Dr Mark Jones

Professional biography

I am currently the Associate Dean for Curriculum in the STEM Faculty and a member staff in the School of Physical Sciences. 

Research interests

As an astronmer, I am interested in circumstellar dust, both within the solar system and around other stars. Most of my astronomical research has been based on data obtained from space-based instruments and observatories (EXOSAT, Ginga, ROSAT, IRAS, Spitzer, STEREO and TESS). 

I also have a long-standing interest in the use of new technologies in teaching of STEM subjects. At present, I am particularly interested in the ways in which learning can be facilitated by synchronous communication systems. I am (or have been) involved in the following projects:

Developing practice in online synchronous tuition by peer observation, feedback and reflection. (eSTEeM - completed)

Perceptions, Expectations and Experience of Group Tuition: towards a shared understanding amongst stakeholders  (eSTEeM - completed)

Perceptions, Expectations and Experience of Group Tuition: towards a shared understanding amongst stakeholders (part II: the student perspective) (eSTEeM - completed)

Online Team Investigations in Science (OTIS) (eSTEeM)

Teaching interests

I have been involved in teaching of physics, astronomy and space science at undergraduate and postgraduate leveles. Notable teaching developments that I have been involved in are:

• Production team chair for S282 Astronomy, and joint editor of An Introduction to the Sun and Stars (eds. Simon F. Green and Mark H. Jones) and An Introduction to Galaxies and Cosmology (eds. Mark H. Jones, Robert J. Lambourne and Stephen Serjeant)

• Member of the S382 Astrophysics module team and responsible for developing an online group project for students. 

• Module team chair for the production of postgraduate module S818 Space science.

I have also contributed to the production of the following OU modules: S103, SXR103, S207 and SXP288. I was the presentation chair of the undergraduate project module SXP390 from 2007-2013, and I have tutored at numerous OU residential schools.