Principal Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences, School of Allied Health Sciences, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

Dr Vivien Rolfe’s background is in gastrointestinal physiology and she joined De Montfort in 2003 having worked previously at Nottingham University and before that at Pedigree Petfoods, part of Mars Incorporated, as an animal nutritionist. Her current role is Associate Head of Department of Biological, Biomedical and Analytical Science at the University of the West of England (2013). Viv’s NTF award centered on using animation in medical science teaching. As one student claimed “I love animation, it helps stick things in my brain”, and certainly the combination of visual materials and narration make for very popular and effective learning resources. Viv won the Learning Technologist of the Year award in 2009 from the UK Association of Learning Technology in recognition of her use of animation. Her main passion today is open education, and she secured three rounds of funding from the HEFCE Open Educational Resource (OER) Programme (2009 – 2012), in which she worked with De Montfort colleagues, students and external partners to produce a wealth of science OER. Projects included basic laboratory skills (Virtual Analytical Laboratory - VAL); blood sciences (Sickle Cell Open – Online Topics and Educational Resources - SCOOTER) and a broader range of medical and life science subjects (Biology Courses).

genetics, health professional education, open education resources, sickle cell, STEM subjects, university curriculum.