Studentship Vacancies

Full-time, 3-year Postgraduate Research Studentship, Ref: 6988
Knowledge Media Institute (KMi)
Based in Milton Keynes

The Open University's Knowledge Media Institute (KMi) is home to internationally recognised researchers in semantic technologies, educational multimedia, collaboration technologies, artificial intelligence, cognitive science, and human-computer interaction. KMi offers students an intellectually challenging environment with exceptional research and computer facilities.

We are currently offering one fully-funded studentship commencing October 2013. Applications are invited from UK, EU and international students for full-time, 3-year study on one of the following PhD projects:

• Technology Enhanced Learning (e.g. Self-regulated learning)
• Web Science
• Knowledge Discovery in Web Data
• Semantics of Privacy
• Learning Analytics for Reflective Blogging During Authentic Enquiry
• Human Centred Computing for Civic Engagement: Structuring Online Dialogues for Large-Scale Deliberation
• Mining Services on the Web
• Telling life stories from social media content
• Mobile and network technologies for outdoor learning

Funding consists of stipend £40,770 (£13,590/year) plus fee bursary. We strongly recommend that you contact the lead researcher directly to discuss your interest prior to writing your proposal.

All applicants must have a first or upper second class degree from a UK university or the overseas equivalent and ideally a relevant Masters degree. Unless from a majority English-speaking country, non-EEA applicants will require an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 6 in each element of Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. IELTS Certificates are valid for a period of 2-years. All applications are assessed as to their quality, the fit with The Open University research priorities and the availability of supervisors in the relevant field.

Deadline: 26 June 2013

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Technology Enhanced Learning: (i.e. Self-regulated learning)

Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) is a term that describes an individual's ability to learn how to learn. In other words, each of us can develop a wide-ranging skill set that enables us to learn in a number of different ways. In some university settings the term SRL is more commonly described as "independent learning" or "auto-didactic learning". This project is about supporting SRL through learning tools and services, such as recommenders of learning resources. These tools and services will enable learners to define their learning goals, build their online Personal Learning Environment (PLE) and use it actively in order to reach their learning goals and monitor their own progress.

Contact:

Alexander Mikroyannidis
Research Associate

Tel. +44 (0)1908 652073

and / or

Peter Scott
KMi Director

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655763.

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Web Science

Web Science is a novel multidisciplinary research field that studies the Web as a vast information network and social machine. KMi hosts some of the key researchers in this new Web Science field and community. Our work in Web Science span across various topics, such as social networks, online-offline social interactions, online human behaviour, and dynamics of online communities.

Contact:

Harith Alani
Senior Lecturer

Tel. +44 (0)1908 659399

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Knowledge Discovery in Web Data

Large amounts of information are available on the Web, as Open Data, Linked Data or through dedicated APIs. The ability to process these data taking into account their multiple provenances, different levels of granularity, different modelling approaches and general heterogeneity becomes important if we want to gain insight, make sense and ultimately produce new knowledge out of them.

Contact:

Mathieu d'Aquin
Research Fellow

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655526

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Semantics of Privacy

Privacy is becoming more and more difficult to manage for users of online systems: different platforms have complex policies and interconnect to form a vast network where personal information is being propagated. Intelligent information processing and automated reasoning techniques become necessary to help the user in making sense of these mechanisms and understand the way information about themselves is being exposed through this network.

Contact:

Mathieu d'Aquin
Research Fellow

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655526

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Learning Analytics for Reflective Blogging During Authentic Enquiry

This PhD project builds on validated pedagogical models for learner-driven enquiry, scaffolded by blogging software and associated learning analytics, to create a reflective, social, learning journal. The research will start by analysing the data already gathered from prior research in schools, design new contexts for studying this phenomenon, and refine the analytics. Experience in qualitative and quantitative data analysis required, programming not required but an advantage.

Details: http://learningemergence.net/tools/enquiryblogger

Contact:

Simon Buckingham Shum
Professor of Learning Informatics

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655723

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Human Centred Computing for Civic Engagement: Structuring Online Dialogues for Large-Scale Deliberation

While computing plays a critical role in generating information about the state of our planet, what contributions can it make to improve the very human processes (cognitive, social, political, cultural) of deciding what the information ocean means, and what to do about it? This PhD will fund a candidate to design, implement and test an integrated deliberation and argumentation system for large-scale civic engagement.

For a wider description of the topic please visit: HCC4CivicEngagement.pdf

Contact:

Simon Buckingham Shum
Professor of Learning Informatics

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655723

and / or

Anna De Liddo
Research Associate

Tel. +44 (0)1908 653591.

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Mining Services on the Web

This project is inherently interdisciplinary and will contribute to our established research in one or more areas, including Web Services, Semantic Web, Internet of Things, Web Systems Engineering, Data Mining, and Data Integration technologies.

Contact:

Carlos Pedrinaci
Research Fellow

Tel. +44 (0)1908 654773.

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Telling life stories from social media content

Social networking tools provide a rich and unique view into a person's online activity, interests and unfolding life events. In this work we aim to investigate the different types of stories that can be constructed from a person' online presence and how a social media storytelling tool could be used socially or for personal reflection. Constructed stories might provide new perspectives on a person's changing interests and relationship to others. This research will build on previous work looking at either the analysis of online activity and or how narrative ideas can be used to organise and present materials for educational or entertainment purposes.

Contact:

Harith Alani
Senior Lecturer

Tel. +44 (0)1908 659399

and / or

Paul Mulholland
Research Fellow

Tel. +44 (0)1908 654506.

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Mobile and network technologies for outdoor learning

As evidenced in a recent report from the English Outdoor Council: "Outdoor and residential education is a recognised and powerful learning and developmental experience" (EOC 2013). The widespread availability of mobile devices, such as tablets and smart phones, has provided convenient technologies for outdoor learning. However, using technology effectively to enhance learning activities is a challenging task that requires the consideration of both the social and technological factors affecting the learning process. This studentship will explore these factors in one or more outdoor learning contexts.

Depending on their experience and interests, the appointed student would be encouraged to adopt an interdisciplinary approach and, where appropriate, build on prior work in this area (such as the ERA, Personal Inquiry or FNS projects). Highly motivated applicants with relevant experience in educational technology, outdoor learning or mobile learning, are encouraged to contact Trevor Collins (KMi) prior to submitting an application, in order to discuss their interests and develop a studentship project proposal.

(EOC 2013) "Meeting the Challenge: Outdoor and Residential Learning Experiences - learning opportunities for all. A summary of the evidence – the case made". Report from the English Outdoor Council, May 2013.

Contact:

Trevor Collins
Research Fellow

Tel. +44 (0)1908 655731.