iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Simply one of the best courses available for flexible online study, as is the entire Masters in Online Teaching it forms part of. Mostly because of superb expert course writers, and fantastic tutors! www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

Just 3 weeks until the fab module I teach on starts again! PG Cert in Researching Digital Education, 60 credits, build during the module your oan PhD or Ed/D proposal or funded project application. I also run the online conference you'll present at! More here: www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Hive mind: if you are an educator, where do you get information about interesting courses, professional development materials etc? Social media? Mailing lists? Publications? Which ones? Pls include in your reply which country you work in and which sector (school, university, industry training etc)

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 04/05/2026

"Evaluating and improving courses" Open University micro-credential is open for registration. Study 7th Jun to 1st Sept, ideal timing for many working educators. 100% online, flexible pacing. 15 postgrad credits - can be counted towards Masters in Online Teaching. www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

Online teaching: evaluating and improving courses. The skills and knowledge you'll acquire through supported postgraduate study at The Open University can bring real-life benefits to you and your career. Develop the skills you need to evaluate the success of your online teaching and enhance your students' digital education experience. Flexible study. Fully online. 15 postgraduate credits. www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/modules/hzvm882

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Final call for registrations for the (free) Research and Scholarship in Digital Education conference featuring student presentations & keynotes from Professors Allison Littlejohn, Sukaina Walji and Tim Coughlan. 9:00 April 10th, 13:00 11th, 18:00 13th. Registration & programme: lnkd.in/eJU_SU5M

A cartoon featuring four penguins attending a video conference. Two are 'breaking the fourth wall' by passing a cake to one another despite supposedly being in disparate locations.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

The 2026 Research & Scholarship in Digital Education Online Student Conference is coming up on April 10-13 and you are warmly invited to attend (free) to support our student presenters and hear keynotes from Profs Sukaina Walji, Tim Coughlan and Allison Littlejohn. Register at tinyurl.com/yeffzwxv

A cartoon depicting four penguins in a video conference. Two are 'breaking' the image by passing a cake to one another despite being in separate participation windows and therefore in different locations.

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Kate Lister @katemarburg.bsky.social · 26/02/2026

UK HE folks, help please! I'm researching the HE sector crisis through a grief and meaning-making lens. I want to understand how universities can create cultures of support during times of crisis. Will you complete my 5-min survey? app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/cilt/makin...

app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk

Making meaning from meltdown

Online surveys is a powerful, easy to use tool for creating online surveys. Run by Jisc, online surveys is used by over 300 different organisations in the UK...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 05/02/2026

I just made a short promotional post for our 2 upcoming micro-credentials on accessible online learning and inclusive (social, race, gender) online learning, which both start again in March. It's the perfect time to study given we have such a global cohort already! www.open.ac.uk/blogs/MAOT/i...

A series of open doors, one behind the other into the distance.

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Institute of Educational Technology @ietatou.bsky.social · 14/01/2026

📢📢Registration deadline extended to 29th January📢📢 www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 05/01/2026

10 days to register for Technology-Enhanced Learning: Foundations and Futures! For educators wanting to develop their understanding of topics like Open Learning, Citizen Science, Inclusive Practice and of course incoming tech and future-proofing educational practice www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

An image of a person using a laptop with a coffee mug next to them.
Technology-enhanced learning: foundations and futures
Develop your skills, knowledge and practice in relation to digital learning, teaching and training in this hands-on postgraduate module for everyone with a professional interest in digital or technology-enhanced learning. You'll gain experience of a range of learning technologies and explore the processes of designing, implementing and critiquing e-learning, using a range of social media and tools to work both collaboratively and through individual study. You'll examine the use of technologies in different contexts and develop your skills in using evidence to recommend specific tools. Successful completion of this 60-credit module qualifies for a Postgraduate Certificate in Online Teaching (K43).
60 postgraduate credits, 33 weeks, 100% online, £3045 More details at:

https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/modules/h880/

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Not In Our Name (NION) Women @nionwomen.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

We are now at 75k signatures, with many messages of support on Instagram, Facebook and here. This is a genuine groundswell of love over hate, and a call to focus on the real harms faced by women and girls. Thank you all who’ve signed and shared. Let’s keep it going 💜 notinourname.org.uk

notinourname.org.uk

Home - Not in our name

Not In our Name: Women in support of the trans+community

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

New CPD courses produced by @ietatou.bsky.social on digital education and AI, eXtended Reality, blended learning and the climate crisis. www.open.ac.uk/blogs/MAOT/i... Please share if you think this would be of interest to your followers.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

Suggestions please. An excellent module that I teach on is suffering very low registration numbers this year for reasons unknown. It's a PG module on teaching with EdTech & Online, aimed at teachers, trainers, lecturers etc. With no budget but my time, how would you promote? 6 wks to reg deadline.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

Friend in Pakistan needs to leave without seeking asylum. High-achieving proactive academic and researcher in access to and accessibility of education incl for women, disabled people, mental health issues, and LGBTQ+. Would be ideal PhD candidate. Please share widely. We must find them a way out.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

Registration now open for OU online Masters module Technology Enhanced Learning: Foundations And Futures for Feb 26 start. 60 PG credits, entirely online. Also part of Masters in Online Teaching. Ideal for new and experienced educators from all sectors & countries. www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

Technology–enhanced learning: foundations and futures
The skills and knowledge you’ll acquire through supported postgraduate study at The Open University can bring real-life benefits to you
and your career.
Learn about the theory and practice
of online and blended learning
Flexible study.
Fully online.
60 postgraduate credits.
www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/modules/h880

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ALTUK.bsky.social @altuk.bsky.social · 27/08/2025

In a world that seems to be speeding up by the second, with notifications pinging, deadlines looming and AI tools promising instant answers, Helen Greetham has been thinking about ways of slowing down when it comes to digital learning and infrastructures in our latest #altc blog:

buff.ly

ALTC25 Guest Post: A Manifesto for Slow Digital Learning

In a world that seems to be speeding up by the second, with notifications pinging, deadlines looming and AI tools promising instant answers, I’ve been thinking lately about ways of taking thi…

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

Registration is now open for Open University postgrad module Research and Scholarship in Digital Education www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate... Aimed at those moving into postgrad study or thinking of or starting a PhD. Starts Oct 4th (until May 2026). Students can participate in April Online Conference.

A postcard advertising Open University module H890 Research and Scholarship in Digital Education. Aside from the module name the text reads: The skills and knowledge you'll acquire through supported postgraduate study at the Open University can bring real-life benefits to you and your career. There is further text beneath an image of two students working together, which reads Evaluate teaching innovation through cutting-edge research. www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/modules/H890 and buttons reading 'Flexible study', 'Fully online' and '60 postgraduate credits'. There is also a QR code going to the same place as the link mentioned above.

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Emily Hamilton @emilymcminn-ms.bsky.social · 25/06/2025

Sacre Bleu! According to the BBC absolutely nothing happened in Westminster hall today, hundreds of Trans people definitely did not undertake a mass lobby and MPs certainly didn't hear from their constituents about why the EHRC is a liability. Meanwhile in France... www.france24.com/en/live-news...

france24.com

Trans campaigners descend on UK parliament to protest 'bathroom ban'

Hundreds of transgender people and their supporters flocked to the UK parliament on Wednesday to urge lawmakers to oppose new guidelines that would deny them access to certain single-sex spaces.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 23/04/2025

You can now read a summary of the brilliant 2025 H890 Research And Scholarship In Digital Education Conference. Two insightful and thought-provoking keynotes (thank you @neilselwyn.bsky.social @shaileyminocha.bsky.social ) and 9 truly excellent student presentations! www.open.ac.uk/blogs/MAOT/i...

A cartoon divided into four squares, each featuring a penguin, as if they were all in an online video conference. One wears large headphones, one is looking directly at the camera, and two are passing a cake between each other, subverting the fact that they are all in separate locations. This image is used as the main image on the H890 conference homepage.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

We have been fortunate enough to be awarded some more Commonwealth Scholarship places for entry onto our Masters in Online Teaching next year. Please share this information far and wide, especially if you have contacts in the eligible Commonwealth countries. iet.open.ac.uk/commonwealth...

iet.open.ac.uk

Commonwealth Scholarships 2025 | Institute of Educational Technology, The Open UniversityInstitute of Educational Technology

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Institute of Educational Technology @ietatou.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

One day to our Research & Scholarship in #DigitalEducation conference. Join us on: Friday 11th April 2025, starting at 09:00 BST Saturday 12th April 2025, starting at 13:00 BST #studentconference

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Neil Selwyn @neilselwyn.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

🎧new interview! We all saw reports in 2021 that Denmark was 'banning' Google from schools ... but what actually happened next? I talk to Emilie Groth about the complexities of the Chromebook case & what it tells us about public sector dependency on Big Tech ... www.buzzsprout.com/1301377/epis...

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Institute of Educational Technology @ietatou.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

📢Confference prorgamme is confirmed!📢 All welcome 👇 2025 H890 Research & Scholarship in #DigitalEducation Online Student Conference Friday 11th April 2025, starting at 09:00 BST Saturday 12th April 2025, starting at 13:00 BST Registration forms.office.com/Pages/Respon...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Reminder to register for our FREE "Research & Scholarship in Digital Education Online Student Conference" to hear from our Masters in Online Teaching students and keynotes from Prof Neil Selwyn and Prof Shailey Minocha. Details and registration link here: www.open.ac.uk/blogs/H890Co...

A cartoon featuring penguins participating in an online video conference with their webcams in a 2x2 grid, but they are 'breaking the fourth wall' by handing a cake to one another despite being supposedly in different locations.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Registration is open for our FREE 2025 H890 Research & Scholarship in Digital Education Online Student Conference! Join to hear our Masters students present their work alongside keynotes from Prof Neil Selwyn (Monash Univ,Aus) and Prof Shailey Minocha (Open Univ,UK). www.open.ac.uk/blogs/H890Co...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

The 12wk micro-credential I co-wrote & teach on "Online teaching: accessibility and inclusive learning" restarts 10March. Learn and share with educators from around the world. Accessibility, Usability, UDL, AssistiveTech, Roles & Responsibilities. @ietatou.bsky.social www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

My sister Helen Ball, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Durham, has spent most of the past year writing a book "How babies sleep: a factful guide to the first 365 days and nights". Registration for the 10th May launch conference is now open. pay.durham.ac.uk/event-durham... Pls share!

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

The free Open University MOOC "The Online Educator" has been updated, relaunching on OpenLearnCreate next week. Join international educators from all stages of edu to enhance your online teaching. 3hrs/wk, 4 wks. Bookmark link as reg not open yet. www.open.edu/openlearncre... @ietatou.bsky.social

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Registration closes soon (23 Jan) for our 100%-online educator-oriented module 'Technology-Enhanced Learning: Foundations and Futures' (counts as 33% of Masters in Online Teaching) www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate... Ideal development for educators, enjoying perspectives from an global cohort. Pls share!

A slide showing an image of a well dressed woman at a desk with a laptop smiling and speaking towards a large video camera. Text reads "Masters in Online Teaching - Learn the theory and practice of online, blended and technology-enhanced learning from experts at the Institute of Educational Technology. Available globally. Fully online. Flexible study pathway" There is a QR code pointing to https://www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate/qualifications/f98

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 20/09/2024

Well, I hadn't been involved in writing a paper for ages and now two come along at once! Read "The Importance of Offline Options for Online Learners" here doi.org/10.5334/jime... and "Collaboration and care in climate education: Brave responses to an uncertain future" here doi.org/10.1002/curj...

jime.open.ac.uk

The Importance of Offline Options for Online Learners | Journal of Interactive Media in Education

***JIME is currently focusing on a number of Special Collections - see announcements below for more details on our calls for papers- the journal is therefore closed to general submissions at the prese...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 13/09/2024

Hey @theindependent.bsky.social - can we avoid using the phrase "accused of being transgender" please? Most definitions of 'accusation' involve words like 'wrongdoing' or 'crime', and being transgender is in itself neither of these things. www.independent.co.uk/news/world/e...

independent.co.uk

Brigitte Macron awarded €8,000 after false transgender claims

The false allegations made in December 2021 went viral just weeks before the 2022 French election

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 27/08/2024

3 weeks left to sign up for the Open University's excellent 60-credit PG module 'Research & Scholarship in Digital Education'? Ideal for anyone planning on / starting a PhD or who wants to have a better understanding of the essential principles of educational research. www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 18/07/2024

The University of Macerata, Italy (who run the incredible Masters in Accessible Media and Culture) have issued a survey they would like you to respond to if you work in access services for the media, live events and the arts. You can find the survey here: forms.gle/3o2K6cfakqqS...

forms.gle

ACCESS SERVICES FOR THE MEDIA, LIVE EVENTS AND THE ARTS

The data collected by this study are used for research purposes only and are kept strictly confidential.

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Dr Leigh-Anne Perryman @laperryman.bsky.social · 20/03/2024

Cut-off date for applications to study Open University Masters in Online Teaching, fully-funded by a Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship is 28 March. Details: www.open.ac.uk/blogs/MAOT/index.php….

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Brady Lab @bradylabs.bsky.social · 06/03/2024

I've got a postdoc position open in my lab. Do you work on moss, single cell transcriptomics or plant developmental genomics? Consider applying for this position - more here: recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06360

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 28/02/2024

The OU's Masters in Online Teaching has again been fortunate enough to be awarded 10 funded Commonwealth Scholarship places for the February 2025 start. If you have any connections in any of the eligible countries please promote the scheme to them - 28 March deadline. www.open.ac.uk/blogs/MAOT/i...

open.ac.uk

MAOT Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships – 2025 entry | Masters in Online Teaching

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 26/02/2024

Our online student conference for the postgrad module 'Research and Scholarship in Digital Education' will take place on 12th April 2024 starting at 09:00 BST. You would be very welcome to join us - register at docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... More: www.open.ac.uk/blogs/H890Co...

open.ac.uk

OU H890 Conference | Possibly the best online conference in the world

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 20/02/2024

Less than 3 weeks to sign up for the next run of the OU's fab micro-credentials on digital and online teaching (creating online courses, evaluating online courses, embedding mental health, accessibility, race and social equity). 12 weeks, 15 credits, loads of value! www.open.ac.uk/courses/micr...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 26/01/2024

If you are interested in Research and Scholarship in Digital Education and wish to support our presenting Open University postgrad students, you are warmly invited to register for the 'H890 Online Student Conference' which will take place on 12th April from 09:00 BST. www.open.ac.uk/blogs/H890Co...

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KathyMChandler @kathymchandler.bsky.social · 23/01/2024

I'm delighted to share that this free course, Supporting climate action through digital education, is now available on OpenLearn. Thank you to all the generous contibutors and committed Open University colleagues who helped to make this happen.

open.edu

Supporting climate action through digital education

Education has a vital role in tackling the catastrophic impact of the climate emergency. However, there's abundant evidence that educators, worldwide, lack the knowledge and skills to effectively ...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 17/01/2024

Last chance to register for the excellent online-only postgraduate module "Technology-enhanced learning: Foundations and Futures" www.open.ac.uk/postgraduate... Registration closes 18th January!

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 22/12/2023

The superb online-only (in English) University of Macerata (Italy) Masters in Accessible Media, Arts and Culture is taking registrations until March for the Apr24-Jan25 full-time degree. studiumanistici.unimc.it/.../PROT.%20.... (application details studiumanistici.unimc.it/.../master/A... )

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 22/12/2023

The excellent entirely online Open University Masters in Online Teaching open.ac.uk/postgraduate... begins early Feb (MA takes 2.5-6 years part-time study). Aimed at professional educators of all types from lecturers & teachers to trainers in industry and community-based educators.

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 14/12/2023

Interesting analysis. It certainly seems that as many of us tried Mastodon and found it wanting, Bluesky is becoming the home of choice for academia as the Great X-odus continues. blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 15/11/2023

The EVERY1 project (which aims to support stakeholders in the digitisation of energy transition) has a photo competition running until the end of November. 2 winning photos will be chosen and included in project materials & events. Find out more and enter the contest at every1.energy/every1-photo...

every1.energy

Every1 Photo Challenge | every1

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 08/11/2023

List 5 famous people you've either met or have been within a few feet of, but ONE is a lie. Then let your friends guess which one they think is a lie. - Floella Benjamin - Paul Heaton - Boy George - Feargal Sharkey - Brian Blessed

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Lawrie @lawriephipps.co.uk · 06/11/2023

Nice to get out AI research out. With Richard Watermeyer, Cathryn Knight and @donnalanclos.bsky.social link.springer.com/article/10.1...

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Dr Simon Ball @simonjball.bsky.social · 26/10/2023

Does anyone remember (perhaps I dreamt it?) a disability support service for students in Manchester that was a kind of collaborative affair across several universities? If so can you point me to *any* web pages that mention it please or even just remind me of the name of the service!

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