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  Linda Corlett MEd, FHEA

   Social Psychologist and Lecturer 

    

 Hi, this is my little corner of the internet to share with my University students some of what I do in my work.  It also helps me keep track of it ! 


Professional biography 


I joined The Open University Psychology Department in 1991, having previously lectured social psychology at University of Southampton, holding a research post in mental health at the University of Birmingham as well as a Lectureship in Art in Bulawayo (formerly Rhodesia).


 As an ‘activist-academic I believe that social psychological research should be actively applied to help resolve social problems such as injustice, conflict and climate change. I could be described as ‘biophilic’, having  a passionate love of all that is alive. I have dedicated most of my working life to  supporting University students who suffer from stress during their studies, helping them to optimise their academic performance whilst maintaining a sense of calm and well-being. 


I’ve supported over 30 000 students from across the world and many students from Europe and the USA have travelled to attend my residential weekends at Peterhouse, Cambridge in the UK. I’ve mentored many new tutors and Ph.D students. The Open University acknowledged my work with the Social Science Award for ‘Outstanding Teaching and Innovative Student Support’. 


Qualifications


Post graduate: Doctorate in Education (Part A); Masters in Education; Postgraduate Advanced Diploma in Child Development; HH851 Teaching in Higher Education; Online Course Design (University of Oxford); Accessible Academic Writing (University of Cambridge); Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

Undergraduate: Bachelor of Arts (Psychology); Bachelor of Science (Psychology, First Class Honours); 

 Diploma Analytical Hypnotherapy; Higher Diploma Fine Art.


Teaching, examining and course production


I presently teach DD210 Living Psychology: From the Everyday to the Extraordinary, DE300 Investigating Psychology 3 and DD317 Advancing Social psychology.


As a member of various course teams, my roles have included writing course materials, study guides, TMA questions and associated notes for students and tutors. I work on radio and TV documentaries with the BBC, collate tutor feedback and propose annual improvements to modules. I also design and co-ordinate day schools, mentor new tutors, collate student feedback and present seminars at staff development events.


As a member of various Examination and Award Boards I am involved in all stages of the exam process. This includes writing exam questions and marking guidelines, monitoring script markers, applying quality control measures to examination scores and setting standards for result statuses. 


I have been most closely involved with the development, teaching and assessment of D307, D317 Social Psychology and DD307 Critical Perspectives on Self and Others, also DSE202, DSE212 Exploring Psychology and the project modules, DRX222 and DZX222. I was an author and critical reader on Y183 Starting With Psychology, a critical reader for ED209 Child Development and examiner for E362 Cognitive Development from Birth to Adolescence. I examined the Master’s module ED840 Child Development in Families, Schools and Society and wrote, taught and examined PY626 Social Psychology at Southampton University.


Academic consultancies & research


My on-going reflexive action research for the past three decades has focused on incorporating research findings from psychology to support mature students during times of pressure. I designed an online pilot study ‘Exam Stress Busters’ with 100 volunteer students recruited with Dr. Anna Kilmartin at Foxcombe Hall, Oxford. The findings were promising and were subsequently shared in staff development events as well as incorporated in student support materials. 


In collaboration with Professor / Sir John Oates on the ESRC funded project “Cognitive and Social Aspects of Infants’ Behaviour in Person Perspectives Tasks”, our interest was exploring postnatal depression, maternal states of mind and intersubjectivity. Our diagnostic materials have since been developed and used by health practitioners in UK hospitals.


In association with The Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, my research explored the experience of associate lecturers, subsequently proposing how the Open University could move towards towards a more integrated psychology community using websites & interactive forums. These are now in place across the University. 


As a Consultant psychologist and program designer for the BBC Big Challenge Health Campaign, in collaboration with the former Head of Psychology Department, Dr. Richard Stevens and Dr Jane Henry, I co-designed and implemented the training in positive psychology techniques for 50 participants in the documentary series ‘Making Slough Happy’. Our findings and techniques were subsequently publicised by the media across the UK and taken up by various governments in the UK and abroad.


Director of The Milton Keynes Family Learning Project, funded by the Department of Education and Learning Skills Agency, I designed and implemented learning projects around Milton Keynes in collaboration with several schools and local welfare communities. These included bringing parents and children together in creative learning environments; the rehabilitation of young offenders in an animal sanctuary and the use of art therapy to help refugees from Somali. 


In association with Thames Valley Police and five other psychologists we co-piloted The Milton Keynes Youth Crime Reduction Project funded by the Home Office. Our project piloted restorative justice principles used in the USA at the time. As a result of our findings The Restorative Justice Council is now a national UK organisation with its principles now part of the Government’s policy on crime.


As a Visualiser for DS286, Biology Brain and Behaviour, The Enhanced Access Project, Media Knowledge Institute, I contributed to making course materials accessible to university students who are blind or visually impaired.


The Adult Stress Project, Department of Clinical Psychology, Birmingham University was a large collaborative project exploring the role of stress and depression in the immune system of teachers. 


When, I’m not working, I can usually be found walking in beautiful natural places!