and Delivery, "'Yet Another Apartment Block…?!' A Critique of Housing Provision in Cities, and Qualities That Make Urban Houses Desirable". 2016
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "A Labyrinth and a Research Thread: Some Experiences of Teaching Informed Research". 2016
Oral presentation, University College London, London, UK, Research Based Education - Association of Architectural Educators International Conference, "Take the Red Pill: A Journey into the Rabbit Hole of Teaching Informed Research". 2016
Oral presentation, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, Thirteenth International Conference on Books, Publishing, and Libraries, "Libraries as Hybrid Buildings: New Forms and Complex Programmes". 2015
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "Reshaping Locations for Learning". 2015
Oral presentation, University of Liverpool and Liverpool John Moores University, UK, Housing – Critical Futures conference, "Chasing the Grail: Reconciling Priorities to Improve New Housing". 2015
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Spaces, Places & Technologies – ELESIG NW, "From the PG Cert to Conference Presentations and Publications". 2015
Oral presentation, Aston University, Birmingham, UK, 10th Higher Education Academy Annual Conference – Preparing for learning futures: the next ten years, "The Student-Directed Learning Landscape - Academia without Academics?". 2014
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "The Student-Directed Learning Landscape - Academia without Academics?". 2014
Oral presentation, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China, Shanghai International Innovation Design Workshop, "Design in the Studio". 2014
Oral presentation, Oslo, Norway, DRS // CUMULUS 2nd International Conference for Design Education Researchers, "Evaluating Architecture Students’ Perspective of Learning in Peer Reviews". 2013
Oral presentation, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK., Association of Architectural Educators’ International Conference on Architectural Education, "Fusing Technology and Design in the Studio". 2013
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Seeking continuous improvement and innovation in feedback and assessment in the Art and Design subject area, "Peer Reviews in Architecture". 2012
Oral presentation, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK, Learning and Teaching Conference, "Evolving the Delivery of Formative Feedback in Architecture". 2011
Other invited event:
Kingston University London, This lecture discussed my research project studying students' perceptions, understanding and use of different modalities of feedback they receive, and strategies that can be employed to enhance their feedback experience. The event was attended by staff from the Architecture subject area and the Teaching Enhancement team, Guest Lecture - "A Study of Architecture Students’ Perception and Use of Feedback". 2024
National University of Singapore, Invited panel discussant. Teachers in the PBL learning community presented their action-research on the effectiveness of studio teaching. The event was attended by design educators from NUS, Australia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Thailand, "Design Teaching Symposium: Student-Centricity in Project-Based Learning". 2021
National University of Singapore, This lecture synthesised outcomes from my research projects to explore ways in which feedback processes can be enhanced to best affect student learning and agency. The event was attended by design educators from NUS, Australia, Sri Lanka, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, Guest Lecture - "Enhancing Feedback for Students’ Learning: An Evaluation of Feedback Methods Used Within the Design Studio". 2021
Award:
AdvanceHE, National Teaching Fellow, https://www.advance-he.ac.uk/ntfs/dr-charlie-smith. 2023
2020 Emerald Literati Awards, Highly Commended Paper, for Smith, Charlie. (2019). ‘An Evaluation of Community-Managed Libraries in Liverpool.’ Library Management, 40(5): 327-337, ISSN: 0143-5124, DOI:10.1108/LM-09-2018-0072., https://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/journal/lm/literati-awards/library-management-literati-award-winners-2020. 2020
Liverpool John Moores University, Individual Teaching and Learning Excellence Award. 2016
Emerald Literati Network, Outstanding Paper, for Smith, Charlie. (2014). ‘Future of the book and library creatively explored.’ New Library World, (115)5-6: 211-224, ISBN 978-1-78441-375-0, ISSN 0307-4803, http://10.0.4.84/NLW-04-2014-0034. 2015
Liverpool John Moores University, Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. 2009
Media Coverage:
Frankland, R. and C. Smith. (2007). “Home:Works” in Home for the Future. Real Estate TV and Sky Channel 279. Broadcast on Sunday 6 May. 17.30. This television programme featured the short-listed competition entries to design a low-energy family dwelling.
Editorial boards:
Member of the Editorial Board, Innovations in Practice, http://openjournals.ljmu.ac.uk/index.php/iip/index. 2017
Associate Editor, The International Journal of the Book, http://booksandpublishing.com/journal. 2016
Fellowships:
Higher Education Academy, Senior Fellow. 2014
The Higher Education Academy, Fellow of The Higher Education Academy. 2009
Conference organisation:
Key Contact and Organiser, Higher Education Workshop / Seminar: Seeking continuous improvement and innovation in feedback and assessment in the Art and Design subject area.. 2012
Research Grants Awarded:
Duration of research project: 5 months, Grant value (£): 1500, Higher Education Academy, Jon Spruce, Seeking continuous improvement and innovation in feedback and assessment in the Art and Design subject area. 2011
Duration of research project: 3 months, Grant value (£): 100, Centre for Education in the Built Environment, CEBE National Student Survey Focus Group. 2011
Duration of research project: 10 months, Grant value (£): 3,000, North West Regional Development Agency, Glass Elements, Glass Facade Design (consultancy project). 2010
Duration of research project: 5 months, Grant value (£): 3,000, North West Regional Development Agency, Class of Your Own, A Carbon Neutral Classroom. 2009
External collaboration:
Centre for Education in the Built Environment, Higher Education Academy. 2011
Industrial connections:
Glass Elements, Facade design - Consultancy project. 2010
Class of Your Own, Zero carbon classroom design - Consultancy project. 2009
Teaching qualification:
Postgraduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. 2009
Membership of professional bodies:
Architect's Registration Board (ARB), Architect. 2001
Other Professional Activity:
Member of the Assessment and Feedback Community of Practice; Higher Education Academy. 2018.
Member of the Benchmarking Student Feedback Special Interest Group; Higher Education Academy. 2011.
The Farrell Review. Expert panel member of ‘Education’ workshop. 2013..