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Online Learning and Education

OU Research feeds into pedagogies that lead to online learning solutions being rolled out across the world.

Innovation adopted during COVID-19 is now “business as usual” according to OU research

Research conducted by the OU’s Faculty of Business & Law into online learning in English schools during COVID-19 has found that some innovations adopted have now become “business as usual”.

Race and Ethnicity Hub

This project is being led by Sas Amoah, Digital Media Producer at the OU, who is producing a short film to be published on the OpenLearn Race and Ethnicity hub. The film will investigate race-related health issues, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the disproportionate negative impact on people of colour. The film will also dispel some of the problematic myths that have arisen in relation to biology.

Co-evaluating e-assessment resources for HE in Africa

Educational experts at the OU’s Institute of Educational Technology and Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies have been working with partners in the African Council for Distance Education to promote professional development programmes for educators, professional staff and heads of department who share responsibility for providing quality distance and online learning across Africa. The project has involved a participatory survey to identify specific regional challenges, raised by local educators across Africa, and address their needs.

Overcoming adversity through hope: the potential of picture fiction

The project, led by Prof Teresa Cremin, Professor of Education (Literacy) in the OU’s Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies and Dr Sarah Mukherjee, Research Associate at the OU, has been funded to develop resources for teachers, practitioners and parents to help them support children’s wellbeing.

Effect of COVID on OU students

The project led by Dr Maria Aristeidou, Lecturer in Technology Enhanced Learning at the OU, and Dr Nashwa Ismail, Research Associate at the OU, has been funded to investigate various factors related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on students at the OU. 

Open Centre for Languages and Culture

Dr Mirjam Hauck and Dr Sylvia Warnecke launched the Open Centre in October 2020 to support the learning of languages and cultures in a professional, academic and leisure capacity. The centre provides short courses which cover general linguistic, intercultural communication and particular skills for work.

Teachers’ professional learning during and after COVID: A role for open digital badges

Led by Dr Simon Cross, Senior Lecturer at the OU’s Institute of Educational Technology, the project seeks to build on previous knowledge exchange programmes in addressing the need for teacher professional development during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Continual Professional Development for social workers

The project, led by Joe Hanely, Lecturer in Social Work at the OU’s Faculty of Wellbeing, Education and Language Studies, had been funded to produce a collection of free resources to enable keyworkers to upskill in disaster social work response. The resources are designed to be accessible to people of any level of social work, from experienced workers to students.