Education Commons^™

Where Next?: Mapping And Understanding The Post First Degree Destinations Of Mature Disadvantaged Students In Three Higher Education Institutions, Aidan Kenny, Andrew Loxley, Ted Fleming, Fergal Finnegan

Conference papers

Executive summary (draft for An Pobal conference 24/Sept/09,). The study explored the post first-degree destinations (employment, postgraduate education or otherwise) of students designated as being ‘mature disadvantaged’ in three Irish higher education institutions: NUI Maynooth, Trinity College Dublin and Technological University of Dublin. This research attempts to fill a noticeable gap in the ‘access story’ which firmly supports the entry of mature disadvantaged students to HE and has devised a range creative, innovative and targeted measures to enable matures students to stay the course but has rarely looked at how these students view HE or what happens after graduation. This …

International Study Abroad In Engineering/Industrial Technology: Through The Eyes Of Students, Michael Dyrenfurth, Robert Herrick, Donal Mchale, Richard Hayes, James Barnes

Conference papers

Faculty and programs in engineering/industrial technology often promote international exchange and study abroad as a desirable component of a university experience— particularly in this increasingly globalized world. But, what do students who have actually had such experiences perceive? How do they view such experiences, before, during and after the event? The following paper evolved from the experiences of four universities collaborating on an EU-FIPSE funded Atlantis project called DETECT that consist of the partnerships of four Engineering/Technology Educational institutions; Hochschule Darmstadt in Germany, Technological University Dublin in Ireland, and Pennsylvania State University & Purdue University from the USA.

Towards A Research Design To Investigate Assessment Practices In Built Environment Undergraduate Education, Lloyd Scott, Christopher Fortune

Conference papers

Abstract

‘To understand is hard, once one understands, action is easy’ (Sun Yat Sen, 1866-1952)

Research in Built Environment has begun to emerge as a distinct field. Within that context the investigation and exploration of assessment practices has received very little attention, particularly evident in the area of formative assessment. This type of assessment and the use of effective feedback mechanisms has been an area of interest for this researcher. The aim is to improve the quality of student learning in Built Environment undergraduate programmes through the development of a theoretical model of formative assessment.

The paper discusses the philosophical …

Iterative Approaches To Planning And Strategizing: Learning From The Architectural Studio Model, Shannon Chance

Conference papers

This paper investigates linear and non-linear strategies for organizing and planning, and explores how these strategies correlate to both higher education and architectural education. The study reveals that the strategies for planning and designing typically employed in the field of architecture reflect the sort of non-linear, iterative, and synthesizing processes scholars recommend universities use to improve the effectiveness of strategic planning (Birnbaum, 1988; Cutright, 2001; Presley & Leslie, 1999; Rowley, Lujan, & Dolence, 1998; Swenk, 2001). Opportunities abound for using design processes to enhance various institutional operations as explored in Proposal for using a studio format to enhance institutional advancement …

Towards A Coherent Tertiary Education Approach: European Union Policy Developments And Reflections On The Reform Agenda In Ireland: Issue, Aidan Kenny

Conference papers

This brief issue paper proposes that a coherent approach to tertiary education and training is necessary to enhance lifelong learning opportunities for citizens, in order to develop capacity and capabilities to deal with the challenges posed by the new world-of-work. To achieve this type of approach compatible systems and processes need to be introduced which facilitate communication between existing structures particularly in the areas of recognition, access, transfer and progression. The paper reviews key European Union education and training policy initiatives, citing them as examples of the construction of a meta-framework of systems and processes that support the move towards …

Student, Practitioner Or Both, Fiona Mcsweeney

Conference papers

*In professional education for the transfer of knowledge to the practice setting to occur student and worker identities need a level of integration.

* Focus of presentation is on factors identified as influencing the separation and integration of social identities of student and social care practitioner and the outcomes.

Beg, Steal Or Borrow?: The Challenges Faced By Borrowing The Failure Mode And Effects Analysis Method To Elicit The Unintended Consequences Of Implementing Elearning In The Higher Education Context, Frances Boylan

Conference papers

Effective project management, change management and risk management are key to the successful implementation of elearning. Connected to risk is the notion of unintended consequences, and it is with the issues and concerns surrounding the borrowing of the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis method for a research study to elicit the unintended consequences of the processes and policies put in place at one higher education institute in Ireland to facilitate the roll out of elearning there, that this paper is concerned. The Law of Unintended Consequences holds that any action undertaken can result in desirable and undesirable, as well as …

Interaction And Transformation In Virtual Problem-Based Learning Communities, Roisin Donnelly

Conference papers

This brief paper will discuss the harmonizing role of technology and interaction in a qualitative study on blended problem-based learning (PBL) within the context of academic development in higher education. Within academic development, and as both designers and tutors in blended PBL, it is important to seek best practices for how to combine instructional strategies in face-to-face and computer-mediated environments that take advantage of the strengths of each and avoid their weaknesses. A qualitative study of the lived experiences of 17 academic staff participants in a blended problem-based learning module was considered likely to provide a much-needed analysis of current …

Analysis Of Learning Styles Of First Year Engineering Students On Two Level 7 Programmes, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

This paper investigates the learning styles of first year, Level 7, mechanical and electrical engineering students at DIT, over two academic years, using the index of learning styles survey as developed by Felder and Soloman (1991). Student learning styles on these programmes are compared with the results from other such surveys. The correlation between student performance and their individual learning styles is examined. Knowledge of the strongly visual learning style of these cohorts of students may be used to improve the learning environment.

Analysis Of Assessment Strategies Used In A Level 7, Year 1 Engineering Subject, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

This contribution critically analyses the assessment strategies used on the core Electrical Systems subject in the first year of a three-year, Level 7, degree programme in Electrical Engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology. An evidence-based approach is taken, by analysing the assessment data in detail.

Prior Understanding Of Basic Electrical Circuit Concepts By First Year Engineering Students, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

There is a broad diversity of educational background of students entering Level 7 programmes in engineering. As a result, students’ reasoning regarding basic electrical concepts often differs from accepted explanations. This contribution reports, analyses and reflects on the results of a multiple-choice diagnostic test to assess student understanding of such concepts (developed by Engelhardt and Beichner (2004) for high school and college students), taken by three cohorts of first year, Level 7, engineering students at Dublin Institute of Technology during the 2008-9 academic year.

Audit Of Social Care Student Numbers And Programme Providers In Ireland, Kevin Lalor

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

A Flexible Web Based Learning Tool For Construction And Surveying Students Using Building Information Modelling And Laser Scanning, Maurice Murphy, Garrett Keenaghan, Eugene Mcgovern, Sara Pavia

Conference papers

Teaching and training construction and surveying students using computer simulations of buildings although recently developed is not new. In the case of this project a novel aspect is introduced through applying advanced recording and building modelling techniques developed in the Faculty of the Built Environment in the Technological University of Dublin. In summary this learning software uses parametric objects representing intelligent building components which are brought together virtually by the student to create or form an entire building. The library of parametric objects contain the real world geometry, texture and specification of building parts allowing the student to virtually analyse …