Research Team:​ Dr Erinma Ochu, Zoe Parker Moon & Lisa Gold (iSchool) & Polly Palmerini (SODA)

The COVID19 pandemic disrupted higher education in terms of delivering face-to-face teaching and learning. Universities, including MMU, switched to flexible and online learning to allow teaching to continue during the pandemic.

Storytelling is key to building community, particularly during a crisis. What lessons can be learned from staff and students who used digital storytelling to build community during the pandemic? How might we respond to future disruptions?

The Challenge

The COVID19 pandemic disrupted higher education in terms of delivering face-to-face teaching and learning. Universities, including MMU, switched to flexible and online learning to allow teaching to continue during the pandemic. Storytelling is key to building community, particularly during a crisis. What lessons can be learned from staff and students using digital storytelling and creativity to build community during the pandemic? How might we respond to future disruptions?

The opportunity

This internship focuses on drawing out lessons learned from the stories, creativity and digital storytelling tools used to support flexible delivery and safely build community during the pandemic. What insights can be drawn from an assets-based approach that considered differing student and teaching perspectives, to make the most of the tools and expertise at a learning community’s disposal. How can we ensure the best outcome for all students?

Students will:

• Work with the teaching team, undertaking this research
• Undertake desk research to review relevant literature
• Undertake content analysis of digital stories produced by
• Participation in a research panel to share findings at a conference

Outputs may include:

• A literature review
• An online repository of annotated key references, using referencing tool, zotero
• A roundtable and reflections with staff and students, offering their unique perspectives
• A presentation summarising the insights, key lessons and future recommendations

The student will be supported to work online, use digital tools, to document and share progress with the research team as they progress.

This internships is covered by a small bursary to cover the student’s time and online conference attendance of an Advance Higher Education conference panel on the 5th July 2022.

Interns will be required to complete the following self-study packs:

• Key Research Skills
• Digital Research Methods
• Alternative Perspectives on Education