eSTEeM

Centre for Scholarship and Innovation

Conference delegates working in groups

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

92 results found

Evaluating the impact on attainment and retention of implementing TMA-specific assessment checklists in LHCS modules

Kate Fox Heather Fraser

Most students feel some level of anxiety when completing and submitting their tutor marked assignments (TMAs). In addition, there is an awarding gap between students with anxiety-related mental health issues or neurodiversity, compared to their peers across Higher Education.

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Evaluating an LGBTQ+ awarding gap and supporting our queer student community: An intersectional perspective (Phase 1)

Willow Neal Emmanuel Zuza

LGBTQ+ people constitute a marginalised group that experiences ongoing discrimination.  This is despite progress towards legal and social acceptance in some countries.

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

Louise MacBrayne Jennie Bellamy

Winner - Best Poster Competition, 14th eSTEeM Annual Conference 2025.

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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.

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The AI Design Ed project

AnnMarie McKenna Catherine Scott

Can GenAI Tools Be Passive Facilitators in Student Design Work?

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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

Winner – Most Engaging and Immersive Session, Day One – 14th eSTEeM Annual Conference 2025.

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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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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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