STEMinar Series: eSTEeM Scholarship Showcase - 10th June 2025

Dates: 

Tuesday, June 10, 2025 - 14:00 to 15:00

Location

Via MS Teams

Contact

eSTEeM

Evaluation and improvement of print pack use for environmental science students

Fiona Aiken, Chris Hutton and Caroline Langdon

There is a legal requirement to provide students who have declared disabilities with reasonable adjustments which address their learning needs. One way that accessibility can be improved for students with barriers to studying on screen-only materials is through producing printed versions of the materials, so-called “print packs” in the Open University. The efficacy of print packs as a means of providing reasonable adjustments to some disabled students and those in secure environments on Earth and Environmental Science modules through student surveys and staff focus groups was explored. As well as sharing our findings and recommendations, we will allow time for discussion and reflection of  how we can improve print packs for the future. 

Understanding student perceptions and engagement for formative assessment: A study of interactive online quizzes

Jonathan Nylk and Andy Diament

Formative activities support student learning and improve outcomes in summative assessments. However, they are often optional, leading to low engagement. While credit incentives can boost participation, they risk shifting focus from learning to mark accumulation. This study explores how students engage with online quizzes in the S217 physics module, where quizzes are indirectly incentivised through reflective tasks in tutor-marked assignments. Using learning analytics from four academic years and a student survey, we examine quiz usage patterns and student perceptions. The findings are compared with other incentivisation strategies to understand how and why students engage with formative online quizzes.

Registration

This event is open to OU staff, please visit the registration form. Registration will close at midday on the 10th June.If you would like to attend, but have not regsitered by then, please contact esteem@open.ac.uk.  

Keep up to date on the STEMinar Series by visiting the STEMinar Series webpage.