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  2. Dr John Baxter

Dr John Baxter

Profile summary

  • Regional Academic Staff
  • Senior Lecturer, Staff Tutor in Science
  • Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
  • School of Life, Health & Chemical Sciences
  • j.s.baxter

Professional biography

After completing my PhD in chemistry at the University of Bristol, I undertook postdoctoral research in synthetic organic chemistry at the University of Manchester.
I then spent many years teaching science and in particular chemistry to part-time students in the further and higher education sector in the North West. During that time I developed an interest in computer-based learning within science.
In 2002 I joined the Open University as a staff tutor, and a member of the Science Online team, a project to spread best practice in online/on-screen learning within science teaching at the Open University.
 
I am the qualification director for the BA/ BSc Open Honours, and a member of a team of academics and others that support students on the Open Programme.
 
 

Research interests

My professional research interests are focused on how students learn from on-screen teaching materials. Recently I've had a particular focus on the way that students take notes when learning from on-screen materials: what's effective and what's not! A brief description is given here: http://www.open.ac.uk/about/teaching-and-learning/esteem/projects/themes/onlineonscreen-stem-practice/evaluation-onscreen-notetaking-tools.

I also have a personal research interest investigating the links between folk song and Music Hall - you can find out more at http://folksongandmusichall.com/

Teaching interests

Modules I have played a major role in producing include:
  • U316 The Environmental Web
  • S250 Science in Context
  • S104 Exploring Science
  • S155 Scientific Investigations
  • S176 Living without Oil
  • S215 Chemistry Essential Concepts
  • S201 Science and Society