Students as partners to incorporate learning preferences and inclusivity into curriculum design and improve learning outcomes

Project leader(s):  Ruth Neal Ellen Marshall

• Theme:  Supporting students
• Project faculties:  STEM
• Status:  Current
• Date:  February 2026 to September 2026

This project aims to evaluate how current instructional methods on two statistics modules M140 (Introducing Statistics) and M248 (Analysing data) meet the learning needs and preferences of a diverse student population. Both modules are due for review in 2027, they both have high withdrawal rates and we aim to investigate whether the current instructional methods could be barriers to success. 

Aligned with the OU’s strategic commitment to inclusive, future-facing education, this research will contribute to the design of a more student-centred curriculum that supports equitable outcomes and fosters a sense of community. The results of the project will be embedded within the upcoming lifecycle review, using students as collaborators, an approach that reflects the OU’s emphasis on student voice and co-creation and has not recently been undertaken to this extent within the School of Mathematics and Statistics.

We will also evaluate student preferences regarding statistical software, particularly the proposed shift from Minitab (a paid point-and-click tool) to R (a free programming language).

To capture a wide range of perspectives, we plan to conduct several, separate focus groups with Associate Lecturers, M140 and M248 students from the diverse student population.  Insights from these sessions will help identify key emerging themes and inform the design of a broader student questionnaire to capture views of the wider population.

The main anticipated outcomes:

A clearer understanding of student learning preferences, inclusive teaching strategies, barriers to success. 

Evidence-based recommendations and dissemination for instructional improvements that could increase pass rate, support progression and retention. 

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