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Dr Helen Donelan
Profile summary
- Central Academic Staff
- Senior Lecturer
- Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
- School of Computing & Communications
- helen.donelan
Web links
Professional biography
Helen is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Computing and Communications, in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Faculty at the Open University.
She studied Communications Engineering and Electronics at Liverpool University and then worked in the telecoms industry as a Design Engineer designing structured cabling systems. She completed her PhD at Leeds University in the area of mobile communications which was funded by a departmental scholarship and start-up company sponsorship. On completion of her PhD she worked at Leeds Metropolitan University, initially as a Researcher, and then as a Lecturer where she developed courses and taught in various areas including mobile communications and networking.
She joined the Open University in 2006 initially as a Research Fellow, working on a project concerned with women in STEM careers, before becoming a Lecturer in 2008.
She is also a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).
Research interests
Helen's current research interests include:
- Technologies and approaches for online group work
- Women in STEM
- Technologies in learning and teaching
She is a member of TERG (Technology and Education Research Group) and is currently supervising 2 postgraduate students.
Teaching interests
Helen currently works on undergraduate modules in the area of communications technologies (TM255, TM355).
She is also the Qualification Lead for BSc Computing with Electronic Engineering and is a member of the Computing and Communications Board of Studies.
Impact and engagement
Helen is an Associate Editor for the International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology.
She also regularly reviews for a number of other journals.
Research groups
| Name | Type | Parent Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Technology and Education Research Group (TERG) | Group | Faculty of Mathematics, Computing and Technology |
| Technology and Learning Research Group (TLRG) | Group | Institute of Educational Technology |
Publications
Journal articles
Online group projects in higher education: persistent challenges and implications for practice (2024-08)
Donelan, Helen and Kear, Karen
Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 36 (pp. 435-468)
Web Conferencing: The Technical and Social Challenges (2024)
Sampene Buadu, Yaw; Kear, Karen and Donelan, Helen
Proceedings of the International Conference on Networked Learning, 14(1)
Students’ experiences of anxiety in an assessed, online, collaborative project (2020-01)
Hilliard, Jake; Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen and Heaney, Caroline
Computers and Education, 143, Article 103675
Career change or career progression? Motivations of women studying computing as adult learners (2019)
Donelan, Helen; Herman, Clem; Hughes, Janet; Jefferis, Helen and Thomas, Elaine
International Journal of Gender Science and Technology, 11(3) (pp. 466-489)
Virtualization for computer networking skills development in a distance learning environment (2018-07)
Donelan, Helen; Smith, Andrew and Wong, Patrick
Computer Applications in Engineering Education, 26(4) (pp. 872-883)
Creating and collaborating: students’ and tutors’ perceptions of an online group project (2018-04)
Donelan, Helen and Kear, Karen
International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 19(2) (pp. 38-54)
Social media for professional development and networking opportunities in academia (2016)
Donelan, Helen
Journal of Further and Higher Education, 40(5) (pp. 706-729)
Using wikis for online group projects: student and tutor perspectives (2014-09)
Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen and Williams, Judith
International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 15(4) (pp. 70-90)
Web conferencing for synchronous online tutorials: perspectives of tutors using a new medium (2012-04)
Kear, Karen; Chetwynd, Frances; Williams, Judith and Donelan, Helen
Computers & Education, 58(3) (pp. 953-963)
Patterns of online networking for women’s career development (2009)
Donelan, Helen; Herman, Clem; Kear, Karen and Kirkup, Gill
Gender in Management: An International Journal, 24(2) (pp. 92-111)
The analysis of user behaviour of a network management training tool using a neural network (2006)
Donelan, Helen; Pattinson, Colin and Palmer-Brown, Dominic
Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, 3(5) (pp. 66-72)
The analysis of network manager's behaviour using a self-organising neural network (2005-08)
Donelan, H.; Pattinson, C.; Palmer-Brown, D. and Lee, S.W.
International Journal on Simulation: Systems, Science and Technology, 6(9) (pp. 22-32)
Families of ternary sequences with aperiodic zero correlation zones for MC-DS-CDMA (2001-12-05)
Donelan, H and O'Farrell, T
IEE Electronics Letters, 38(25) (pp. 1660-1661)
Book chapters
Online participation: Shaping the networks of professional women (2009-07)
Donelan, Helen; Herman, Clem; Kear, Karen and Kirkup, Gill
In: Dumova, Tatyana and Fiordo, Richard eds. Handbook of Research on Social Interaction Technologies and Collaboration Software: Concepts and Trends (pp. 270-280)
ISBN : 978-1-60566-368-5 | Publisher : Information Science Reference | Published : UK
Edited books
Online communication and collaboration: A Reader (2010-01)
Donelan, Helen; Kear, Karen and Ramage, Magnus eds.
ISBN : 978-0-415-56478-6 | Publisher : Routledge | Published : Abingdon
Conference items
Using short questionnaires to support students' emotion awareness and regulation during an online group project (2023-10-27)
Hilliard, Jake; Donelan, Helen; Heaney, Caroline; Kear, Karen and Wong, Patrick
In : “Yes we can!” - Digital Education for Better Futures (EDEN 2023 Annual Conference) (18-20 Jun 2023, Dublin City University (DCU), Dublin, Ireland)
Active Participation in Synchronous Online Learning (2023-06)
Kear, Karen; Rosewell, Jonathan and Donelan, Helen
In : EDEN 2023 Annual Conference (18-20 Jun 2023, Dublin, Ireland)
Active participation in synchronous online tutorials (2022-10)
Kear, Karen; Rosewell, Jonathan and Donelan, Helen
In : Innovating Higher Education Conference 2022 (19-21 Oct 2022, Athens)
The role of active participation in online synchronous learning (2022)
Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen; Rosewell, Jonathan; Mooney, Allan; Cuffe, Paige; Sheehy, Kieron; Amor, Kevin; Elder, Tracey; Edwards, Carol; Okada, Alexandra and King, David
In : ALT Annual Conference 2022 (6-8 Sep 2022, Manchester)
The impact of emotions on student participation in an assessed, online, collaborative activity (2020-06)
Hilliard, Jake; Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen and Heaney, Caroline
In : EDEN 2020 Online Annual Conference (22-24 Jun 2020, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania) (pp. 143-152)
Understanding and mitigating students’ difficulties in undertaking complex practical activities on their computers (2020-04-29)
Wong, Patrick; Donelan, Helen and Hirst, Tony
In : 9th eSTEeM Annual Conference (29-30 Apr 2020, Milton Keynes, England)
Using real time student feedback as an emotion awareness and regulation tool in an assessed, online, collaborative project (2020)
Hilliard, Jake; Wong, Patrick; Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen and Heaney, Caroline
In : The 9th eSTEeM Annual Conference (29-30 Apr 2020, Milton Keynes, England)
Tutors’ understanding of students’ emotional experiences in assessed, online, collaborative activities (2020)
Hilliard, Jake; Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen and Heaney, Caroline
In : CALRG Annual Conference 2020 (15-17 Jun 2020, Milton Keynes, UK)
Exploring the emotions of distance learning students in an assessed, online, collaborative project (2019-06)
Hilliard, Jake; Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen and Heaney, Caroline
In : EDEN 2019 Annual Conference (16-19 Jun 2019, Bruges, Belgium) (pp. 260-268)
An Open Networking Lab for practical open education (2019)
Kear, Karen; Smith, Andrew; Donelan, Helen; Mikroyannidis, Alexander; Jones, Allan; Rosewell, Jonathan; Wermelinger, Michel; Connolly, Teresa; Sanders, Chris; Peasgood, Alice; Williams, Judith; Moss, Nicky and Third, Allan
In : OER19: Recentering Open (10-11 Apr 2019, National University of Ireland, Galway)
Emotion regulation strategies and goals of distance learning students in an assessed online collaborative project (2019)
Hilliard, Jake; Kear, Karen; Donelan, Helen and Heaney, Caroline
In : 28th ICDE World Conference on Online Learning (3-7 Nov 2019, Dublin, Ireland)
The Open Networking Lab: Hands-on Vocational Learning in Computer Networking (2018-10)
Mikroyannidis, Alexander; Kear, Karen; Smith, Andrew; Jones, Allan; Rosewell, Jonathan; Donelan, Helen; Wermelinger, Michel; Sanders, Chris; Third, Allan and Connolly, Teresa
In : IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE) (3-6 Oct 2018, San Jose, California, USA)
Open Networking Lab: online practical learning of computer networking (2018-10)
Rosewell, Jonathan; Kear, Karen; Jones, Allan; Smith, Andrew; Donelan, Helen; Mikroyannidis, Alexander; Peasgood, Alice; Sanders, Chris; Third, Allan; Wermelinger, Michel; Moss, Nicky; Williams, Judith and Connolly, Teresa
In : The Online, Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference: Blended and online Learning: Changing the Educational Landscape (10-12 Oct 2018, Aarhus University, Denmark)
The Open Networking Lab: an open online course for experiential learning of computer networking (2018)
Kear, Karen; Smith, Andrew; Mikroyannidis, Alex; Jones, Allan; Rosewell, Jon; Donelan, Helen; Wermelinger, Michel; Sanders, Chris; Third, Allan and Connolly, Teresa
In : Association for Learning Technology (ALT) annual conference 2018 (11-13 Sep 2018, Manchester)
Entering STEM in later life: examining the motivations of adult women studying computing (2018)
Herman, Clem; Donelan, Helen; Jefferis, Helen and Hughes, Janet
In : 4th Biennial Network Gender and STEM Conference: Reimagining Who Does STEM and Why (31 Jul - 2 Aug 2018, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA)
Assessing online collaborative work (2016-09-08)
Kear, Karen and Donelan, Helen
In : ALT-C Annual Conference 2016 (6-8 Sep 2016, University of Warwick, UK)
Evaluating assessment strategies for online group work (2016-06-30)
Donelan, Helen and Kear, Karen
In : Horizons in STEM Higher Education Conference: Making Connections and Sharing Pedagogy (30 Jun - 31 Jul 2016, Leicester, UK)
Online conversations around digital artefacts: the studio approach to learning in STEM subjects (2016-05)
Thomas, Elaine; Barroca, Leonor; Donelan, Helen; Kear, Karen; Jefferis, Helen and Rosewell, Jon
In : Networked Learning Conference 2016 (9-11 May 2016, Lancaster) (pp. 172-180)
Social media for increasing the networking and engagement opportunities of academics (2014-07-02)
Donelan, Helen
In : HEA Annual Conference 2014: Preparing for learning futures: the next ten years (2-3 Jul 2014, Aston University)
Learning and peer feedback in shared online spaces (2014)
Thomas, Elaine; Rosewell, Jon; Kear, Karen and Donelan, Helen
In : Ninth International Conference on Networked Learning 2014 (7-9 Apr 2014, Edinburgh, UK) (pp. 382-385)
The use of synchronous online tutorials to provide numeracy support for technology students (2009)
Chetwynd, Francis; Donelan, Helen; Heath, Hazel; Kear, Karen and Williams, Judith
In : CETL-MSOR Conference 2009 (7-8 Sep 2009, The Open University, Milton Keynes)
Women's experiences of online networking for career progression in science, engineering and technology (2007-03)
Donelan, Helen; Herman, Clem; Kear, Karen; Kirkup, Gill and Whitelegg, Liz
In : 3rd Christina Conference on Women's Studies (8-10 Mar 2007, Helsinki, Finland)
A schema for cryptographic keys generation using hybrid biometrics (2006)
Voderhobli, K; Pattinson, C and Donelan, Helen
In : 7th annual postgraduate symposium: The convergence of telecommunications, networking and broadcasting (26-27 Jun 2006, Liverpool, UK)
Large Families of Ternary Sequences with Aperiodic Zero Correlation Zone Sequences for a Multi-Carrier DS-CDMA System (2002-12-05)
Donelan, H. and O'Farrell, T.
In : 13th IEEE International Symposium on Personal, Indoor and Mobile Radio Communications (15-18 Sep 2002, Lisboa, Portugal) (pp. 1666-1661)
Zero correlation zone sequences for multi-carrier DS-CDMA systems (2002)
Donelan, H. and O'Farrell, T.
In : 3rd IEE International Conference on 3G Mobile Communication Technologies (8-10 May 2002, London, UK)
Other
Active participation in synchronous online learning (2022-05)
Kear, Karen; Peoples, Cathryn; Donelan, Helen and Rosewell, Jon
EADTU, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Using OpenStudio in STEM learning - final report to eSTEeM, the OU centre for STEM pedagogy (2018-12-20)
Thomas, Elaine; Barroca, Leonor; Donelan, Helen; Kear, Karen; Jefferis, Helen and Rosewell, Jonathan
eSTEeM - The OU centre for STEM pedagogy
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