Mrs Melissa Green

Professional biography

I am a Lecturer in Education Studies (Primary) at the Open University, Faculty of Wellbeing, Education, Language and Sport (WELS), and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. My academic background spans psychology (BSc), an MEd in Equality and Diversity, and an MA in Creative Writing, all from the Open University. Since 2020, I have been pursuing an EdD, researching the personal and professional identities of Open University Associate Lecturers in online teaching, with submission expected in 2025. My work informs the professional development of higher education practitioners, embedding inclusive, relational, and anti-racist pedagogies to support marginalised students. I am an active member of the Black and Minority Ethnic Staff Network.

I joined the Open University in 2017 as an Associate Lecturer, teaching E103 Learning and Teaching in the Primary Years, E104 Introduction to Childhood Studies and Child Psychology, and E209 Developing Subject Knowledge in Primary Years. Over six years, I provided individual and group tuition, designed online and offline learning activities, delivered personalised feedback, and offered pastoral support. In 2023, I transitioned to a central academic role, co-chairing E209 and leading its assessment redesign while supporting tutors through professional development initiatives. I also lead the Audio/Visual development of E103 and contribute to module production, writing study topics for E102 and E103.

My career in education began in 1999, spanning roles in early years, youth work, and primary education, including mainstream and specialist settings. As a primary teacher, I progressed to middle leadership as ICT Coordinator, PSHE Coordinator, and Behaviour Lead. Later, as a Behaviour Specialist and Intervention Teacher, I supported children excluded from mainstream settings, working in a Pupil Referral Unit and a psychiatric unit. These roles involved multi-agency collaboration across education, health, and social care to support vulnerable children.

From 2015 to 2023, I worked as an educational writer and editor, developing learning materials for Study.com, Shmoop.com, and Lyfta. My writing translates complex concepts for children and young people, and I have published articles on race, motherhood, and education for outlets including Black Ballad, Huffington Post and OpenLearn. 

Research interests

• Educational inequities
• Educator identities
• Intersectionality and professional identity in education
• Anti-racist pedagogy
• Humanising and relational pedagogies
• Widening participation through innovative pedagogies and technologies
• Teaching interests

As a Lecturer in Education Studies (Primary), I focus on module leadership, content development, and embedding inclusive and anti-racist pedagogies. My role includes:

• Chairing E209 and leading assessment reforms to improve student success.
• Leading Audio/Visual content development for E103, ensuring inclusive representation.
• Producing professional development resources for tutors, supporting inclusive and humanising pedagogies.
• Authoring OpenLearn materials, including articles and a forthcoming course Understanding Race and Racism in Young People’s Lives.
• Conducting scholarship on student engagement and assessment through projects on social media in learning, digital pedagogy, and anti-racist assessment practices.

Impact and engagement

My expertise in digital and inclusive pedagogies has shaped professional development across the OU.

Key contributions include:

• Designing AL training sessions on online engagement, forums, and inclusive assessment.
• Delivering faculty-wide workshops on anti-racist pedagogy and assessment practices.
• Leading the PRAXIS-funded Discord project, demonstrating the role of social media in fostering student belonging.
• Contributing a chapter on humanising online learning to Working with Tutor Group Forums: A Guide for Open University Tutors.
• Presenting my research at Black History Month, WELS EDI Festival, and APS Scholarship events, shaping institutional discussions on equity.

My research in anti-racist assessment has directly influenced curriculum design, including:

• Co-authoring E209’s assessment framework, eliminating awarding gaps for Black students.
• Leading the ARIA Hub, embedding racially inclusive assessment principles across the faculty.
• Publishing an annotated bibliography of anti-racist assessment literature, informing module revisions.

My work on race, sociolinguistics, and neurodiversity has reached broad audiences through OpenLearn, including articles on language, neurodiversity, and racial socialisation in childhood.

External collaborations

Peer reviewer - Open Learning: The Journal of Open and Distance Learning

Member of Stakeholder Advisory Group - University College London & Birkbeck University 'Identifying mental health needs & pathways to care SAG'