Stephen Molyneux

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Stefan Molyneux.
Stephen Molyneux

Born February 24, 1955 (1955-02-24) (age 53)
Liverpool, England

Steve Molyneux, (born Walton, Liverpool, 24 February 1955): Apple Distinguished Educator and a leading expert in the use of Information and Communication technology to support Education and Training in the UK. An advocate of technology in the support of learning, but also challenges some Government and Industry thinking on how technologies should be deployed in Education and Training. Whilst a pioneer in the development of Virtual Learning Environments (LMSs), Molyneux now believes that the changes in how society interacts with technology and the Web should lead us to review transforming education and training systems from late 20th century 'pull' model of e-learning to a newer 'push' model based on personalisation.

His career spans a wide rage of sectors. He started as a Radar Operator in the Royal Air Force, and after moving to Germany in the early 1980's held a number of posts including Head of Software Development at ATARI International in Hamburg and ARIOLASOFT in Munich. Before returning to the UK in 1991, Molyneux had held advisory posts with the German Ministry of Education & Science and the European Commission in the use of Technology to support Education and Training.

Since his return to the UK, Molyneux is seen as a key player in e-Learning and is one of the UK's leading movers and shakers in the transformation of the UK towards the Knowledge-Economy. In the past he has held a number of Professorial Chairs including; Microsoft Chair of Advanced Learning Technologies, IBM Chair of Information & Communication Technologies and Asymetrix Chair of Multimedia. In 1995 whilst a Professor of Learning Technologies at the University of Wolverhampton he developed one of the first Virtual Learning Environment (VLE/LMS) in the UK which was licensed from the University by Granada Learning under the brand ‘learnwise’. This learning platform was developed as part of 'Broadnet', a project run by the University of Wolverhampton and funded by the Government Office of the West Midlands to deliver modular training packages to small businesses using the Internet. The 'Broadnet' project was successfully used as a case study in 1996 by the UK Institute for Public Policy Research in the formulation of their 'University for Industry' proposal to Government later re-branded as UfI/learndirect.

In 1996 together with one of his students he founded MediaLab UK subsequently renamed Netmedia Education and sold in 2006 to Espresso Education Ltd.

Between 1997 and 1999 he worked with Government and Industry in evangelising the concept of a National Grid for Learning through initiatives such as UK NetYear and in 1998 developed an infrastructure strategy for Telford and Wrekin Council which when implemented linked 87 Schools on a high-speed ATM network allowing for shared resources and support to be offered to all schools irrespective of size. In 2000 he assisted the Council in being awarded a £750,000 grant to build two Classrooms of the Future at Lord Silkin and Wrockardine Wood Schools respectively.

In 1999 he founded, together with Microsoft and ICL, Learning Lab, a not-for profit membership-led organisation, supporting all those involved in the Development, Delivery and Implementation of Learning Technologies in the UK.

In 2001, he worked successfully worked with the United States Department of Defense in founding the ADL Partnership Lab (UK). The aim of this collaboration was to assist in promoting the adoption of SCORM as a learning technology standard across the UK.

In 2002 he proposed to the University and to Advantage West Midlands to build a state-of-the-art e-Innovation Centre in Telford. The Centre, which opened in 2006, aims to help people with a business idea or a fledgling business by offering comprehensive consultancy service from a team of specialists. In November 2007, the Centre scooped two awards at the coveted West Midlands ICT Excellence Awards.

In 2003, he left the University to become and independent consultant in the use of ICT to support Education and Training.

Between 2005 and 2006, as part of the Defence Training Review, Molyneux was Special Adviser to the Ministry of Defence on Training & Education where he was responsible to the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Personnel) in assisting the Directorate General Training & Education (DGT&E) in evaluating private sector bids to run a large Government Defence Training Transformation initiative.

Molyneux has contributed to UK National and International strategic policy papers as a member of the UK Distributed Electronic Learning Group (DELG) of the Learning and Skills Council, a member of the Digital Content group of the UK Department for Trade and Industry and a member of the UK Department for Education and Skills Post-16 e-Learning Strategy Task-force. He has also assisted a number of other UK Government Departments including the Cabinet Office, the Department of Health and Her Majesties Revenue and Customs in developing their e-Learning strategies. He was a member of the Institute of IT Training e-Learning Standards Committee and continues to play an important role in shaping the future of e-Learning on a global scale. As a founding member of the Broadband Stakeholder Group Executive with responsibility for the Education and Training sector he advised the UK Government on Broadband deployment strategies across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. He has also worked closely with the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Executive in meeting the needs of the Scottish Digital Economy.

Molyneux is currently using his expertise to assist Hastings College in East Sussex in its multi-million pound new build.

Internationally, Molyneux has contributed to the use of technology to support education and training in a number of Countries including the United States, Germany and Singapore. He works closely with the United States Department of Labor and the Department of Defense on training technology strategies.

Molyneux is often asked to provide advice on the strategic use of ICT and Broadband Infrastructure to National, European and International Clients from both the Public and Private sector and performs numerous speaking engagements.

On August 28th 2007, to celebrate its 800th Birthday as a City, Molyneux was formally listed as one of 800 people who had put Liverpool on the Map.

As an independent consultant Molyneux works closely with leading vendors such as Apple and Microsoft and currently holds a number of Non-Executive positions.


Outside of work, Molyneux is a Justice of the Peace, patron of Shropshire Young Enterprise and from 2003-2006 was Chairman/Mayor of Oakengates Town Council where he currently resides. He also broadcasts regularly on BBC Radio Shropshire Morning Show on issues relating to Technology.

[edit] Awards and Accolades

  • 1978 Air Officer Commander in Chief commendation for meritorious service to Strike Command
  • 1997 First non-employee ICL Fellow
  • 2000 First recipient of WOLCE Award for outstanding personal contribution to e-Learning Industry
  • 2002 Named one of the top 10 UK movers & shakers in Education & Training
  • 2003 State of Minnesota Adj. Generals Personal Coin for contribution in the field
  • 2004 State of Massachusetts Adj. Generals Personal Coin for contribution in the field
  • 2004 United States National Guard Coin for Distributed Training Technology Programme
  • 2007 Named as one of 800 people who has put Liverpool on the Map.

[edit] References and Citations

Persondata
NAME Molyneux, Stephen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Molyneux, Steve
SHORT DESCRIPTION English e-Learning Expert
DATE OF BIRTH 24 February 1955
PLACE OF BIRTH Liverpool, England
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH