Professor Stephen Swithenby

National Teaching Fellow 2007 I have several roles: development of Open University courses; leadership of COLMSCT and its programme of pedagogic development and research, personal pedagogic research and neuroimaging research into both autism and the learning of mathematics. Early teaching achievements include the development of multimedia-rich undergraduate science courses and the first OU postgraduate science course. As Dean of Science, a post I occupied for six years, I introduced a short course programme that now attracts ~15,000 students each year. I led the Formative Assessment in Science Project and remain active in both developing practice and skills in assessment that promotes learning. Computer based assessment with targeted feedback is a particular concern and I launched, through COLMSCT, a new generation of interactive CMAs that offer rich learning opportunities. I have spoken about such work worldwide. Under my direction, the 65 COLMSCT teaching fellows are developing practice in assessment, learning communities, online mathematics and online experimentation. We seek to promote strategic change, for example in the use of virtual reality environments (e.g. Second Life) in higher education and in developing access for offender learners. I am increasingly active internationally in the policies and practice of quality assurance and enhancement and have spoken and led workshops recently in the USA, China and Nigeria. International collaborations are developing. Since 2007 I have led a fundamental review of student support in the OU. The recomendations, now accepted, seek to; target less experienced students, introduce personalised sytems and develop student autonomy. I am now leading the implementation institution-wide. Over the last three years I have sought to link my educational and neuroscience research and am studying the development of expertise in symbolic mathematics. The development of neurophysiological markers may allow us to improve the teaching of algebra.