Why learners, politicians, practitioners and users are not the enemy and how to listen to them!

Anne Adams, wearing glasses and a coloured, patterned shirt, smiling and looking at the camera

Professor Anne Adams, Professor of Engaged Practice and Research at the OU’s Institute of Education Technology, delivered her inaugural lecture on: Why learners, politicians, practitioners and users are not the enemy and how to listen to them! on 13 June 2023.

She addressed the fact that computerised systems and process designs should effectively reflect peoples’ needs and that, from computer security systems to health informatics, educational processes and policy making there are poor assumptions made about what people’s needs are.

Professor Adams will present the results of poor design approaches across diverse contexts and identify how they can be rectified by applying appropriate active listening methods.

Watch the recording of Professor Anne Adams’ inaugural lecture:

Contact our news team

For all out of hours enquiries, please telephone +44 (0)7901 515891

Contact details

News & articles

Carys Jennings, with light brown hair and a pair of glasses on the top of her head

Research image of the month - a ripple of understanding

This month’s research image of the month (July 2025) encapsulates Carys Jennings' research on how children experience happiness, particularly in a school setting.