Pedagogy, Learning & the Curriculum

Group Info

PLAC’s common research interest is in pedagogy which is researched by examining relationships between theories of learning and knowledge and their implications for policy and practice in education. The group’s research seeks to combine sociological, psychological and disciplinary approaches and methodologies. This allows a focus both on learners’ and professionals’ identities, as they emerge in the process of knowledge construction as learners in informal and formal contexts, engage in domains like literacy, mathematics, music, science and technology; and the social, cultural and historical influences that mediate these. The groups’ research purpose is to inform visions for education in the information age.

Group members have a reputation for leading research examining national policy and practice developments for stakeholders.

For further information see PLAC overview and PLAC latest news.

Research

Specific Research Projects

Janet Soler: Teaching reading and literacy across international boundaries: history, policy and politics.
 

Teresa Cremin: Teachers as Readers: Building Communities of Readers. 
Funding body: Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and UKLA 
Institutions involved: OU (lead institution), UKLA, Reading University, Roehampton University, Canterbury Christ Church University, Birmingham LA.

Management group: Professor Teresa Cremin (OU), Fiona Colllins and Kimberly Safford (Roehampton), Marilyn Mottram (Birmingam LA).
Research fellow: Sacha Powell (Canterbury Christ Church).

Amount: £75,986
Duration: 1 year (2007-2008)

Carrie Cable: Language Learning at KS2: a longitudinal study
A three year study examining the learning and teaching of languages in Key Stage 2 classrooms in a sample of English primary schools.
Institutions involved: OU (lead institution), Southampton University , Canterbury Christ Church University.
Management group: Carrie Cable (OU), Dr Barbara Heins (OU), Professor Teresa Cremin (OU), Professor Ros Mitchell (Southampton), Dr Patricia Driscoll (CCCU).
Research fellow: Dr Sue Sing (OU).
Funding body: DCSF £619,431
Duration (2006-2009)

PLAC's other research interests include:

• Teacher recruitment and retention
• Creative learning in schools and in lifelong learning
• Professional development and teachers
• The impact of recent educational policymaking on teacher professionalism, in both schools and further education colleges
• The rise of competence-based approaches to education and training
• The role of research in the context of evidence-based policymaking and practice
• Media reporting of social and educational research

PLAC also has a general interest in methodological issues, and specific expertise in relation to both action research and ethnography.

The Open University Creativity Centre is directed by members of PLAC.

Members

Convenor

• Dr Chris Walsh

Members

• Mr Pete Bradshaw
• Miss Natalie Canning
• James Clack
• Mrs Jennifer Colloby
• Professor Teresa Cremin
• Mr Martin Crisp
• Dr Rose Drury
• Mr Ian Eyres
• Dr Felicity Fletcher-Campbell
• Els De Geest
• Mrs Gill Goodliff
• Caroline Heaney
• Alice Matthews
• Professor Patricia Murphy
• John Parry
• Mr Jonathan Rix
• Ms Kimberly Safford
• Mrs Isobel Shelton
• Dr Katy Simmons
• Dr Janet Soler
• Dr Peter Twining
• Ms Liz Whitelegg

Full-Time Research Students

• Uthel Laurent
• Shafia Abdul Rahman

Part-Time Research Students

• Ann Benson

Grants

Teachers as Readers: Building Communities of Readers

Institutions involved: OU (lead institution), UKLA, Reading University, Roehampton University, Canterbury Christ Church University, Birmingham LA.
Management group: Professor Teresa Cremin (OU), Fiona Colllins and Kimberly Safford (Roehampton), Marilyn Mottram (Birmingam LA). Research fellow: Sacha Powell (Canterbury Christ Church).
Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and UKLA £75,986 (2007-2008)

Primary Languages Learning at KS2: a longitudinal study

Institutions involved: OU (lead institution), Southampton University , Canterbury Christ Church University.
Management group: Carrie Cable (OU), Dr Barbara Heins (OU), Professor Teresa Cremin (OU), Professor Rosamund Mitchell (Southampton), Dr Patricia Driscoll (CCCU).
Research fellow: Dr Sue Sing (OU).
DCSF £619,431 (2006-2009) 

Evaluation of Young Foresight

Since 2001, SPE - £42K

Systematic Literature Review of Pedagogical approaches that effectively include children with special educational needs in mainstream classes

TTA £75K

Evaluating the innovation of electronics in schools

DTI £92K

Evaluating the impact of materials for Schools and Colleges

The Royal Society of Chemistry £34K

Energy Foresight - evaluation of the multi media materials for the core module Radiation and Life

21st Century Science curriculum (£45K)

Comparative study of public debates and literacy curriculum policy in England and New Zealand in the post war period

McCarthy Fellowship £1.5K

Family Learning

Tate Modern £1.5k

Associate Lecturers in Science

ATHENA £3K

Introducing electronics in the curriculum - a dissemination publication for schools

DTI £5K