Education Commons^™

Grangegorman Newsletter No. 25, Summer 2015, Dublin Institute Of Technology

Publications

Ministers visit Grangegorman Primary Care Centre site.

Research Methodology: A Novice Researcher’S Approach, Cormac Flood, Lloyd Scott

Other resources

ABSTRACT

This research is a detailed study on the performance of external walls aimed at providing a guidance tool which will enable designers to determine the appropriate thermal upgrade system for a housing retrofit, particularly in Ireland; taking into account wall type, climatic conditions and orientation. This paper explains the steps taken to establish a research design and methodological approach suited to the topic at hand.

The choice of research methodology is a difficult step for the researcher to decide upon in the research process. When it comes down to an architectural technologist, the process becomes even more difficult. Throughout …

Making Free Online Learning Sustainable Through Reduction Of Production Costs, Rita Day, Brian Mulligan

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

A major reservation about Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is that they are extremely expensive to develop and deliver and for most institutions this cannot be justified on a sustainable financial basis. As part of the MOOC technological revolution, costs and funding opportunities have been cited as reasons not to proceed (Gaebel, Kupriyanova, Morais, and Colucci, 2014). Whereas, the findings to date show that this may not be the case for all, educational institutions are often eager to engage technology and embed it into programmes (Hollands, and Devayani, 2014). There are many examples of excellent learning materials being created and …

Problematizing Second Language (L2) Learning Using Emerging Vr Systems, Linda Butler, Flaithri Neff

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

There is little doubt that there is nothing like being immersed in the country of the language you are trying to learn. Not only do students who wish to learn English as a Second Language (ESL) enjoy the experience of inter-cultural learning contexts from a sensory and affective sense, it is often the case that they gain emotional and intellectual maturity while living abroad. The reality of travelling abroad to learn English however for many International students is often a difficult transitional one especially at pre-sessional or beginner/foundation levels in terms of language acquisition, expense, feelings of isolation while in …

Factors That Influence College Faculty To Adopt Digital Technologies In Their Practice, Kevin Dougherty

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

College faculty in Ontario are using a variety of digital technologies, at differing levels, in their teaching and learning practices. College administrators are looking to faculty to help meet the challenges associated with increasing enrolment and the need to deliver curriculum to a diverse student population with a range of learning needs who have unlimited access to information and communication channels through the World Wide Web. This research provides some understanding of specific motivating factors that have led many in community college faculty to adopt digital and Web technologies into their teaching and learning practices as well as those factors …

Lessons Learned From Teaching Data Analytics In A Fully Online Mode At Postgraduate Level, Daniel Mcsweeney, Markus Hoffmann, Geraldine Gray, Laura Keyes

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

This paper reports on the experiences of developing and delivering the online MSc. in Business Intelligence and Data Mining between 2010 and 2013. We outline our rationale for the selection of Adobe Connect as a synchronous classroom tool and discuss our use of the moodle virtual learning environment to support asynchronous learning and communication. We also discuss some of the key changes in approaches to teaching and assessment and the challenges that were faced by academics in adapting classroom based courses to an online distance education environment. We conclude by examining student interactions with the synchronous and asynchronous delivery technologies …

Evolving Strategies For Online Learning In Graduate Courses In Education, Maurice Digiuseppe, Roland Van Oostveen, Diana Petrarca

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

Internet-based learning is becoming more commonplace in post-secondary settings in canada and internationally, though, often, instructors struggle to develop effective programming for their students. In this article, we present three cases in which instructors critically reflect on their experiences designing and implementing online learning environments for various courses in the graduate programs in education at the university of ontario institute of technology (uoit) in oshawa, canada. The first case focuses on an instructor’s efforts to develop courses involving problem-based learning (pbl) on the basis of a faculty-developed conceptual framework. In the second case, an instructor describes how her experiences as …

A Step Towards Global Education: Collaborative Learning Activities Using Social Network Sites, Motoko Iseki Christensen

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

In teaching a foreign language, learners are often encouraged to use the target language to communicate with other learners and native speakers. With rapid technology and Internet progression in recent years, a number of communication tools are now available for foreign language learners and native speakers. Social network sites (SNSs) and Chat alike provide opportunities for learners to engage in social interactions. The demand for, and use of, SNS and online discussion forums for educational purposes are rapidly increasing as is evident in the quick growth of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs). The Globally engaged means of education such as …

An Insurmountable Gap: Can We Balance Incoming And Outgoing Erasmus Exchanges Among Engineering Students?, Susan O'Shaughnessy

Stream 2: Curriculum

Because of the global power of English and being situated in an English-speaking country, Irish higher education institutions do not have to try very hard to attract Erasmus students from across Europe. However, persuading Irish students, particularly students of engineering, to undertake an Erasmus exchange in another European country is a much more difficult process. This paper outlines the recent history of Erasmus exchanges of engineering students to and from the Technological University Dublin and examines the push and pulls factors that affect these exchanges. It presents the results of a small-scale research project into the factors that encourage or …

Engaging With Industry In The Classroom Through The Use Of Online Technology, Geraldine Duignan, Ailish Breen, Mary Heneghan

Stream 2: Curriculum

A long established method of learning in Irish third level education has been the collaboration of colleges with Industry in the form of work placement. Workplaces provide a diversity of learning that is contextualised, socialised and not readily available in traditional learning contexts (Sheridan & Linehan, 2013). Because the workplace is the context of practice, learning in the workplace is considered a form of authentic learning informed by real contexts, activities, and best practice (Franz, 2008). The placement of students is often a difficult process and not always practical with large class sizes. Therefore, it is necessary to reimagine how …

Bridging The Gap Between Engineering Workforce Needs And Student Engagement, Eileen Goold

Stream 2: Curriculum

This paper is inspired by the development of the proposed new technological university in Dublin; TU4Dublin is to become “Dublin’s Globally Engaged University” and is to be located at the nexus between learning and engagement (TU4Dublin, 2015). This study investigates engineering education in the context of career focused education. The main objective of this study is to investigate whether engineering students’ cognitive engagement benefits from bridging the gap between technical issues and the practical realities of modern engineering practice. A portfolio of engineering practice illustrating the practical realities of modern engineering practice in the context of Engineers Ireland’s competencies is …

The Tri-Party Partnership: An Investigation Into The Existing Support Structures Within A Dit Placement, Kerry Meakin, Órla Keane

Stream 2: Curriculum

The readiness of students entering the workforce upon graduating has been widely researched in Ireland, and a student work placement that is embedded in the curriculum is commonly recognised as a crucial mechanism that is key to preparing graduates for the ‘real world’. In this particular study, the voice of many key parties are captured, including the students themselves, members of the academic department who coordinate the programme, and the industry partners. Recommendations are made based on the findings that highlighted gaps or weaknesses in the existing student support structures, along with the addition of an updated academic institution-industry partnership …

Curriculum, Classroom, Culture And Connectedness, Mary O'Rawe

Stream 2: Curriculum

Curriculum and pedagogy are central to many contemporary debates on fostering a successful student experience, particularly in a massified higher education sector. These themes are evident in discussions from policy level to the staffroom in many countries. Attention has been specifically directed at the transition point from ‘second level’ to ‘higher/third level’ education, resulting in the development of many initiatives and materials around the ‘first year experience’ (‘FYE’). Central principles have been identified as curricula that engage students in their programme, modules and learning. Indeed the term ‘student engagement’ has evolved as a focal point of these debates as the …

Reflection On Integrative Project-Based Learning In Business And Information Technology Programs, Andrew Hogue, Jennifer Percival, Khalil El-Khatib, Garrett Hayes

Stream 2: Curriculum

Recently there has been an increase in demand for interdisciplinary programs that enable graduates to demonstrate a blend of technical and ‘soft skills’. As a result, many higher education organizations are developing programs that integrate areas such as management and information technology or entrepreneurship and engineering. The wide range of topics covered in these programs and the need for graduate to be able to integrate and apply of core concepts. Since 2010 we have used integrative project-based learning as a core element of our game development and entrepreneurship program. In this model, students work in project teams to create a …

Re-Imagining Our Curriculum: Critiquing Meaningful Reflection And Threshold Concepts In Practice Education: Knowing It All, Aoife Prendergast

Stream 2: Curriculum

Humanities education, particularly in the areas of early childhood education and applied social studies must engage with professional practice education. There is urgency for the need for practitioners and educationalists to communicate, and for practitioners to be aware of developments in educational theory. The idea of ‘threshold concepts’ is currently widely discussed by educationalists. Threshold concepts are described as areas of knowledge without which the learner cannot progress, and which, when grasped, lead to a transformation in the learner’s perspective and understanding. Much is known about the purpose of placement educators, but how their role is implemented is subject to …

Visual Analytics: The Role Of Design And Art In The Emerging Field Of Big Data, Sara Diamond

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

Driven by the increasing complexity of data sets the need for sophisticated analytics algorithms coupled with visualization of both data and information is growing exponentially in every discipline and industry. Artists, designers and visual thinkers have an important role to play in the presentation and interpretation of data. The Visual Analytics Lab (VAL) at OCAD University is a preeminent research lab for innovation and training in information and scientific visualization and visual analytics. As well as its perspective on the field, two brief case studies are provided, one for health care and the second for media navigation and analysis.

Ocad University's Imagination Catalyst: A Case Study., Helmut Reichenbacher

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

In order to provide the context for an incubator case study, this paper provides a brief overview of the support mechanisms for Canadian university-based innovation and commercialization, especially regarding government (federal, provincial, municipal). It then proceeds to describe OCAD University’s specialized commercialization and incubator unit, the Imagination Catalyst, which supports talent

We Had The Experience But Missed The Meaning: Capacity Building Using Student Diary Pro To Enhance The Mobility Experience, Angela Feeney, David Irwin, Tara Mckiernan

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

The mobility experience is not confined to the sphere of upward social and economic mobility but, in equal measure, to geographical, linguistic and cultural mobility as a function of the public role of the university. Effects of mobility can be registered in terms of their impact on the university directly, the impact of such mobility on society generally, and its impact on those who participate in mobility opportunities in particular. The paper begins with a general overview of ideas and intentions underpinning mobility which in turn inform and are informed by policy considerations in a European Union context. Since mobility …

The Entrepreneurial University: A Unifying Theme For Tu4dublin, John Jameson, Patrick O'Donnell

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

The paper is presented as a rationale for the adoption of an entrepreneurial university model as the guiding principle for the organisation of the Technological University for Dublin (TU4D)5. It is argued that the entrepreneurial university provides a coherent context in which the internal resources and capacities of the three organisations, within the alliance, can be aligned to the external environment and the needs of their stakeholders through agility, flexibility and responsiveness.The paper first considers a broad definition of what is understood as an entrepreneurial Higher Educational Institution (HEI). It then considers the entrepreneurial mind-set as a precursor to the …

Masters Of The Universe Or Survival Of The Fittest: Rethinking Strategy Development In A Technological University, Deirdre Lillis

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

Strategic planning has become an integral part of the management of higher education institutions (HEIs) worldwide, largely in response to an external environment that is exerting increased pressure. The experiences of all but one of Ireland’s 21 Universities and Institutes of Technology with strategic planning over a ten-year period are considered in this paper. Despite evidence of growing experience with strategic planning, some significant deficits are identified. With the development of Technological Universities in mind, recommendations are made with respect to strategic planning for institutional diversity, consolidation of merged institutions, performance-related funding, integration with quality assurance frameworks and external stakeholder …

The Paris Collection: Reflections On An Interdisciplinary Performance Project, Jennifer Hamilton, Barry Sheehan

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

Between September 2013 and January 2014, students and staff of the Technological University Dublin Conservatory of Music and Drama and DIT Dublin School of Creative Arts collaborated on the creation of an opera production which was presented at the National Concert Hall on Jan 23rd. The project was implemented within the modular framework from both colleges. The collaboration was both multi and inter-disciplinary and the students engaged at a professional level, working under staff supervision and in tandem with personnel and resources outside the college environment. The performers were required to audition for their roles and the teams of design …

Graduate Work-Readiness In The 21st Century, John Keogh, Theresa Maguire, John O'Donoghue

Stream 4: Enterprising University

The term ‘graduateness’ is beginning to be used, nationally and internationally, to describe a range of competences thought to match the demands of the workplace. There is no accompanying unifying definition, nor framework for formal recognition, rather it is used to imply a combination of attributes that varies between types of Higher Education Institutions across the World. In Ireland, the desirable characteristics of 21st century graduates variously include qualities of being ‘Creative and Enterprising, Solution-Orientated, Effective Communicators, and Globally Engaged Active Leaders’ (DCU 2014). Similarly, they should be engaged, enterprising, enquiry-based, effective and expert in their chosen field (DIT, 2013). …

Leveraging Institute Of Technology Incubation Centres In The Teaching Of Innovation: A Case Study, Gabriel Costello

Stream 4: Enterprising University

The overriding purpose of this on-going work is to contribute to the debate on the best pedagogical approach to developing undergraduate Mechanical Engineering skills to meet the requirements of contemporary complex working environments. The particular focus of this study is to develop the students’ appreciation of entrepreneurship and the development of a new venture. Enterprise Ireland has funded business incubation centres on college campuses across Ireland in order to provide a supportive environment for start-up companies and two centres have been located in the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology (GMIT). The paper provides an example of collaboration between the Incubation Centre …

Understanding Of Change, Leading Innovation: Ocad University's Master Of Design In Strategic Foresight And Innovation., Lenore Richards

Stream 4: Enterprising University

This paper discusses the need for new models of education due to the complexity and speed of change in the world. I introduce OCAD U’s Master of Design in Strategic Foresight and Innovation as one of a number of innovative programs attempting to become a responsible actor in the positive transformation of contemporary society. I reflect on the successes and challenges involved in the development and implementation of this highly innovative program.

Re-Imagining Pre-Service Teacher Education In Ontario, Canada: A Journey In The Making, Janette Hughes, Jennifer Laffier, Ami Mamol, Laura Morrison, Diana Petrarca

Stream 5: Curriculum 2

In this paper/presentation, faculty members from the Faculty of Education at UOIT share their experiences and challenges of redesigning a teacher education program, against the backdrop of provincial funding cuts and a mandatory reduction of student enrolment in all Faculties of Education, as Ontario moves from a 10-month consecutive Education program to a required 2-year BEd program. In June, 2013, the Ministry of Education, Ontario announced that effective September, 2015, universities offering teacher certification would be required to double the length of their programs, moving from two semesters to four semesters, and the length of the practicum will change to …

Does The Shift To Cloud Delivery Of Courses Compromise Quality Control, Gordon O'Reilly, John Creagh

Stream 5: Curriculum 2

In the last few years’ online cloud computing courses have become more common place providing the student the capability to attend courses from home, from anywhere in the world. As this new paradigm is being adopted by colleges and universities, the next associated potential wave of change is a cloud technology termed “online proctoring.” This technology and method facilitates the online student taking tests and exams from a remote, off campus location. This technology could also potentially mean education institutions scale to larger student numbers than previously defined by the physical constraints of exam halls or lab facilities as well …

Moving Towards An Outcomes-Based Curriculum Model In Design Education: An Action Research Study At Ocad University, Bahar Mousavi Hejazi

Stream 5: Curriculum 2

This paper is in preparation for the research that I will be conducting as a PhD Candidate at the Ontario Institute For Studies in Education (OISE), University of Toronto entitled “Implementation of Outcomes-Based Education at the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University: An Action Research Study of an Interdisciplinary Design Course” under the supervision of Professor Katharine Janzen. In this discussion, I intend to first establish the background, the context and the purpose of my research. Then I review the principles of outcomes-based education with an emphasis on design pedagogy. Finally, I will lay the ground for the …

Capturing And Sharing Professional Practice On Mediating Live Online Tutorial Sessions: A Case Study From Hibernia College, Michael Hallissy

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

This case-study is set within the context of a new online Masters Programme for teachers within Hibernia College, the Masters of Arts in Teaching and Learning (MATL). It explores how tutors and students interact using synchronous computer mediated conferencing (SCMC) technologies during live tutorial sessions. The study found that students and tutors did not have an agreed set of ground rules for these online events and thus there was a need for a signature pedagogy to clarify this. It was observed, using the Flanders Interaction Analysis Categories (FIAC) and tutor interviews, that the level of interaction during these tutorials was …

Lost In Transition: An Exploration Of The Transition Of Work-Based Mature Students Into 3rd Level Education, Louise Mcanarney

Stream 5: Curriculum 2

The transition from the social care practice environment to a third level academic institution for the first time as a mature age student can be much anticipated, exciting and stimulating but also fraught with feelings of self-doubt, unease and difficulty. These feelings override for many mature age students the realities of commencing undergraduate study. Before commencement, most mature age students neither give much thought to issues pertaining to transition, nor believe that such issues are relevant or likely to affect them. The presence of part-time, work-based undergraduate degree programmes in social care has continued to grow stronger in recent times. …

Developing Organisational Design Criteria In The Redesign Of An Irish Higher Education Institution, Sharon Feeney, Olivia Edge

Stream 4: Enterprising University

This paper outlines the first phase of a process of re-design strategy that was undertaken in an Irish higher education institution. The re-design strategy was undertaken prior to a merger of three autonomous higher education institutions in the Dublin area. The strategy undertaken comprised three main phases: identification and consideration of design criteria; short-listing and consideration of design options; and finally, the development and selection of the most appropriate design option. This paper focuses mainly on the first phase of the process undertaken: the identification and consideration of design criteria.