The Ensemble Project is funded under the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) phase of the ESRC Teaching and Learning Research Programme. The TEL phase is jointly funded by the ESRC and EPSRC.
The programme has funded seven development projects (two of which are described here) and eight larger projects including Ensemble. The programme seeks to:
- encourage communication and collaboration between the projects and between TEL partners and co-workers throughout the UK.
- identify common themes that address current issues in Technology Enhanced Learning as they evolve from the projects and elsewhere: key themes include flexibility, inclusion, personalisation and productivity.
- maximise impact for project findings and take-up of technology as it is developed.
- foster an interdisciplinary focus that takes forward research in both the social and computing sciences.
- provide support and resources for newer career researchers and develop a community of researchers in the TEL field.
Ensemble within the TEL Programme
Members of the Ensemble project are involved in a range of TEL programme activities:
- The project has contributed to a range of research briefings and consultations undertaken by the programme
- Dr. Fran Tracy is a member of the TEL Programme panel on ethical issues in TEL research
- Prof. Patrick Carmichael coordinates early career researcher activities across the programme and directed the associated ESRC project “A Social and Professional Network for Early Career Researchers in Education”
- Patrick Carmichael, Michael Tscholl and Fran Tracy contributed a paper to the TEL programme symposium at the AERA conference held in Denver in 2010.
The Programme assigns a ‘critical friend’ to each project; Professor Keri Facer of Manchester Metropolitan University is critical friend to the Ensemble Project.
