Dr Alex Hadwen-Bennett
Senior Lecturer in Inclusion and STEM Education
- ECS Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Lead and ECS Maker Space and Making Pedagogies Lead
Research interests
- Computer science
- Policy
- Education
Biography
Alex has worked in education in various capacities for over 20 years. He has worked as a Computing teacher, examiner, teacher educator and educational researcher. Alex is committed to research-informed teaching and has helped to shape the practice of Computing educators through his numerous published teaching resources.
Being neurodiverse, Alex had a challenging journey through the education system, and this has shaped both his teaching and his research. He strives to create inclusive learning environments in his teaching and to make computing and STEM education more accessible and inclusive through his research.
Research
Alex’s research focuses on exploring how alternative means of engaging with Computing and STEM concepts can make these disciplines more inclusive. He is particularly interested in exploring the role that making and physical computing can play in widening participation. His most recent research explores how programming education can be made more inclusive, particularly for learners with visual impairments.
He is a member of the Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics.
Teaching
Alex currently teaches on the:
- PGCE Computing programme
- MA STEM Education programme
He leads the STEM: Making and Creating module as well as teaching on the Leading Practices in STEM Education and Recent Developments in Digital Education modules.
Supervision
Alex’s current PhD students are:
- Xinyun He (2023-present), Designing and embedding AR tools into geometry learning environments to support the learning processes of autistic students.
- Shukri Mohammed (2022-present), Exploring the potential of STEM-based making activities on primary-aged learners' development and participation in computational thinking.
Alex is interested in supervising research which explores inclusion in STEM and Computing education, particularly with an emphasis on the use of making and alternative means of engaging with concepts.
Publications
Academic Work:
Articles:
Research
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
News
New report raises interesting questions into accessibility of programming education in secondary schools in England
In a new report, King’s academics Alex Hadwen-Bennett and Peter E.J. Kemp in the Centre for Research in Education in STEM (CRESTEM) find key differences...
Events
TIBBL: Tangible Inclusive Block-Based Language for widening access to programming
In this seminar, Dr Alex Hadwen-Bennett will discuss how an interdisciplinary approach benefited the development of the TIBBL tool.
Please note: this event has passed.
Exploring blind and partially sighted learners’ sense of programming concepts
In this CRESTEM seminar, Alex Hadwen-Bennett will explore how forms of expressing programming concepts are shaped both by the programming environment and by...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Programming Education in England's Secondary Schools
This blog post offers a glimpse into the findings of the report on programming education in secondary schools across England. The full report delves deeper...
Research
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
Centre for Research in Education in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (CRESTEM)
News
New report raises interesting questions into accessibility of programming education in secondary schools in England
In a new report, King’s academics Alex Hadwen-Bennett and Peter E.J. Kemp in the Centre for Research in Education in STEM (CRESTEM) find key differences...
Events
TIBBL: Tangible Inclusive Block-Based Language for widening access to programming
In this seminar, Dr Alex Hadwen-Bennett will discuss how an interdisciplinary approach benefited the development of the TIBBL tool.
Please note: this event has passed.
Exploring blind and partially sighted learners’ sense of programming concepts
In this CRESTEM seminar, Alex Hadwen-Bennett will explore how forms of expressing programming concepts are shaped both by the programming environment and by...
Please note: this event has passed.
Features
Programming Education in England's Secondary Schools
This blog post offers a glimpse into the findings of the report on programming education in secondary schools across England. The full report delves deeper...