About

The Open University’s Computers and Learning Research Group (CALRG), founded in 1978, is one of the UK’s leading and longest-running research groups in the use of technologies in education. All research-active staff and students within IET are automatically members of CALRG, however the group is very inclusive and welcomes staff and students from across the OU who are interested in educational technology. This includes other colleagues from CSGD (the Centre for the Study of Global Development) , science/STEM, WELS (Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies) and FASS (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences). CALRG also works closely alongside the OpenTEL Priority Research Area and also links into OU teaching and learning (such as the MAOT– MA in Online Teaching) where appropriate.

CALRG are internationally renowned for their work on distance and collaborative learning, evaluation, accessibility and more recently in learning analytics. The group has a wide variety of research interests and approaches including:

  • Learning analytics
  • Learning at scale
  • Citizen science and public engagement
  • Computer supported collaborative learning (CSCL)
  • Understanding learners’ interactions and experiences (including accessibility)
  • Mobile learning
  • Effective designing for learning and learner experiences

CALRG is a very active, friendly and supportive research community and meets once a week, with different activities taking place throughout each month. These include seminars from external and internal speakers; ‘communicating research’ sessions and sharing engaged research. CALRG also organises an annual research conference every summer, primarily focused on internally-facing institutional research but with esteemed external keynotes, many of whom are CALRG alumni. The conference attracts a diverse range of presentations and attendees.

Our doctoral graduates include many distinguished academics, researchers, and learning professionals. The CALRG has an ongoing commitment to postgraduate research and provides a vibrant research culture for all members.

People

CALRG is organised and run by Dr Beck Pitt, Dr Fereshte Goshtasbpour and Prof Eileen Scanlon.

A photograph of Dr Fereshte Goshtasbpour. A photograph of Dr Beck Pitt. A photograph of Professor Eileen Scanlon.
Fereshte Goshtasbpour Beck Pitt Eileen Scanlon

All research-active members of the Institute of Educational Technology (IET), whether students or staff, are automatically members of CALRG and they make up the majority of our group. IET is now a part of the OU’s Learning & Teaching Innovation (LTI) portfolio, heading up the LTI-Academic sub-unit.

However, we have always been an inclusive community and also welcome students and staff involved in TEL research elsewhere across the OU to participate in our events. These include colleagues from KMi; maths and computing; science; health and social care; education and language studies; arts and social science; and business.

Please click here for further details of IET staff and students.

Social Media

You can contact as at CALRG@open.ac.uk or find us on: