Education Commons^™

Dit Undergraduate Full-Time Prospectus : 2005, Dublin Institute Of Technology

DIT Publications

No abstract provided.

Will Using A Constructivist Approach Improve Laboratory Work For Phase 6 Electrical Apprentices?, Francis Ashworth

Theses

This study used action research to implement a constructivist approach in the delivery of the electronics and measurements laboratory classes for a phase six group of electrical apprentices in the Electrical Services Engineering Department of the Technologicl University Dublin. The aim of the study was to investigate if the constructivist approach adopted, with a research group, could improve the effectiveness of the two labs. The research group consisted of sixteen, phase six, male electrical apprentices for both the electronics and measurements labs. The students ranged in ages between eighteen and twenty five years of age and were a randomly selected …

Thermal Efficiency Characteristics Of Indirect Evaporative Cooling Systems, Ben Costelloe, Donal Finn

Conference Papers

Recent developments in enhancing heat transfer in cooling towers, together with the success of chilled ceilings, have prompted a review of the evaporative cooling technique. in temperate maritime climates. The thermal efficiency of such systems is a key parameter, as a measure of the degree to which the system has succeeded in exploiting the cooling potential of the ambient air. This paper presents the results of experimental research into the thermal efficiency of a water-side open indirect evaporative cooling test rig designed to achieve low (1-4 K) approach conditions. Secondary efficiencies in the range 0.24-0.76 have been achieved.

An Examination Of Ethical Issues Pertaining To Educational Research, Greg Gallagher

Articles

The social sciences in general and educational researchers in particular have become more and more conscious of ethical propriety and the need for universally acceptable codes of ethical conduct in recent years. This newfound interest stems in part from criticisms of innovative contemporary research methodologies, and the fear that they may be at odds with certain fundamental ethical principles. This, in turn, has resulted in the integrity and validity of some of these new contemporary styles of research being held up to scrutiny and debated by adherents to the more conventional research methodologies. This paper begins by tracing back to …

Developing A Participatory Consultation Process For Quality Reviews:The Initial Stage Of The European University Associations Quality Review Of The Technological University Dubin, Aidan Kenny

Articles

This paper describes the evolution of a consultation process utilized by the Technological University Dubin (DIT) as part of a quality review process. An emphasis is placed on outlining: the collaborative nature of the enquiry; the guidelines and code of ethics adopted; the social research methodology utilized both quantitative (online surveys, staff n=1831, student’s n=21094) and qualitative (6 staff focus groups n=45 and 4 stakeholder focus groups n=24 and faculty board submissions 6). Instrument construction, theme sheet design and sampling procedures and response rate are detailed. The author, as consultation facilitator, provides an narrative of events and applies theory to …

Researching From The Inside - Does It Compromise Validity? - A Discussion, Pauline Rooney

Articles

The concept of validity in social research is the subject of much debate. It is a complex and problematic issue, especially because it is difficult to define validity. In traditional studies, validity usually referred to the degree to which the study accurately reflected the issue or topic that the research was attempting to measure (Feldman 2003). More specifically, this type of validity also referred to the role of research instruments and their appropriateness for collecting data that answers the research questions (Black and Champion 1976). Such positivist accounts assumed that science could produce objective knowledge and thus the researcher's goal …

Is There A Need To Debate The Role Of Higher Education And The Public Good?, Sandra Fisher

Articles

Calls for sustaining and increasing investment in higher education are often made on the basis that higher education is a `public good'. The idea of higher education as a public good is frequently conceptualized in terms of its contribution to economic development. If more people participate in higher education then society as a whole will benefit. Outside of the economic benefits of higher education there is less debate as to what is meant by `public good' in the context of higher education. This paper explores higher education as a public good and its role in realizing the public good (Jonathan …

A Summary Of The Evaluation Of The Community Playgroup Initiative, Geraldine French

Reports

Community playgroups contribute to a sense of identity, belonging and participation. Beyond the family and the school, the community has the potential to contribute to the development of supportive environments for our young pre-school aged citizens. In recognition of the vulnerability of these important services in Ireland the Community Playgroup Initiative (cpi) 2001 – 2004 was established. It was funded by the Katharine Howard Foundation in partnership with the then South Eastern Health Board (SEHB) in Ireland. This three-year project was developed to assist community playgroups to deliver a high quality sessional service, to identify and evaluate the impact of …

Contradictions In Irish Academic Research, Stephen Jerrams, John Donovan

Articles

The conditions that govern academic research vary greatly from country to country and research in the Republic of Ireland was and remains markedly different from that of its larger European neighbours and the United States. Despite the quality of its education system and the excellent reputation of its universities, until recently Ireland had relatively low levels of academic research. Pinnacles of excellence could be found in certain disciplines, but state funding was low and issues relating to industrial collaborations, international partnerships, commercialisation and the exploitation of Intellectual Property (IP) rarely arose. Even today the Irish Government’s spending on academic research, …

Reflective Learning, Future Thinking: Digital Repositories, E-Portfolios, Informal Learning And Ubiquitous Computing, George Roberts, Wijnand Aalderink,, John Cook, Jen Harvey, Vincent P. Wade, Stuart Lee

Other resources

No abstract provided.

Biking, Buying And Belonging: An Exploration Of How An Irish Subculture Of Consumption’S Socialisation Process Equips Its Members To Critically Filter Marketing Messages, Roger Sherlock, Geoffrey Weller

Conference papers

This paper identifies how members of an Irish biker subculture of consumption critically decode marketing messages, brands and products using a subcultural filter (peculiar to the subculture) learnt through localised socialisation. This critical filter develops through prolonged subcultural immersion and is influenced by the word-ofmouth purchase advice and product judgement of other members of the subculture of consumption; with a parallel between its development and use, and the development of the subcultural identity, from experimentation, to identification and conformity, to mastery and internalisation of both filter and identity (Schouten and McAlexander, 1995). It is internally utilised by the members to …

The Tutor's Role In Propagating Blended Problem-Based Learning In Higher Education: A Case Study Approach, Roisin Donnelly

Other resources

It is argued in this thesis that it is vital to seek to develop e-learning teaching and learning strategies in higher education that support approaches with an emphasis on the innovative and cutting edge educational strategies related to education for sustainability. Education for sustainability should be learner centred and will require a significant shift for both academics and students alike. It is essential that all academics who are willing to engage in this process acknowledge that they too are learners and will need to reflect on their teaching and learning practice if we are to develop a truly sustainable global …

Designing Modules For Learning, Roisin Donnelly, Marian Fitzmaurice

Books/Book Chapters

During the past fifty years third level education has expanded and diversified and the demands and expectations being placed on Higher Education Institutions are now formidable, with changes in the student body and increased pressure from government on costs, procedures and results. For academic staff, there are increased pressures through increased teaching loads, growing reporting and administrative requirements and pressure to develop and strengthen their research profile. Amongst academic staff surveys consistently report that teaching is a source of reward but staff say that they are working longer hours and dealing with a more diverse student group (McInnis, 2000). At …

Collaborative Project-Based Learning And Problem-Based Learning In Higher Education: A Consideration Of Tutor And Student Role In Learner-Focused Strategies, Roisin Donnelly, Marian Fitzmaurice

Books/Book Chapters

The aim of this chapter is twofold. Firstly to support academic staff from a variety of subject disciplines in higher education in the clarification between two different learner focused strategies, namely collaborative project-based (CPBL) and problem-based learning (PBL). Secondly, to provide practical advice to them to assist in the making of informed decisions as to when which strategy is most appropriate to use to support learning. These decisions will be based on a sound understanding of each strategy and a consideration of when each is most appropriate to use in enhancing the learning of their students.

Using Technology To Support Project And Problem-Based Learning, Roisin Donnelly

Books/Book Chapters

This chapter is aimed at supporting lecturers in universities and colleges who have begun or are considering introducing project or problem-based learning (PBL) for students’ learning. In order to keep up with rapid change and make the most of learning technologies as aids to both learning strategies, a range of practical insights based on research will be provided in sections, supplemented with a variety of examples of learning technology being infused into both strategies. The range provided are by no means exhaustive, and you may know of many more examples yourself. It is unlikely that any one student would experience …

Beginning With Site In Architectural Education., Shannon Chance

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Why Are Students Leaving And What Can We Do To Stop Them?, Ann Conway

Other resources

Not only are demographic changes taking place within the Irish population but in addition, significant challenges are being imposed on higher education providers to retain as many students as possible within the higher education system. Yorke (1999) noted that many students leave higher education prematurely and about 50% of these students do so during, or at the end of their first year in college (DIT, 2003). Some non-completion of courses is unavoidable and should not be viewed as failure by the student, tutor or college, but acknowledged that dropping out is likely (Oliver, 2001). However, a lot of non-completion is …

Valuing Community Playgroups: Lessons For Practice And Policy, Geraldine French

Reports

The Community Playgroup Initiative (cpi) was established and funded by the Katharine Howard Foundation (KHF) in partnership with the South Eastern Health Board (SEHB*) and with assistance from the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme (EOCP). This three-year project was developed to assist community playgroups to deliver a high quality sessional service and to identify and evaluate the impact of funding and support on the quality of service provided to children and their families. A further aim of cpi was to highlight the value of community playgroups. Among the objectives of cpi were that children and families would benefit, that staff and …

Contemporary Issues In Early Childhood Education And Care: Proceedings Of The Conference Held In St. Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin On Saturday, 23rd. April, 2005., Noirin Hayes

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Institutional Mission Vs. Policy Constraint?: Unlocking Potential, Ellen Hazelkorn

Articles

The research-intensive and competitive knowledge society is putting HEIs (higher education institutions) under the spotlight. While many HEIs around the world do not proclaim or wish to be research-intensive institutions the majority desire to intensify their research activity because it is seen as a sine qua non of higher education. Accordingly, HEIs are busy making critical strategic choices concerning human resources, the research environment, the teaching-research nexus, organisational and management structure, and funding. Governments are also making choices, using policies and financial instruments to help shape institutional mission, priorities and HE systems. But if governments genuinely desire to widen access …

Contemplating The Evolving Role Of The Tutor In Blended Problem Based Learning In Higher Education, Roisin Donnelly

Other resources

A hugely important area in any form of face to face and PBL delivery is the role of the tutor; in an e-learning environment, it is even more crucial. The role of the tutor in blended PBL is both special and crucial for effective learning outcomes and enjoyable learning experiences for students in higher education. As an educational developer and tutor in higher education, whilst working with academic staff, I encounter issues in postgraduate modules that use blended problem-based learning delivery methods. IN this professional context, blended learning refers to a merging of classroom and online activities that must be …

Lifelong Learning: Romance, Evidence, Implementation?, Anne Murphy

Conference papers

This paper asks if there is evidence that implementation of a lifelong learning agenda in Ireland has progressed in the decade since the 1995 European Year of Lifelong Learning. It tries to answer the question by analysis of over forty documents related to lifelong learning produced since 1984. It concludes that while there is now much research-based knowledge and much convergence of opinion and policy on the main themes to be addressed, there has been indifferent progress and that persistent challenges remain.

Exploring The Relationship Between Espoused Philosophies Of Teaching And Practice, Roisin Donnelly, Marian Fitzmaurice

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

The Problems Faced By Higher Education Institutions Because Of The Constantly Changing Objectives, Sometimes Imposed Externally, Sometimes Self-Imposed, Frank Mcmahon

Books/Book chapters

This paper reviews the extent to which the objectives the universities and other higher education institutions try to achieve are changing and, in particular, how a multiplicity of objectives has emerged.

Experiences Teaching Website Engagibility To Computer Science Students., Pan Liqiang, Bryan Duggan, Ronan Fitzpatrick

Conference papers

In the second year of our degree program, DT228 students study a subject called Web Development. In this paper we describe our studio classroom based teaching approach to this subject and explain how using this approach has enabled us to expand the scope of the course to include the important concept of website engagibility. We present a summary of current theories on website engagibility and explain how we incorporated these theories into the course. We further describe an experiment which we carried out in order to encourage students to reflect on website engagibility and incorporate it into their continuous assessments.

The Systematic Evaluation Of A Strategic Management Program In An Irish Institute Of Technology, Deirdre Lillis

Conference papers

Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) worldwide are investing significant resources in strategic planning and self-evaluation programs to improve institutional performance and to meet external stakeholder demands. Little empirical evidence exists however which demonstrates that these programs are effective in leading to improvements in institutional performance, let alone shed light on the reasons why. This paper reports on the systematic evaluation of the effectiveness of a Strategic Management program in an Irish HEI over a five year period in leading to improvements in institutional performance.

Drama In The Docklands, Mary Moynihan

Articles

An article by Mary Moynihan in IN2 Magazine, issue number seven, Winter 2005, on Drama in the Docklands, a project run by Smashing Times Theatre Company that promotes access to creativity in the docklands area of Dublin, bringing drama into two primary schools - St Joseph's Primary School, East Wall and City Quay Primary School, City Quay. The article documents the project and the year-end show by children at Samuel Beckett Centre, Trinity College, Dublin.

Maintaining A Balance At Undergraduate Degree Level In The Teaching Of Automation And Classical Control Systems, Eugene Coyle, Aidan O'Dwyer

Conference papers

Advances in the past decade in the development and application of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) and Automation Systems in both high technology industrial plants and in the more mainstream manufacturing sectors, has heightened the importance of ensuring that undergraduate degree programme syllabi are designed to adequately cater for the teaching and training of students in automation. Prior to this growth in automation, delivered syllabi in Control Systems on most Electrical Engineering programmes had a theoretical rigour, reflecting the mathematical nature of the topic. A major challenge currently facing departmental lecturing staff and programme coordinators is that of the design of …

Hardening The Categories - The Problem Of Reliability In Identifying Themes Using Grounded Theory While Investigating What Theories Underpin E-Learning, Roisin Donnelly, Marian Fitzmaurice, Robbie Burns

Conference papers

The background research to this paper is focused within the context of a Higher Education Institution in the Republic of Ireland. The question, which drove the main focus of the research as a whole is: - ‘How can the Institution improve Staff Development processes to enable staff to develop blended (including online) learning, to enhance Learning and Teaching? This paper describes a critical element of the main research process. In seeking to answer the question our individual participation in the research as agents as well as researchers is acknowledged. Clearly there are all kinds of questions of subjectivity, objectivity, distance …

The Truth About E-Learning: Lessons Learnt For Architecture., Roisin Donnelly

Conference papers

This presentation will introduce key ideas about

designing e-learning experiences for students.

It is organised around the following topics:

Designing E-learning: Pedagogy and Practice

Model of E-learning: Blended Learning

Changing student and teacher roles: online tutoring

Integrating Online Resources

DIT Case Studies in the Built Environment:

WebCT Courses in Architecture

E-Portfolio Exploration