Positive Digital Practices
With this project, funded by the Office for Students, we aim to embed and sustain positive practices that support mental wellbeing for part-time, commuter and distance learning students.
We do this working together with other Institutions and sector bodies by building positive learner identities, positive digital communities, and positive pedagogies.
Our project partners are the Open University, Bradford University, JiscLink opens in a new window, UMHAN Link opens in a new windowand Student Minds.
The project's PI for the University of Warwick is Prof Elena Riva (IATL).
In 2018-19, over 500,000 students studied part-time; over 600,000 students were classified as commuters and over 370,000 studied at a distance. It is recognised that these students are ‘harder to hear’, that different levels of engagement with a campus environment can impact sense of belonging, wellbeing and academic outcomes, and that part time, distance and commuter students can experience barriers to accessing support. These groups can also be more likely to experience issues with mental wellbeing; in the OU 16,844 students (10%) disclose a mental health issue and have experienced persistent gaps in degree outcomes.
Positive Digital Practices Project
To support mental wellbeing for distance, commuter and part-time students, project partners have co-create resources and initiatives to scale up positive practices in three areas:
- Positive learner identities, including emotional awareness, encouraging help seeking behaviour, recognising achievements and valuing learning opportunities
- Positive digital communities, that support students’ sense of belonging and purpose, provide informal peer support and facilitate meaningful connections that do not rely on a campus environment
- Positive pedagogies, that support learners to take part in and demonstrate technology-enhanced learning in a way that is inclusive and supports mental wellbeing.
You can learn more about the project by watching this video or you can explore the Positive Digital Practices websiteLink opens in a new window.
Positive Pedagogy Outputs
Warwick have led on the positive pedagogies strand of the project, focussing on Inclusive Practices, Digital Literacy and Assessment. We have worked, through numerous listening and co-creation workshops, with Centre for Lifelong Learning Students to develop resources to support the wellbeing of part-time, mature or commuter students. We are pleased to share these resources below. The resources created across the project partnership can be found in the project resource hub and are available for all to use.
We invite you to take a look and use these resources. Tell us what you think, through the evaluation and feedback links within the resources, and get in touch with Prof Elena Riva at e.riva@warwick.ac.uk if you have any questions or further comments.
Inclusive Practices Outputs
Warwick's Wellbeing Pedagogy LibraryLink opens in a new window is packed with wellbeing pedagogy to support practitioners to deliver teaching in a way that supports a student's wellbeing. Through the project this has been developed and expanded upon to include pedagogy specific to the wellbeing of part-time, commuter and mature students. Many of its resources have also been embedded into Warwick's assessment output. In addition to this, Warwick is packing the Understanding Wellbeing ModuleLink opens in a new window into a 'takeaway' digital package so that it can be hosted by other universities. The module is intended for students to take in their own time and provides them with a better understanding of wellbeing. Find out more in this video from one of the student co-creators.
*The module is recognised for the Warwick Award*
Digital Literacy Output
We have created a resource, aimed at students, to support with digital literacy. The resource takes you on a student journey and offers advice, top tips and encouragement from fellow students. The quotes and videos, created by peers, aim to support the wellbeing of part-time, commuter and mature students. Take a look at our co-created Digital Literacy and Wellbeing websiteLink opens in a new window and let us know what you think using the feedback linkLink opens in a new window,Link opens in a new window which can also be found at the bottom of the resource.
Assessment Output
Effective assessments are an important part of the learning experience and can enable students to develop, evidence learning and skills and build confidence. However, without careful and inclusive design, elements of assessments can have a negative impact on a students’ wellbeing. Our students have helped us to develop Assessment guidanceLink opens in a new window for mature, part-time, commuter and distance learning students. The guidance is aimed at practitioners and we would love to hear what you thinkLink opens in a new window.
Teaching part-time, commuter or mature students?
Get in touch to discuss how the project can help you support your students. We are happy to talk through the resources or run mini workshops for you and your colleagues.
Getting involved
We have moved on to the evaluation stage of the project and are looking to get feedback from students and practitioners who have used the resources.
Feedback links can be found embedded in resources and only take a minute to complete.
To get in touch with the project team you can contact:
Dr Elena Riva (IATL) at