FASSTEST

FASS Centre for Scholarship and Innovation logo

FASSTEST brings together colleagues from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, 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 outcomes. FASSTEST supports a rolling portfolio of approximately 40 active scholarship projects under a number of themes which include:

  • Online and blended tuition
  • Assessment
  • Employability/careers
  • Equality, diversity and inclusion
  • Mental health and wellbeing
  • Multisensory/multimodal learning

If you are interested in learning more about a particular project or connecting with a project team, please contact us at FASS-Scholarship@open.ac.uk. 

Projects

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28 results found

Strengthening the PhD Culture in the School of Psychology & Counselling

Project leader(s):  Eleni Andreouli Simon Clarke Julian Bond

A longstanding challenge faced by students and educators alike is the difficulty in maintaining an active PhD research culture, which, in turn, can have a negative impact on doctoral students’ progression and in the quality of their studies. The reasons of this are multiple.

Exploring the Role of Video Pod Usage in Online Sessions

Project leader(s):  Sinead Eccles Karen Twiselton

This two-stage project is aimed at mapping a period of change within the Open University (OU) where Associate Lecturers (ALs) are encouraged to activate their camera (or video-pod) whilst delivering online tutorials.

Does peer interaction in online tutorials impact the student experience?

Project leader(s):  Eimear O'Connor Katie Rix

When studying distance learning, researchers often focus on improving the interaction between attendees (e.g. Bernard et al., 2009). However, this type of research is often based on the assumption that interaction is beneficial for all students.

Face to Face Day schools: Understanding attendance and non-attendance on psychology modules

Project leader(s):  Caroline Kelly Katy Smith Marianna Latif Rachel Penny Paige Cuffe Madeline Knightley

This project aimed to understand attendance for optional face-to-face tuition events on psychology modules. A mixed method approach was used to capture the student voice, and the five methods are presented here.

An examination of social and cultural factors that may affect engagement in study activities linked to academic writing skills

Project leader(s):  Sharon Xuereb Cathy Schofield

It is vital for students to understand and uphold the principles of academic integrity throughout their studies. Although this is often a value that is promoted by higher education institutions from the outset, academic misconduct does appear to be a growing problem.

Exploring Welsh medium tuition in Psychology and Counselling OU modules at Level 1 – Phase 1

Project leader(s):  Emma Roberts Sue Stradling Nia Coles-Jones

The Welsh Government’s strategic framework aims to increase the number of Welsh speakers to one million by 2050.

Impact on formal points of tutor contact on student outcome and experience on new L1 module D120

Project leader(s):  Marianna Latif Alicia Townshend

This study aims to explore the impact of early tutor contact on the D120 module, looking at the student experience, the tutor relationship and retention and progression. D120 is a new level 1 psychology module which started in October 2023.

Students' Experience of Research Methods Teaching Level 2

Project leader(s):  Jennifer Mattschey

The project investigates Psychology students’ perception of both quantitative and qualitative research methods teaching at level 2, with the aim to identify new and more effective approaches to teaching these topics.