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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15 results found

The Relaxed Tutorial Project

Project leader(s):  Trevor Fear Naoko Yamagata Cora Beth Fraser

‘Relaxed’ events are held across the Arts sector, primarily as a means of accommodating neurodiversity, but also as a way of suiting other specific needs.

Developing an Approach to Networked Audio for Distance Learning in Music Practice

Project leader(s):  Sean Williams Naomi Barker

This project examines the use of networked technologies for group music practice, within the context of a small group of 3-7 players.

Exploring Students’ Experiences of Full Time and Flexible Study Intensity on English and Creative Writing Qualifications

Project leader(s):  Hannah Lavery Natalie Lewis Clare Spencer Derek Neale Liz Ford

There is data suggesting that a significant success rate gap exists between students studying on our English and Creative Writing undergraduate degrees at full-time and part-time intensity.

Better Understanding Study Motivation and Module Choice

Project leader(s):  Suzanne Forbes Elayne Chaplin Sara Wolfson

This project is concerned with identifying the reasons for falling new student registrations on a second-year History module with a view to supporting module teams in developing effective interventions.

Flexible Study Intensity in Arts and Humanities: Classical Studies and History

Project leader(s):  Elayne Chaplin Trevor Fear Anna Plassart Suzanne Forbes

The Open University provides opportunities for flexible study, with the majority of our students opting for part time engagement (studying only one module in each academic year and completing a degree in 5-6 years).

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

Level 1 Progression and Qualification Pathways: A Case Study in History

Project leader(s):  Linda Briggs Elayne Chaplin Suzanne Forbes

Open University students usually register for a specific degree when they begin their studies, but are able to change to a different degree pathway at various points while they are studying.

Evaluating the Impact of ‘Write Now’ Sessions: Adapting Approaches from Academic Writing Retreats to Create a Learning Community of Student Writers on A233

Project leader(s):  Debbie Parker Kinch Anactoria Clarke Jasmine Hunter Evans

The scholarship project will pilot and evaluate ‘write now’ sessions on the Open University English Literature module A233 ‘Telling Stories: the novel and beyond’.  These will be live online sessions aimed at helping students get writing, alongside other students who form a writing community

How does recording affect Creative Writing tutorials:-a first-year review

Project leader(s):  Natalie Lewis Donall MacCathmhaoill Emma Claire Sweeney Lania Knight

In the first year of presentation (October 2022), the OU Level 2 module Creative Writing will record designated online tutorials.

Transition to Postgraduate Study: the MA in Music

Project leader(s):  Rosemary Golding Byron Dueck

This project considers some of the barriers students might face when moving onto the MA in Music, either from within the OU or with prior experience of higher education from external institutions.