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Steph Doehler

Profile summary

  • Regional Academic Staff
  • Staff Tutor
  • Faculty of Wellbeing, Education & Language Studies
  • School of Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport
  • Regions & Nations (ECYS)
  • s.doehler

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Professional biography

Steph joined the Open University as a Staff Tutor in 2020. She has also been an Associate Lecturer since 2016. Prior to joining the Open University full time, Steph has several years’ experience working as both a Further and Higher Education lecturer in Sports Studies.

She also worked within an awarding organisation, creating personal development/leadership awards and qualifications undertaken by more than 100,000 young people per year. Here, she set up the organisation's virtual learning environment and developed eLearning content for both learners and teachers. 

Steph has been a member of the Expert Physical Education Advisory Group, one of seventeen Expert Subject Advisory Groups established and funded by the Department for Education.

She has also gained industry experience in various roles over the years, including: sports coach, kid’s club instructor and sport psychology workshop leader.

 

Research interests

Steph’s research interests are split between both sport and education.

From a sport perspective, she is largely focused on the sociology of sport and sport history (particularly the origins of the Olympic Games). She is currently researching media framing in sports protests. 

Within education, Steph’s interests centre on the perception and impact of character education, and attainment in underrepresented groups.
 

Publications

Doehler, S. (2012) 'Wenlock Olympian Games: a significant influence on the modern Olympic movement?' Physical Education Matters, July 2012.

Doehler, S. (2011) ''Dr. William Penny Brookes and the Wenlock Olympian Games - a significant influence on the modern Olympic movement?' as part of the British Library's 'Sport & Society - the Summer Olympics through the lens of social science' series. 

Doehler, S. (2010) 'Supporting students in FE' Physical Education Matters, October 2010.

 

Teaching interests

E313 - Exploring psychology aspects of athletic development (Co-chair 2020-present)

E117 – Introduction to sport and fitness (Associate Lecturer 2018-present)

E314 – Exploring contemporary issues in sport and exercise (Associate Lecturer 2016-present)

E312 – Athletic Development: A Psychological Perspective (Critical reader)

 

External collaborations

Prior to moving to the Open University full time Steph worked with several external organisations on various projects/pieces of work, including:

  • Led on a £50,000 Sport England funded project entitled ‘Leaders from Leavers’ which used the voice of Looked After Children to understand the barriers, motivations and benefits affecting the engagement of young people in the care system, from participating in sport-based social action.
     
  • Project managed the development of volunteer training for the 2018 Sainsbury’s Active Kids Holiday Clubs, in collaboration with ukactive.
     
  • Collaborated with global fitness company Les Mills to support schools and a new generation of children, parents and carers to be physically active, by creating a new wave of Les Mills BORN TO MOVE™ Activators and developing an online training course to upskill the delivery of BORN TO MOVE™ virtual classes.