Inspiring children to be ALL that they can be
MelAlyGreen
Educator | Researcher | Writer | Mother
This is the academic journey of a Black feminist scholar who is also a mother, carer, and advocate for her autistic children.
Who I am
An introduction
Hi, I am Mel Green and I am a Lecturer in Education Studies and Doctoral Researcher at The Open University. I often felt that I didn't belong in the education system as a young person. so I believe to be serendipitous for me to find that every role I would be employed in from the time my career began would be within the field of education currently researching the personal and professional identities of Open University Associate Lecturers and exploring how the intersections of these identities affect their pedagogical choices online.
I am a former primary school teacher and worked with children and young people from 1999 to 2015. I have two children, who are both autistic. My experiences of being a Black mother to autistic children have led me to co-write a book with my friend and colleague, Dr Claire Malcolm, about our experiences. This forthcoming book, 'Mothering at the Margins: Black Mother raising Autistic children in the UK' is due to be published in 2025.
This site has been created to document my experiences as a lecturer and researcher, a distance learning educator, and a distance learning student. I believe that distance learning does not have to be isolating. For me, education is freedom. When we have the opportunity to learn and access information, we become free.
This is a place where I share reflections on my research and practice. I would love to know your thoughts on my thoughts and connect with you in the future.
Publications
Articles & Chapters
Mothering at the Margins: Black Mothers Raising Autistic Children in the UK
To be published in 2025
Co-authored book with Dr Claire Malcolm, also from Open University. To be published Lived Places Publishing.
Degrees of change: the promise of anti-racist assessment
Oct 6, 2023
Green, M. and Malcolm, C., (2023), 'Degrees of change: the promise of anti-racist assessment', Frontiers of Sociology, Available at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fsoc.2023.972036/full
Digital childhood and youth - Life with screens
Aug 31, 2023
Caton, L. and Green, M., (2023). Digital childhood and youth: Life with screens. In: Cooper, Victoria and Tatlow-Golden, Mimi eds. An Introduction to Childhood and Youth Studies and Psychology. Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge, pp. 186–199, Available at: https://bit.ly/44xgXrF
Most recent publications from Mel Green
Academic and Teaching CV
Higher Education
Open University
Sep 2017 to Ongoing
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Doctorate in Education, Online Teaching and Professional Identity TBC
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Thesis: Becoming and Being a Distance Educator: A critical ethnographic exploration of the personal and professional identities of Associate Lecturers
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Module Chair of a Year 2 module in Education Studies BA
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Anti-Racist and Inclusive Assessment Hub Research Group Lead
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OU Anti-Racist Hub Co-Lead
Masters in Creative Writing
Oct 2016 - May 2018
Open University, Creative Writing
Masters in Education
Oct 2013 - May 2015
Open University, Education with Equality and Diversity