Projects

eSTEeM is providing a mechanism for professional development through practice-based scholarship within a mentored community. Much of our work is organised on a project basis with project management aimed at the delivery of new educational outcomes and scholarship outputs. 

eSTEeM supports a rolling portfolio of approx. 80 active scholarship projects under a number of themes which include:

  • Access, Participation and Success
  • Innovative assessment
  • Online/onscreen STEM practice
  • Supporting students
  • Technologies for STEM learning

To learn more about our projects, please click on the project titles or use the search feature below by entering keywords. To search by the name of a project leader, please use the 'Filter by Project Leader' tab on the right-hand side of this page.

Search results

70 results found

Improving completion of remote examinations in physics

Sally Jordan Jonathan Nylk Becca Whitehead

The project seeks to extend earlier investigations into the factors that enable students to do themselves justice in remote online exams in physics and related subjects, by encouraging them to attempt the exam in the first place and to complete a reasonable number of questions to an appropriate l

to

Gamification to increase participation in maths practice quizzes in Level 1 Engineering modules

Silvia Varagnolo Zahra Golrokhi

The aim of this project is to improve students’ engagement with maths exercise through the gamification of existing practice quizzes. The specific context is T192 (the first module in the Engineering Qualification) which already features weekly maths practice quizzes.

to

Deep dive into role STEM-ByALs-ForALs programme has played in professional journey of participating ALs, and exploration of future directions for the programme

Rupesh Shah

The STEM-ByALs-ForALs programme was set up in 2015, initially just for Science ALs to help build community cohesion and offer a way for science ALs to share good practice. The programme has been running successfully for 9 years, and has adapted to changing circumstances.

to

Students’ emotion regulation when learning online

Jake Hilliard

The purpose of this project is to explore students’ emotion regulation practices while studying online. Specifically, this study will investigate how and why students manage their own emotions, as well as examine whether they try to influence their peers' emotions in these learning settings.

to

Exploring student’s self-efficacy in response to modular events during introductory level science modules

Sam Johnson

Self-efficacy is an individual’s belief that they can successfully complete a particular task. Self-efficacy has been shown to be strongly predictive of performance and retention. Current studies are largely cross-sectional and do not explore how self-efficacy changes throughout a module.

to

Postcode Inequity: Closing the Awarding Gap for Stage 1 STEM Students residing in our most deprived UK postcodes

Louise MacBrayne Jennie Bellamy

Winner of the 10th Best Poster Competition at the 14th eSTEeM Annual Conference, 30th April – 1st May 2025.

to

SiSE Mathematics Research Experience

James Tuite Dan Rust

This project is a pilot scheme and feasibility study for research projects with SiSE students similar to previous OU bursary schemes. The circumstances of SiSE students and difficulty of communication means that such students are discouraged from applying to such initiatives.

to

The AI Design Ed project

AnnMarie McKenna Catherine Scott

The aim of the project is to explore student views and identify appropriate and accessible applications for generative image AI tools for co-ideation in design education.

to

Understanding the impact of ongoing support for students returning to study after reaching Restricted status

Elizabeth Shakespeare Anthony Short

Student retention and continuation are key drivers for this project. They are also key focus areas for the University.

to

Identifying and supporting skills development needs for undergraduate science students transitioning between stages 1, 2 and 3 in Environmental Science

Fiona Aiken Iris Verhagen Chris Hutton

With ever increasing focus on the need to support progression in our diverse student body, we are seeking to identify the most important skills gaps that present challenges to students on environmental and Earth science modules in EEES as they move from stage 1 to stage 2 and from stage 2 to stag

to