FASSTEST

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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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88 results found

The Role of Peer-to-Peer Mentoring in a Distance Learning University: An Evaluation of a Three-Year Pilot in the Arts and Social Sciences

Project leader(s):  Joanna Robson Tina Forbes Sue Watkins

Following two successful small-scale pilots in 2015 and 2017 the current project evaluates the upscaled peer-to-peer mentoring scheme rolled out in the Open University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences in 2020 - 2023.

Creative Interactions: Phase 2

Project leader(s):  Heather Richardson Clare Taylor Helen Mosby Diana Newall

This project builds on the recently completed FASSTEST project, Creative Interactions: Teaching with OU's Art Collection.

Proscribed Fictions: The Place of Colonial and/or Racist Literature in Curricular Decolonisation

Project leader(s):  Alex Tickell Michael O'Flynn Angela Eyre

This project responds to a practical problem faced by members of the module production team on the new English MA (A893).

Decolonising Religious Studies and Promoting Student Retention

Project leader(s):  Suzanne Newcombe Paul-François Tremlett John Maiden Hugh Beattie

Phase 1 has been completed, and an application for Phase 2 of this project has been approved in principle and is being refined in light of feedback received from the FASSTEST Coordination Group and EDI team. Details will be available soon. 

‘The Project Game: Is My Topic EMA Material?’

Project leader(s):  Renate Dohmen Georgina Holden Pamela Bracewell-Homer Georgina Holden

This project aimed at first year students on the MA in Art History (A843) supporting them in their preparation for their assignment, the 3,000-word final assignment for A843, with a focus on helping them identify a suitable topic that allows for a successful discussion.

Understanding How Social Anxiety Affects Participation in Online Tutorials

Project leader(s):  Janet Hunter

Anyone who has taught via online platforms will be aware that some students find it hard to engage with this medium of learning. Many students sign up to such sessions but do not join on the day, whilst others do not sign up at all.

Assessing the Impact of Changes to the Tuition Model for English Literature Modules in Terms of Attendance, Attainment, and Retention

Project leader(s):  Encarnacion Trinidad-Barrantes Jessica Davies Hannah Lavery Tim Hammond Elizabeth Ford Steve Padley

In the past, Open University tutorials tended to be run by individual tutors for the students assigned to their tutor group.  Since 2016, however, there has been a move to ‘group tuition’ which allows students to attend tutorials running at their preferred time and venue (including onl

Personal and Empathetic Dialogue: An Investigation into the role of correspondence tuition in supporting student progression and retention

Project leader(s):  Zoe Doye Judith Wilson-Hughes Lucy Rumney

This study links together research on the role of feedback/correspondence tuition in student engagement and student retention and progression.

Supporting Younger Students with Weekly Communications

Project leader(s):  Sue Nieland

This project explores whether structured weekly email contact, relating to specific aspects of the module that students are studying, helps to support and retain younger students (i.e. those aged under 25 years). 

University Connectedness, Relational Depth, Wellbeing, Anxiety, and Academic Achievement in FASS Students

Project leader(s):  Gina Di Malta Naomi Moller Katy Smith

The rising numbers of university students reporting mental health difficulties – and how best to respond to this need - is a known concern in the sector.