Dr Christine Corcoran

Biography

Professional biography

I joined the OU as a Staff Tutor in 2019 after tutoring in different Faculties at the OU including FBL, FASS and STEM.  As a Staff Tutor I have supported ALs as they have taught a number of courses that I manage including levels one, three and post-graduate courses.  In 2024 I became the Academic Lead for Student Support having been being Deputy since 2020. 

Before joining the OU full-time I was a Lecturer at Coventry University where I introduced strategies to support ethical research practice across the University.  At the University of Birmingham as Chair of the Ethics Committee in the School of Education I introduced ethics protocols for staff and students to follow and delivered ethical research training across the School.   I was also Deputy Head of PGR studies and Head of Student Development and Support. I carried out extensive research at Birmingham on social and cultural challenges experienced by people with a visual impairment. 

Before joining University of Birmingham I was a lecturer at the University of Worcester focussed on rural geography and geographies of disability. 

I have a BSc in Geographical Science and a PhD in Human Geography; I also have a PGCert in on-line and Distance Education and a PGCert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education.  I am a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Member of the Royal Geographical Society. 

Research interests

Geography, Mental Health, Disability and Student Support

My research at the OU is focussed on what support is needed by those students with a disability or a mental health concern and how we can embed strategies to support their learning journey.  Specifically, this research has investigated what barriers and enablers are experienced by disabled students in the School of Engineering and Innovation.  This research has prompted a pan-university project that takes a similar approach but is focussed on students with mental health concerns. 

Teaching interests

Environment and Society, Ethics, study skills and pedagogy

I am module Chair for T891, Making Environmental Decisions Many decisions and actions and am on the production team for T330 Environmental Management 2.  My main teaching interests are in supporting students as they go through different levels of study and with that aim, I have introduced a separate suite of study skills support sessions for T891.  My interest in pedagogy is focussed constructivist approaches to learning so that students actively construct their own understanding through experiences and interactions.  I have taught research methods to UG and PGR students with a particular focus on methodological approaches to research.