Education Commons^™

Impact Of Rankings On Higher Education - International And German Perspectives, Ellen Hazelkorn

Other resources

No abstract provided.

Learning To Live With League Tables And Rankings, Ellen Hazelkorn

Other resources

No abstract provided.

Rankings As Indicator Of Quality?, Ellen Hazelkorn

Other resources

No abstract provided.

Key Skills Framework: Enhancing Employability Within A Lifelong Learning Paradigm, Aidan Kenny, Ray English, Dave Kilmartin

Articles

Employability has become an area of interest among the general public and policy makers alike, with an increasing number of reports in the general media regarding the need for workers in certain sectors to up-skill due to the possible threat of job ‘displacement’. In addition, there has been an increase in education and training policy documents emphasising that citizens should pursue Lifelong Learning /Life Wide Learning to address the increased job-related uncertainty attributed to the globalisation process and the concomitant competitive threats. Academics such as Barnett (2005) claim that we are living in an era of ‘super complexity' and rapid …

The Framework For Early Learning: A Background Paper:Children's Early Learning And Development Executive Summary, Geraldine French

Reports

This is the Executive Summary of the background paper Children’s early learning and development, sets out the theory and research underpinning children’s early learning and development in the Framework for Early Learning. The paper essentially responds to the question - how should we envision and understand the child as a young learner? The paper begins by outlining the context for early childhood care and education in Ireland by referring to our economic and social climate, the increasingly multicultural nature of society and relevant legislation and policy. Drawing on centuries of research, the modern day view of the child is one …

Ditcall-Slow: Slowing Native Speech For Language Learners, Dermot Campbell, Ciaran Mcdonnell, Yi Wang, Marty Meinardi, Bunny Richardson, Charles Pritchard

Conference papers

It is a common experience of many learners of a foreign language that native speakers (NSs) of that language speak too quickly for them to understand or imitate. Slowing down a segment of speech with older technology results in the familiar deepening of the voice as the pitch drops as well. The result is unpleasant and not particularly instructive. The DITCall-Slow tool slows recorded speech without tonal distortion, so that the learner has – literally – more time to hear what was said by the NS and, especially at slower playback speeds, can attend to the manner in which the …

Contextualised, Teacher-Reported Emotional/Behavioural Difficulties In Junior And Senior Infant Children In Mainstream Primary Schools, Sarah Quinn

Masters

Behaviour problems in the classroom present a real issue of concern for Irish primary school teachers (Martin, 1997); few matters have more direct and persistent impact on the teacher than managing overt behaviour (Cullinane, 1999a; Department of Education and Science, 1989). A central premise of this study was that the lived everyday experience of behavioural difficulties in the classroom environment is dependent on the interplay between person and context variable across time. Underpinned by the ecosystemic theories of Bronfenbrenner (1979 to 2005) and Molnar and Lindquist (1989) this study investigated the context of teacher-reported emotional/behavioural difficulties in junior and senior …

Content Analysis Of Computer Conferencing Transcripts, Roisin Donnelly

Conference papers

As conferencing tools become an increasingly common feature in students’ experience, tutors need to have an understanding of how these tools facilitate the formation and maintenance of collaborative learning communities. Inevitably the pursuit of this understanding requires some form of analysis of the interactions involved. This analysis of the written transcripts, created by students during computer mediated conferencing (CMC), invariably takes the form of a systematic content analysis. For small-scale work the analysis can be undertaken manually but when the volume is large, as might arise from courses delivered wholly online or in a blended learning approach for example, some …

The Use Of Teaching Portfolios For Academic Professional Development, Roisin Donnelly, Marian Fitzmaurice

Books/Book Chapters

This Postgraduate Certificate in Third Level Learning and Teaching is located in the Faculty of Academic Affairs in the Technological University Dublin (DIT) and is aimed at new and existing academic staff in third level institutions in the Republic of Ireland, including lecturers, librarians, and academic support staff, the latter two having responsibility for teaching in their areas. It was initially offered in 2000, and is continuing apace today, with currently over 90 academic staff having successfully graduated from the programme. The lecturers have been drawn from within DIT and a number of higher education institutions throughout the Republic of …

Online Problem-Based Learning Approach In Higher Education., Roisin Donnelly

Books/Book Chapters

This paper begins with a brief review of the history of problem-based learning (PBL) integrated with online learning, and surveys relevant learning theory, including constructivism and cognitivism. Recent case-study research on a postgraduate diploma module in learning and teaching for faculty and lecturers in higher education is then provided to illustrate the key issues for both faculty and students in this evolving area. Emerging trends in combining PBL and online learning are outlined, along with potential opportunity to continue to research the topic in a different light. The paper concludes with an overview of the research area, aspects of which …

University Futures: The Direction, Shape And Provision Of Higher Education In The University Of The Future, Arlene Finn, John Ratcliffe, Lorcan Sirr

Reports

No abstract provided.

Reinventing A Level 7 Programme In Electrical Engineering And Greatly Improving On Student Retention, Eugene Coyle, Mike Murphy, Frank Costello, Leslie Shoemaker

Books/Book chapters

Following the successful implementation over a number of decades of a three-year Diploma in Electrical and Control Engineering at Technological University Dublin, the programme entered a period of extreme difficulty and uncertainty in the late nineteen ninetees and early years of the new millennium. As with many such engineering programmes, student numbers seeking to enter began to diminish. Furthermore, engagement and retention of students who had enrolled on the programme became evermore challenging, necessitating some radical moves in the formation and operation of the programme and in putting additional student support mechanisms in place. The situation hit rock bottom between …

Geolearn – Exploiting New Educational Tools In The Spatial Information Sciences, Audrey Martin, Kevin Mooney, Eugene Mcgovern

Conference Papers

GeoLearn is an educational research group within the Department of Spatial Information Sciences (DSIS) in the Technological University Dublin (DIT). Its aim is to promote, develop and evaluate emerging learning methods and resources, such as E-Learning and other innovative educational techniques in the Geomatics discipline.

The GeoLearn group has conducted a number of pilot studies of E-Learning for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) with International groups and the evaluation of the feedback from participants is presented. The group has also participated in the education service of the European spatial data research organisation (EuroSDR) delivering and evaluating its courses to multi-national participants. …

The Transition From Preschool To School For Children In Ireland: Teachers Views, Mary O'Kane

Articles

There is a wealth of international research on the transition from preschool to school from a range of perspectives. Following on from such research, the issue of transition is emerging as an important new construct in early childhood care and education (ECCE), with a transition-to-school framework replacing the construct of school readiness as a focus of research interest. There has been limited research into transition practices in Ireland and this study is the first comprehensive research looking at this area from an Irish perspective1. Phase I of this study involved conducting a questionnaire on the transition from preschool to formal …

Perceived Impact Of Peer Observation Of Teaching In Higher Education, Roisin Donnelly

Articles

This paper explores participant perceptions of the impact of a Peer Observation of Teaching scheme offered as part of an accredited Postgraduate Certificate in Teaching for academic staff/faculty in higher education. The Postgraduate Certificate Program has been designed to support the continuing professional development of academic staff/faculty through integration of peer learning. Inherent in the design and delivery of the Peer Observation of Teaching scheme is the belief by all involved that learning about teaching in higher education, and heightening a sense of professionalism, stems from a continuous process of transforming and constructing personal meaning in a variety of related …

Investigating Staff Perceptions Of E-Learning Development And Support For Students With Disabilities In Higher Education, Roisin Donnelly

Articles

This paper reports on a study concerned with exploring staff perceptions on improving the design and delivery of e-learning provision for students and staff with disabilities in a higher education institution in the Republic of Ireland. The study aims to clarify understanding on how aspects of e-learning affect some of the key stakeholders in an institution of higher education – a disability liaison team, a learning technology team and an academic development centre. Essentially this paper is an example of research for learners with disabilities by people without disabilities. The language used in this paper is consistent with the social …

Changing Universities, Kevin Kelly

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Academic Change In Higher Education In Europe, Kevin Kelly, Mike Murphy

Conference papers

This paper analyses academic change in higher education internationally but mainly in Europe. It examines one College in Ireland as it faces major change and examines whether best practice change that has been successful elsewhere might be appropriate in this particular setting, with it’s own culture and history. Research is ongoing, using qualitative inquiry and fourth generation evaluation which seeks to address the concerns and issues of stakeholders. It is an illuminative evaluation project that seeks to allow senior management in the College see what is happening elsewhere and evaluate whether such methods might be appropriate in their own college. …

Students @ Play: Serious Games For Learning In Higher Education., Pauline Rooney

Conference papers

The rise of digital games over recent years has been exponential. While many are used for entertainment, digital games have also begun to permeate education — which has lead to the coining of the term ―serious games‖ [1]. Proponents of serious games argue that they hold enormous potential for learning [2], by embodying a range of pedagogical strategies. While some have adopted commercial games for use in the classroom, others have designed games specifically for educational purposes. However, designing complex and realistic serious games with limited budgets and resources is difficult. In addition, achieving a successful balance between the competing …

Reconciling Organisational Realities With The Research Mission Of The Irish Institutes Of Technology, Deirdre Lillis

Conference papers

A key principle in systems theory is that a system, such as a Higher Education Institute (HEI), will self-correct and stabilise to align itself with its overarching ‘system goals’, irrespective of interventions. System goals may be explicit and obvious, such as published performance indicators, however change initiatives can often fail because the initiative is acting against some underlying, implicit and/or hidden system goal. In addition, if one accepts the premise that people will work toward what is recognised and rewarded then the measures of performance used within a HEI are likely to be important forces for change in their own …

Engaging The Academic Heartland:A Key Factor In The Effectiveness Of Strategic Planning And Self Study Programs., Deirdre Lillis

Conference papers

Conventional wisdom in the literature attests to the importance of involving academic staff in strategic planning and self study programs but there is a lack of empirical evidence to substantiate this argument. This paper reports on the findings of an empirical investigation of the effectiveness of three strategic planning and three self study programs, undertaken in one Higher Education Institute (HEI), between 1997 and 2006. It was found that the level of engagement of academic staff was a key factor in the effectiveness of the programs – the more engagement the more effective the programs were. The research methodology was …

The Ditme Project: Interdisciplinary Research In Music Technology, Eugene Coyle, Dan Barry, Mikel Gainza, David Dorran, Charlie Pritchard, John Feeley, Derry Fitzgerald

Level 3

This paper profiles the emergence of a significant body of research in audio engineering within the Faculties of Engineering and Applied Arts at Dublin Institute of Technology. Over a period of five years the group has had significant success in completing a Strand 3 research project entitled Digital Tools for Music Education (DiTME), followed by successful follow-on projects funded through both the European Framework FP6 and Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation research schemes. The group has solved a number of challenging problems in the audio engineering field and has both published widely and patented a novel sound source separation invention.

Thermal Effectiveness Characteristics Of Low Approach Indirect Evaporative Cooling Systems In Buildings, Ben Costelloe, Donal Finn

Articles

Meteorological enthalpy analysis of temperate and maritime climates above latitude 45°N suggests that the water-side evaporative cooling technique has considerable unrealised potential with contemporary “high temperature” building cooling systems—such as chilled ceilings and displacement ventilation. As low approach conditions are the key to exploiting the cooling potential of the ambient air, thermal performance at such conditions needs to be investigated. To address the research issues, an industrial scale test rig, based on a low approach open cooling tower and plate heat exchanger and designed to maximise evaporative cooling potential, has been constructed. The thermal effectiveness of such systems (as a …

Shared And Mutual Knowledge In Language Learning, Marty Meinardi

Articles

This article discusses the matter of shared knowledge from the perspective of the different deictic centres of understanding. Difficulties, which may result from a possible lack of a shared knowledge between NSs and NNSs due to differences in language experiences and personal backgrounds, are identified.

Development Of An E-Learning Module For Global Navigation Satellite Systemstraining, Eugene Mcgovern, Audrey Martin, Kevin Mooney

Conference Papers

The Global Positioning System (GPS) has been operational since the early 1990’s. The system is constantly being upgraded while the Russian GLONASS and the European GALILEO systems will complement GPS in the next few years. Generically, these satellite-based positioning systems are referred to as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). Previously, a part-time evening course in GPS was run at the Technological University Dublin (DIT) by the Department of Spatial Information Sciences (DSIS). This is now being replaced by two e-learning modules in GNSS designed for distance-based, on-line delivery. The first module covers GNSS for navigation and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) …

Educating For Sustainability: Creating A Comprehensive, Coherent And Compelling Approach - Guidelines For Sustainability Standards And Resource Materials, Kevin Griffin

Reports / Surveys

In 2007, Fáilte Ireland's Environment Unit, in collaboration with the Education Policy Section,commissioned a review of sustainability content in tourism education and training programmes at NQAI levels 4-8 throughout the State with a view to recommending improvements where necessary.

The review, carried out on Fáilte Ireland's behalf by the Tourism Research Centre of the Technological University Dublin, was - in terms of breadth and depth - the first of its kind to be undertaken at a national level, not only in Ireland but in any of the other countries surveyed during the course of the review.

University Futures: The Direction, Shape And Provision Of Higher Education In The University Of The Future, Arlene Finn, John Ratcliffe, Lorcan Sirr

Reports

The aim of this study is to help create an awareness of the changing milieu within which Higher Education (HE) will operate over coming decades, while concurrently exploring its possible alternative forms. The specific objectives of the study are to review literature relevant to the University of the Future in a global, European and Irish context. We have sought to determine key trends which have the potential to affect the future of Higher Education (and the institutions charged with its delivery), under the headings of Demography, Society, Technology, Governance, Economy and Environment, and to identify different possible formats for the …

What Now?: Evaluating Elearning Cpd Practice In Irish Third-Level Education, Roisin Donnelly, K. C. O'Rourke

Articles

The internet has made it impossible for higher education institutions to ignore technology in fulfilling their strategic mission and respond to the expectations of a diverse student body. In the Republic of Ireland, as elsewhere, the use of online technologies has become an increasingly important challenge in academic staff development, and on the surface, eLearning has been moderately successful in the teaching and learning environment. However, given the rapid rate of change in both technology and the increasing diversity in academic staff and students, to describe accurately the nature of eLearning for academic staff development is near impossible. There has …

Blended Learning In Higher Education: Theory And Praxis, G. Reinmann, J. Macdonald, Roisin Donnelly, J. Fransen, E. Poldner

Conference papers

Recent studies are showing that ‘blended learning’ is more than a mix between face-to-face and online education, or in other words: a mix of traditional and computer-based education. Blended learning seems to include mixtures between eLearning and other ways of learning, where the right choices have to be made in the distribution of learning content, didactical approaches, ways of communicating and characteristics of learning environments, in the perspective of the type of learning process and characteristics of students. This symposium provides evidence from qualitative studies of blended learning in practical situations, drawing on tutors’ and students’ perspectives, contrasted with theoretical …

From Certificates To Doctorates, By Degrees: Dublin Institute Of Technology - A Photographic Memoir, Jimmie Robinson

Books

Jimmie Robinson has photographed visitors and events at Dublin Institute of Technology for 43 years. In this photographic memoir, he chronicles the development of DIT over its first 120 years from behind the lens.