About
I am a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Educational Technology in the Open University.
My research is integrative and spans three areas: 1. Professional learning for complex professional knowledge work; 2. Pedagogies and educational practices for connected learning across formal and informal settings and 3. Participatory approaches to research with educational technology. My current research activity contributes to understanding contemporary issues in education; in particular the role of digital, mobile and online technologies in creating a more inclusive education, especially for underserved and marginalized communities with a particular focus on education in crisis contexts. This was recognised through the OU Early Career Research Excellence Award in 2019.
I am currently leading a participatory project with teachers in refugee settings in Jordan that examines communicative approaches to English Language learning during Covid19 pandemic (2021-2022, funded by ASU/Mastercard Foundation and QR GCRF). I am the co-Investigator in an AHRC GCRF Network+ Mobile Arts for Peace (2020-2024) that investigates participatory arts-based methods to support peacebuilding processes in conflict and post-conflict societies. I am further working on two OU-funded Impact Accelerator Projects: (i) 'Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance through professional learning: Impact Insights from Nepal' (PI, 2021-2022) and (ii) 'Developing contextually-sensitive Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for out-of-school adolescents in refugee settings' (co-I, 2021-2022).
In the academic year 2022-2023, I am leading the monthly knowledge exchange events ‘Connected Higher Education in Crisis contexts’, in collaboration with UNHCR and the Connected Learning Consortium. I am also serving as a member of the working group of the University of Sanctuary at the OUthat aims to create pathways into studying at the OU for refugees and people seeking asylum.
I recently completed two major UK Aid projects: (i) Fleming Fund Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance Project (Academic Lead (Learning), 2018-2021) and (ii) ACCESS - Approaches in Complex and Challenging Environments for Sustainable Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (2019-2021). Recent research activities also include leading the Evaluation of the Frontline Immigration Advice Project (FIAP) (2018-2019) through funding received by the Refugee Action (2018-19).
My current teaching responsibilities include contribution to the programme portfolio within IET, in alignment with the OU’s Strategic plan, particularly ‘Excellent Teaching and Research’ and ‘Enhancing Growth and Sustainability’. I am working on the production of a micro-credential on Education and Climate Emergency that will be launched in October 2022. I joined the OU as a Lecturer in 2017 and since then I have had academic responsibility in two university-wide strategic projects: i. Project MINERVA that explored new ways in course production (March-July 2017); ii. Academic Evaluation of the Group Tuition Policy (March 2017 - January 2018). I have further led the analysis of the work practices developed by the Teaching Excellence & Innovation (TEI) workstream team as part of the Students First strategic objectives (August 2017 - February 2018). Additionally, I am acting as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Interactive Media in Education JIME.
I serve as the OU co-lead in the Connected Learning in Cricis Consortiumthat promotes, coordinates, and supports the provision of quality higher education in contexts of conflict, crisis and displacement through connected learning.
I am currently supervising two PhD students and two EdD students.
Biography
Koula Charitonos is a Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Educational Technology in the Open University. Her research is integrative and spans three areas: 1. Professional learning for complex professional knowledge work; 2. Pedagogies and educational practices for connected learning across formal and informal settings and 3. Participatory approaches to research with educational technology. Koula's current research activity contributes to understanding contemporary issues in education; in particular the role of digital, mobile and online technologies in creating a more inclusive education, especially for underserved and marginalized communities, with a particular focus on education in crisis contexts. This was recognised through the OU Early Career Research Excellence Award in 2019.
Koula is currently leading a participatory project with teachers in refugee settings in Jordan that examines communicative approaches to English Language learning during Covid19 pandemic (2021-2022, funded by ASU/Mastercard Foundation and QR GCRF). She is also the co-Investigator in an AHRC GCRF Network+ Mobile Arts for Peace (2020-2024) that aims to generate qualitative and quantitative data using arts-based peace building approaches, research-as-practice and participatory action research methodologies to critically analyze the use of the arts to meaningful engage youth in policy processes across diverse contexts (Kyrgyzstan, Rwanda, Indonesia and Nepal). Koula is further leading an Impact Accelerator Project 'Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance through professional learning: Impact Insights from Nepal' (OU funded, 2021-2022) and she is the co-investigator in a second Impact accelerator project 'Developing contextually-sensitive Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) for out-of-school adolescents in refugee settings' (OU funded, 2021-2022).
In the academic year 2022-2023, Koula is leading the monthly knowledge exchange events ‘Connected Higher Education in Crisis contexts’, in collaboration with UNHCR and the Connected Learning Consortium. She is also serving as a member of the working group of the University of Sanctuary at the OU that aims to create pathways into studying at the OU for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Dr Charitonos recently completed two major UK Aid projects: (i) Fleming Fund Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance Project (Academic Lead (Learning), 2018-2021) that examined how professional learning can strengthen surveillance of drug resistance and laboratory capacity. We have been working with Mott MacDonald and the UK Department of Health and Social Care, as well as colleagues in STEM Faculty and partners in specific LMICs to design a global curriculum on AMR and implement and test a series of learning events to support capacity building; and (ii) ACCESS - Approaches in Complex and Challenging Environments for Sustainable Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (2019-2021).The ACCESS consortium sought to engage communities before, during, and after crises to co-design, test, evaluate, and refine innovative solutions to their expressed needs and priorities. Partners included IPPF, Frontline AIDS, Women Refugee Commission, Internews and the LSHTM. Koula's recent research activities also included leading the Evaluation of the Frontline Immigration Advice Project (FIAP) (2018-2019) through funding received by the Refugee Action (2018-19).
Koula's current teaching responsibilities include contribution to the programme portfolio within IET, in alignment with the OU’s Strategic plan, particularly ‘Excellent Teaching and Research’ and ‘Enhancing Growth and Sustainability’. She is currently working on the production of a micro-credential on Education and Climate Emergency that will be launched in October 2022. Koula joined the OU as a Lecturer in 2017 and since then I have had academic responsibility in two university-wide strategic projects: i. Project MINERVA that explored new ways in course production (March-July 2017); ii. Academic Evaluation of the Group Tuition Policy (March 2017 - January 2018). I have further led the analysis of the work practices developed by the Teaching Excellence & Innovation (TEI) workstream team as part of the Students First strategic objectives (August 2017 - February 2018). Additionally, she is acting as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Interactive Media in Education JIME.
Koula serves as the OU co-lead in the Connected Learning in Crisis Consortium that promotes, coordinates, and supports the provision of quality higher education in contexts of conflict, crisis and displacement through connected learning.
She is currently supervising two PhD students and two EdD students.
Koula has also led the following research projects:
Close-Up on Heritage Language Learners: An inquiry learning project. Funded by: British Academy Schools Language Awards, November 2015 - July 2016. Role: Principal Investigator
Creative approaches to Heritage Language Learning through mobile technologies. (partly) Funded by: Santander Universities UK, February 2014 - July 2015. Role: Principal Investigator
Prior to joining the Open University, Koula held a post as a Research Associate at the Disruptive Media Learning Lab (DMLL) in Coventry University (November 2015-February 2017), where she worked extensively for a number of international and national projects related to learning in formal and informal settings. Specifically, she worked for the following projects:
Arts Gymnasium Project. Funded by: Esmee Fairbarn, in partnership with the Belgrade Theatre, Age UK Coventry (May 2016-on-going)
Immersive Telepresence in Theatre. Funded by: DMLL Innovation projects, Joint project with students and staff at Coventry University and University of Tampere (November 2016 - on-going)
Beaconing Breaking Educational Barriers with Contextualised, Pervasive and Gameful Learning project: Funded by: European Union Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme (December 2015 - September 2016)
ImparApp Pervasive Gaming for Language Learning. Funded by: DMLL Innovation Funds . In collaboration with the Coventry University’s Languages Centre (December 2015 - February 2017)
Open Badges. Funded by DMLL Innovation Projects. (November 2015 - February 2017)
Further to her academic posts, Koula has worked as a teacher in formal education settings for more than five years. She also has work experience as a Community co-ordinator in the Learning and National Partnerships Department at The British Museum (2012-2016). She was an Intern at Tate Britain (2007) and volunteered at the Science Museum London and the Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art Gallery.
Publications
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2012
2011
2010
Awards
Best Early Career Researcher
Open University Research Excellence Awards
British Academy Schools Language Awards.
Project: Close-Up on Heritage Language Learners: An inquiry learning project
Projects
Research programmes
Expertise
Research students
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Wendy Galvan Romero
Professional memberships
- Member of the British Educational Research Association