I am a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the Open University UK, with expertise in the evidence-based design and evaluation of technologies for learning (online platforms, mobile applications, digital games) using mixed-methods research approaches (learning analytics, RCTs, interviews, surveys). I hold funding from the National Science Foundation, Wellcome, and ESRC to improve the design of online citizen science platforms and make science learning more accessible and productive to young people (LEARN Cit Sci). I am also the academic lead of nQuire (nquire.org.uk) - a citizen science platform developed in partnership with the BBC, which supports the engagement of the public with scientific practices, and the PI of the UKRI funded project EduCS: EDUcating Citizens and organisations in Citizen Science methodologies, that aims to develop citizen science capacity in organisations not normally involved in citizen science. I am a co-I on a Nuffield funded project aiming to understand the value of maths apps to learning (Nov20-Jan22). I hold funding from eSTEeM, OU (co-I) to improve the accuracy of predictive analytics of at risk students, as measured by OU Analyse.
I am a fellow of the British Academy as I received a mid-career fellowship that produced evidence-based guidelines for the design of mobile applications for young children (m_Evaluate). Outcomes from mEvaluate resulted in my authoring and designing of an Open Learn course that aims to raise awareness about how parents and teachers should use digital technologies with children.
Teaching-related activities: I coordinate the evaluation of the Early Alert Indicators project, a university-wide initiative for assessing predictive learning analytics interventions and their impact on students' performance and attainment. I am also leading the evaluation of a new assessment tool that will enable more effective marking practices by teachers across the university. In the past, I led an eSTEeM funded project about how to improve the design of OU courses around virtual microscopy, examining both the teachers' and the students' perspectives.I was chairing the master course: Technology-enhanced learning: Practices and debates (H800) for three years.
PhD/EdD supervision: I am currently supervising 2 PhD students and 3 EdD students.
Qualifications: I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and an Honorary Associate of UCL. I received my Ph.D. degree in Digital Games and Psychology from University College London (UCL) Institute of Education with very minor amendments (4 weeks), a MSc in Education, Technology, and Society, University of Bristol, UK (with Distinction) and a BA (Hons) in Primary Education, University of Cyprus.
Biography
Dr Christothea Herodotou is a Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor) at the Open University, UK. She has extensive expertise in the evidence-based design and evaluation of technologies for learning (online platforms, mobile applications, digital games) through innovative research methodologies including learning analytics. She holds funding from the National Science Foundation,Wellcome Trust, and ESRC to improve the design of online citizen science platforms and make science learning more accessible and productive to young people. She is the academic lead of nQuire - a citizen science platform developed in partnership with the BBC that aims to engage the public in all the stages of scientific research. She is the PI of the UKRI funded project EduCs that aims to develop citizen science capacity in large organisations. Also, she holds funding from eSTEeM (co-I) to improve the accuracy of predictive learning analytics of at risk students, as measured by OU Analyse. She coordinated the evaluation of the Early Alert Indicators project, a university-wide initiative that assessed predictive learning analytics interventions and their impact on students' performance and attainment; the project has received multiple awards for research impact and excellence in teaching. She is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA) and an Honorary Associate of UCL. She received her Ph.D. degree in Digital Games and Psychology from the University College London (UCL) and her MSc in Education, Technology, and Society from the University of Bristol (with Distinction).
An exciting national experiment reopens today, aiming to shed light on how listening to nature could impact wellbeing
Open University homepage | 8th April 2020
Japan preschools using tablets to prep tots for digital age
Some studies show positive outcomes among young children using mobile devices to improve their literacy, science or math skills, but there’s little research comparing tablet-assisted learning to more conventional teaching approaches, according to a review of 19 studies by Christothea Herodotou, a lecturer at The Open University in the United Kingdom. Herodotou said it’s unclear which features might help or hinder learning.
Associated Press | 26th September 2018
Most downloaded article in recent BJET history
Congratulations! Your article was one of our top downloaded articles in recent publication history!
Wiley, BJET | 24th May 2018
nQuire shortlisted for the Guardian University Awards
nQuire has been shortlisted in the Research impact category.
OU Life | 19th March 2020
OU platform hosts investigation into fake facts about COVID-19
An investigation which tests how likely people are to believe COVID-19 related news stories, has been launched on the OU’s nQuire platform
Open unievrsity homepage | 5th May 2020
Awards
BERA BJET Fellowship
British Educational Research Association
British Academy Mid-career fellowship
British Academy
Digital Innovation of the year 2019 (shortlisted)
By The Times Higher Education (THE) for OU Analyse
Recognition for excellence in teaching 2020
Awarded by the Open University for engaging teachers with predictive learning analytics
Research Award for Outstanding impact on teaching, learning and curriculum
Awarded by the Open University for using predictive learning analytics to support learning
Research Impact Guardian Award (pending)
for engaging citizens with science via nQuire
The Open University Inaugural Engaging Research Award
RCUK Public Engagement with Research Catalyst ‘An open research university’