Queen Mary Wins ECHO360 Grant to Support Student Engagement Research
Colleagues from SBBS have received an EchoImpact Grant from ECHO360 to support a new research project aimed at understanding and improving student engagement with recorded lectures.
(From left to right) Sally Faulkner, Imran Islam & Tim Fulton
Dr Sally Faulkner (Director of Education), Dr Tim Fulton (Deputy Director of Education), and Imran Islam (Digital Learning Technical Adviser) from the School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences have been awarded an EchoImpact Grant from ECHO360. The $2,000 award will support research into how students use recorded lectures — with the aim of improving access, engagement, and academic outcomes.
The project will analyse five years of EchoVideo data to explore how different student groups engage with lecture recordings, particularly those balancing study with work, commuting, or caring responsibilities.
“Lecture recordings are a lifeline for many of our students,” said Dr Faulkner. “This research will help us understand when and how recordings are used, and what we can do to improve access for all.”
“We know that structural and personal barriers can limit how students engage with traditional teaching,” said Dr Fulton. “This project is about identifying those barriers — and using data to remove them wherever we can.”
Sally, Tim, and Imran will work closely with two student researchers over the summer, collaborating as a team to explore engagement trends and identify barriers to educational access. Imran will provide key support in managing and interpreting the EchoVideo data.
The grant also includes funding to share the team’s findings across the university and more broadly within the higher education sector. The research is part of QMUL’s ongoing commitment to equitable, evidence-based education for its diverse student community.