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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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    Diversifying End of Module Assessment project options on a Level 3 Classical Studies module - Benefits and Challenges for students and lecturers

    Project Team: Astrid VoigtEmma Bridges

    This project investigates the benefits and challenges – for both students and educators – of an innovative assessment format which aims to make assessment more inclusive and authentic for Classical Studies students.

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

    Project Team: Natalie LewisDonall MacCathmhaoillEmma Claire SweeneyLania Knight

    This mixed-methods project evaluated the introduction of the recording of online tutorials on OU Level 2 module, Creative Writing. The project investigated specific concerns and considerations around tutorial attendance, student participation, and the pedagogy of Creative Writing workshops.

    Assessing the effectiveness of targeted forum activities in relation to student retention

    Project Team: Emilie RutledgeRoberto SimonettiJulia Chukwuma

    This project considers student retention rates in relation to forum activity participation. While an array of factors—individual and institutional—impact these rates in Higher Education, creating a strong sense of student community is one organisational level measure that can addressed.

    Does peer interaction in online tutorials impact the student experience?

    Project Team: Eimear O'ConnorKatie 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.

    Enhancing SiSE Student Experience

    Project Team: Jaime Waters

    This project arises from tutor experiences in teaching SISE (Students in Secure Environments) and derives from reflections on the difficulties that SiSE students face beyond access to printed materials, and how we can provide the best possible materials and support for SISE students.

    Who Watches the Watchers? Improving Teaching in FASS through the Monitoring Sign-Off Process

    Project Team: Kerry SomersetEmma Clarence

    Much of the quality assurance of teaching and learning at the Open University is undertaken through the monitoring of marked student assignments.

    Exploring the experience of ‘previously registered’ students

    Project Team: Janet HunterKaren Twiselton

    The aim of the project is to explore the experience of students who have been registered on the same module for one or more previous presentations, have either withdrawn, deferred, or been deregistered, and have subsequently returned to study on the same module.

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

    Project Team: Sharon XuerebCathy 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.

    ChatGPT and the distance learner: working with AI to write assignments as the site of teaching and learning

    Project Team: Edward Wigley Sonja RewhornZoe Doye

    Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) has made headlines across the world that proclaim an existential threat to humanity, with ChatGPT being heralded as the beginning of a new era in technology.  This scholarship project explores how this disruption could potentially lead to enhanced teaching

    Transition to Postgraduate Study: the MA in Music

    Project Team: 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.