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

Facilitating and evaluating the use of virtual reality tutorials within the school of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences

Lucy Anderson Janette Wallace Sarah Daniell Trevor Collins

This proposal seeks to improve student engagement and skills development (specifically, collaboration and communication skills) through the introduction and evaluation of web-based virtual reality (VR) tutorials within the School of Life, Health and Chemical Sciences (LHCS).

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Do students benefit from having continuity in their module tutors between level 1 and level 2 on Q71, Health Sciences?

Sarah Daniell Fiona Moorman Katie Acutt

Students currently have little continuity of contact with their allocated tutors on the different modules throughout their qualification. Currently student retention on Q71 Health Sciences is concerning.

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Exploring life competences and green skills for 21st century designers

Emma Dewberry Vera Hale

This project aligns with current developments in the Open University to explore the relationship between Sustainability goals, curriculum design and opportunities for progressing employability outcomes.

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Investigating the value of online ‘quiet’ tutorials for Level 1 Interdisciplinary Environment students

Alice Fraser-McDonald Maria Townsend

Autistic and neurodivergent students, as well as others with declared mental health issues, may find attending live online tutorials challenging (Hunter, no date).

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) - does student knowledge and perceptions of its use as a learning support tool align with academic staff approaches to embedding AI activities and tools in the curriculum?

Servel Miller Jenny Duckworth

As highlighted by the recent Global Student AI Survey, over 84% of university students are using Large Language Model (LLM) Artificial Intelligence (AI) for their study on a regular basis (Digital Education Council, 2024).

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S111 Students’ Perceptions of University Communications

Maria Velasco Victoria Pearson Linda Moore

An outcome of our previous work investigating the reasons behind passive withdrawals on a Stage 1 introductory science module identified that some students receive large numbers of diverse email communications from across the University. This project investigates whether these communications

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Exploring student perception of laboratory workbooks: authentic learning or missed opportunity?

Karen New Lorraine Waters Sarah Daniell

Accurate record keeping is an important employability skill that students need to develop in any scientific discipline.

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Identifying tailored delivery routes for ALs to guide the use of Generative AI as a study support tool

Emma Steele Carol Calvert Alison Bromley

Issue to address

There is enormous potential for students to use GenAI as a support tool in their learning. Responsible and appropriate use of GenAI can positively impact student engagement and employability. 

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Helping IMD Q1 M&S students feel that they belong at the OU

Marianna Volpi

Members of communities whose aspirations have not traditionally included attending university may experience feelings of imposter syndrome, or a sense of being ‘out of place’ and not belonging to university when they commence their university career and indeed at points throughout their studies.

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Reimagining Higher Education Delivery Models within the Open University for Employer-Facing Engineering Education in the Digital Era (Phase 1 only)

Sarel Marais Gareth Neighbour Russ Lewis

How do rapid changes in the workplace challenge traditional pedagogy models in Higher Education (HE)? Does the current structure of higher education delivery remain relevant and responsive in the context of ongoing changes in the world of work?

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