Biography
Learning and Teaching Enhancement Manager - IET
PhD candidate in Media Studies, MSc, BA.
He joined The Open University in 2021 as a Media Assistant and his previous work is related to the social sciences with an emphasis on social media research, communication, fake news and digital influencers. He has worked for more than 10 years in higher education as a Learning Designer, Coordinator of Research and Innovation Projects, Head of Department and Lecturer.
Publications
2025
Tessarolo, Felipe; Edwards, Chris; Bektik, Duygu and Whitelock, Denise. (). GenAI as an Educational Gatekeeper: Balancing Personalisation and Standardisation in Higher Education. In: EDEN Bologna Annual Conference 2025 - Shaping the Future of Education in the age of AI, 15-17 Jun 2025, Bologna, Italy.
Rienties, Bart; Ullmann, Thomas; Tessarolo, Felipe; Kwarteng, Joseph; Domingue, John; Coughlan, Tim; Coughlan, Emily and Bektik, Duygu. (). Developing an institutional AI digital assistant in an age of Industry 5.0. Applied Sciences.
Rienties, Bart; Tessarolo, Felipe; Coughlan, Emily; Coughlan, Tim and Domingue, John. (). Students’ Perceptions of AI Digital Assistants (AIDAs): Should Institutions Invest in Their Own AIDAs?. Applied Sciences.
Rienties, Bart; Tessarolo, Felipe; Coughlan, Tim; Herodotou, Christothea; Domingue, John and Whitelock, Denise. (). A Design-Based Research Approach to what distance learners expect and value from an Institutional AI Digital Assistant. European Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning.
Coughlan, Tim; Rienties, Bart; Domingue, John; Herodotou, Christothea; Ullmann, Thomas; Bektik, Duygu; Edwards, Chris; Whitelock, Denise; Coughlan, Emily and Tessarolo, Felipe. (). Holding a lead, or the tail wagging the dog? Exploring educator influence over the behaviour of AI Digital Assistants. In: European Distance and E-Learning Network (EDEN) Proceedings: Human and Artificial Intelligence for the Society of the Future, European Distance and E-Learning Network.
2024
Coughlan, Tim; Tessarolo, Felipe and Coughlan, Emily. (). Accessible by Design? Exploring How Barriers faced by Disabled Students are Resolved in Online and Distance Learning. In: International Conference on Computers Helping People with Special Needs (ICCHP 24), 8-12 Jul 2024, Linz, Austria.
Aristeidou, Maria and Tessarolo, Felipe (). Tutor Consultation: Exploring ways to improve engagement and retention during the early stages of students' learning journeys. Quality Enhancement and Innovation, The Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
Rienties, Bart; Domingue, John; Duttaroy, Subroto; Herodotou, Christothea; Tessarolo, Felipe and Whitelock, Denise. (). What distance learning students want from an AI Digital Assistant. Distance Education, 46 (2) pp. 173-189.
Gaved, Mark; Brasher, Andrew and Tessarolo, Felipe (). Literature Review of support mechanisms to aid tutors in teaching Level 1 students. Quality Enhancement and Innovation, The Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University.
Tessarolo, Felipe; Edwards, Chris; Bektik, Duygu and Whitelock, Denise. (). Comparing practical use and perceptions of GenAI in higher education with current published insights. In: EDEN 2024 Research Workshop & PhD Schools’ Masterclass, 16-18 Oct 2024, Timisoara, Romania.
2023
Herodotou, Christothea; Aristeidou, Maria; Gaved, Mark; Cross, Simon; Tessarolo, Felipe and Brasher, Andrew (). PVC-S Challenge Response. Summary report. QEI. The Institute of Educational Technology, The Open University.
Cross, Simon; Tessarolo, Felipe and Brasher, Andrew (). First year student perspectives on their early study experiences of tutor support and teaching: Insight from seven cross-faculty focus-groups. The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK.
2022
Tessarolo, Felipe; Aristeidou, Maria and Coughlan, Emily. (). From face-to-face environments to distance learning universities: the transition period of first-year students. In: 8th International Conference on Higher Education Advances (HEAd’22), 14-17 Jun 2022, Valencia.
Lister, Kate; Pearson, Victoria; Coughlan, Tim and Tessarolo, Felipe. (). Inclusion in Uncertain Times: Changes in Practices, Perceptions, and Attitudes around Accessibility and Inclusive Practice in Higher Education. Education Sciences.