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Technological University Dublin

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2017

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Justification Of Investment In It Systems, Aidan Farrell Jun 2017

Justification Of Investment In It Systems, Aidan Farrell

The ITB Journal

For a company, capital investment of any sort is weighed up before a decision is made to invest. It is. true that the vast majority of investments for companies can be quantified financially. Investment in Iriformation Technology (IT) and Information Systems (IS) however has proved more complex than other investments as there are ·a large amount of intangible and non-financial benefits associated with this area of expenditure. Investments are traditionally rationalised by outweighing the costs and the benefits. The indirect costs associated with the deployment of IT/IS are equally difficult to put a measure on and hence the traditional methods …


An Evaluation Of On-Screen Keyboards For First Time Single Switch Users, Paul Ahern, Rupert Westrup Jun 2017

An Evaluation Of On-Screen Keyboards For First Time Single Switch Users, Paul Ahern, Rupert Westrup

The ITB Journal

This paper presents an evaluation of three designs for on-screen keyboard layouts for use by Single Switch Users (SSUs). SSUs are those users who have a disability which means that they are able to activate a switch into an "on" or "off'' position but are not able to locate or position a particular switch. The first keyboard layout design was alphabetically based, the second design was based upon the most frequently occurring letters in the English alphabet and the third design was the standard QWERTY layout found on most keyboards. The research shows that there is no significant difference in …


Speech Synthesis For Pda, Peter Cahill, Fredrick Mtenzi Jun 2017

Speech Synthesis For Pda, Peter Cahill, Fredrick Mtenzi

The ITB Journal

A Text-To-Speech (TTS) synthesiser is a computer-based system that should be able to read any text aloud. This paper presents the design and implementation of a speech synthesiser for a PDA. Our implementation is based on FreeTTS by Sun Microsystems Inc. This paper focuses on the issues that arise during the development and the differences with the desktop synthesiser. We carry out detailed experiments on different platforms to show how the quality and speed of conversion varies. Our TTS implementation on a P DA, apart from being platform independent produces the same sound quality with a far less powerful processor …


The Value Of Enterprise: Overcoming Cultural Barriers In Northern Ireland, Julie Byrne, Sharon Mcgreevy Jun 2017

The Value Of Enterprise: Overcoming Cultural Barriers In Northern Ireland, Julie Byrne, Sharon Mcgreevy

The ITB Journal

This paper presents some of the evaluation results of a learning intervention which took place in Northern Ireland from 1999-2002. The intervention called the KEY project was funded by the International Fund for Ireland and aimed to bring together young people from conflicting cultural and political backgrounds living in Northern Ireland and the border counties of the Republic of Ireland. The objective was to develop the interpersonal and enterprise skills of the participants by involving them in a range of learning activities. In this way the project hoped to redress the disadvantages of children born into marginalised communities and also …


Editorial, Brian Nolan Jun 2017

Editorial, Brian Nolan

The ITB Journal

I am delighted to introduce the 11th issue of the ITB Journal, the academic journal of the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown. The aim and purpose of the journal is to provide a forum whereby the members of ITB, visitors and guest contributors from other third level colleges can publish an article on their research in a multidisciplinary journal and thereby share their work with the broader community at ITB and other academic institutions.


Directionals In Ngaanyatjarra, Conor Pyle Jun 2017

Directionals In Ngaanyatjarra, Conor Pyle

The ITB Journal

This paper looks at directional morphemes in Ngaanyatjarra, a language spoken in Western Australia. This is part of the suffixing subdivision of Australian languages with both nominals and verbs having rich sets of inflectional and derivational suffixes. Despite this typological categorisation, there are a small number of directional prefixes. Using a Role and Reference Grammar (RRG) account, we look at directional elements, both prefixes and local peripheral case marking suffixes. RRG posits two types of directional operator, at the nucleus and the core. We find that the prefixes are nuclear operators describing the direction of the verb itself; while the …


A Third Number: Discussing Duals In Lithuanian Language, Jone Bruno Jun 2017

A Third Number: Discussing Duals In Lithuanian Language, Jone Bruno

The ITB Journal

Modern Lithuanian has two grammatical numbers: singular and plural, nevertheless literature sources note the existence of the dual number residue in Lithuanian. This phenomenon is prominent in Austronesian languages as stated by Schwartz (1989:237-238) and there are different types of duals. However, in European languages this phenomenon is not as widely spread. This paper overviews the constructions of such phenomenon and presents results of a small research which looked at the frequency of the usage of dual pronouns and demonstratives in the Lithuanian language. Data for the research was taken from the Corpus of Lithuanian Language compiled by Vytautas Magnus …


Computing The Lexicon Morphological-Phonological Interface For Irish Sign Language Sign Realisation, Irene Murtagh Jun 2017

Computing The Lexicon Morphological-Phonological Interface For Irish Sign Language Sign Realisation, Irene Murtagh

The ITB Journal

The first modern linguistic analysis of a signed language was published in 1960 by William C. Stokoe, Jr., a professor of English at Gallaudet University, Washington DC, the only college for the deaf in the world. Nearly sixty years on, research in the area of sign language linguistics has established that signed languages are fully developed natural languages with their own syntax, morphology and phonology. The morphology and phonology of signed languages is concerned among with manual and non-manual features. These include handshapes, head, torso, eyebrow, eye, cheek, mouth, nose, chin and tongue movement and also movement of the shoulders. …


Editorial, Brian Nolan Jun 2017

Editorial, Brian Nolan

The ITB Journal

I am very pleased to have to the opportunity to introduce the papers in the 27th edition of the ITB Journal.


Community Engagement In A Conflict Environment: Reflections On The Work Of The International Fund For Ireland 1986-2011, Paddy Harte Jun 2017

Community Engagement In A Conflict Environment: Reflections On The Work Of The International Fund For Ireland 1986-2011, Paddy Harte

The ITB Journal

The International Fund for Ireland, which was set up by the British and Irish Governments in 1986 under the Anglo-Irish Agreement of 1985, was funded by the United States of America, the European Union, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The International Fund enjoys the support of 31 countries, which is truly remarkable. It is one of the most successful examples of the Irish Diaspora at work in a very tangible way; a point ably captured in the Fund’s 2002 Annual Report where Hon Russell Marshall from New Zealand notes “As a member of the Irish Diaspora, New Zealand was delighted …


Developing And Implementing Civic Engagement Programmes In Dublin 15, Breffni O’Rourke Jun 2017

Developing And Implementing Civic Engagement Programmes In Dublin 15, Breffni O’Rourke

The ITB Journal

Moss (1994) compares Applied Portfolios to job applications where the candidate has to convince a committee of the strengths on offer; In the Applied Portfolio the student has to convince the teacher of what has been learned and how effectively. The period February and March of 2013 were not unlike a job interview, the basic structure was known (for the Applied Portfolio) and there was a sense that anything could happen next. Similar to a job interview the Portfolio process requires you demonstrate examples of your learning in an applied setting, a key difference being you get to propose an …


‘Getting Children Outdoors Again’ - Outdoor Play For Children In A Rural North West Of Ireland Setting: A Civic Engagement Project, Michelle Mcgonagle Jun 2017

‘Getting Children Outdoors Again’ - Outdoor Play For Children In A Rural North West Of Ireland Setting: A Civic Engagement Project, Michelle Mcgonagle

The ITB Journal

Children’s’ Outdoor play nowadays is the preferred approach to playing indoors which has become a constant focus of influences and powers of technology. Children spend hours on social media sites, isolated playing video games and lost in technologically powered screens (Larson et al, 2011). As a results of this disengagement with outdoors activities, children fall victims to many problems including obesity, social exclusion, and in some cases behavioural issues Fresh air and exercise are probably the two most common benefits associated with outdoor play by parents. However, many other advantages and beneficial of outdoor play including child’s social, cognitive and …


The James Connolly Memorial Hospital Electronic Menu Card System, Simon Mcloughlin Jun 2017

The James Connolly Memorial Hospital Electronic Menu Card System, Simon Mcloughlin

The ITB Journal

The James Connolly Memorial Hospital (JCM) require an Electronic Menu Card system so that their patients can choose their meals in a more informed and efficient manner. This entails presenting menus to the patients electronically and with an interface that will allow them to choose their meal. The electronic nature of such a system means more options can be incorporated in terms of language and presentation. In addition the system can be accessed anytime so the information will be available in a more timely fashion which will have positive knock on effects in terms of food ordering systems, food wastage …


A Model For Improving Student Completion Rates In The Tud Based On Competency Based Learning Modules That Improve Acres And Taasolc, Gerard Stockil Jun 2017

A Model For Improving Student Completion Rates In The Tud Based On Competency Based Learning Modules That Improve Acres And Taasolc, Gerard Stockil

The ITB Journal

Acronyms can be useful sometimes. Let’s mint a new one, TAASOLC, see Fig 1. Next describe what TAASOLC means and tell a thread of a story. Continue by describe a solution with a list of quantifiable action items, based on community engagement models, for solving an education problem and a community development problem. The problem is increasing the number of students successfully completing a third level institute and (this conjunction is essential) at the same time gradually improving standards. The best way of getting the community engaged with a college, and a new 21st century Irish university, is to increase …


Students And Work Experience Programmes, Marion Brown Jun 2017

Students And Work Experience Programmes, Marion Brown

The ITB Journal

Students are often reluctant to become involved in work experience programmes, preferring instead to devote their time to further study or, to work in (often) non- related paid employment. Many students may think that having a degree is a tremendous asset and, is the only requirement needed to successfully secure employment in their chosen field. This article will discuss the advantages of work experience and provide a concrete example of one programme attended by third year students as part of the Special Populations module of Sports Management and Coaching Course. ITB, in a unique partnership with Fingal County Council Sports …


Community Civic Engagement As An Enabler Of Student Flourishing, Edel Randles, Bernie Quillinan Jun 2017

Community Civic Engagement As An Enabler Of Student Flourishing, Edel Randles, Bernie Quillinan

The ITB Journal

Civic Engagement is a process where people join together to conduct public work, it may be for political activism, advocating for social justice, consciousness raising, challenging and changing societal systems. It usually incorporates levels of social connectedness, coherence, shared philosophies, comradeship, social responsibility, compassion, courage and transcendence. Familiar civic engagement terms across Higher Education include, volunteering, service learning, community based learning/research, community engaged research and capacity building.


Apathetic Or Engaged? Exploring Two Paradigms Of Youth Civic Engagement In The 21st Century, Aideen Mccormack, Cormac Doran Jun 2017

Apathetic Or Engaged? Exploring Two Paradigms Of Youth Civic Engagement In The 21st Century, Aideen Mccormack, Cormac Doran

The ITB Journal

The majority of academics studying the field of civic engagement would concurrently agree that there is a decline in conventional forms of civic engagement, such as voting, keeping informed with current affairs, or membership in civic organisation, especially among young people. However, disagreements begin when advocates for traditional forms of engagement discount evidence of new, evolving patterns in youth civic engagement. Reviewing literature on civic engagement, this paper offers an examination of the congested debate on the ‘two paradigms’ of youth civic engagement, the disengaged paradigm and the engaged paradigm.


Setting Up And Mentoring In Coderdojo Dublin 15, Arnold Hensman Jun 2017

Setting Up And Mentoring In Coderdojo Dublin 15, Arnold Hensman

The ITB Journal

Initilally beginning in Ireland, CoderDojo is a non-profit organisation that has grown rapidly into a global network of community based programming clubs. Mentors teach coding skills to young people aged between 7 and 17. All classes are free of charge and clubs operate entirely on a volunteer basis. The first Dublin 15 based CoderDojo began just over two years ago and continues to thrive during weekend sessions held at The Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB), which offers the use of its premises and resources for the sessions. This paper will chronicle the involvement of ITB staff and students with the …


Civic Engagement: Strategic And Implementation Perspectives Within A Higher Education Institution, Des Moore Jun 2017

Civic Engagement: Strategic And Implementation Perspectives Within A Higher Education Institution, Des Moore

The ITB Journal

This paper will give a brief overview of what Civic Engagement means in Higher Education in general with a particular focus on Knowledge Exchange, Service Learning, Community Based Research and Volunteering. Following this, emergent thinking on Civic Engagement in Ireland is presented. Given both the theoretical context and the strategic importance of ensuring Civic Engagement opportunities are offered in a Higher Education Institution some possible organisation arrangements regarding the structured development and implementation of Civic Engagement at strategic and implementation levels are proposed.


Editorial, Brian Nolan Jun 2017

Editorial, Brian Nolan

The ITB Journal

I am very pleased to have to the opportunity to introduce the papers in the 26th edition of the ITB Journal, which is dedicated to Civic Engagement.


Community Education And The Labour Activation Challenge, Liam Mcglynn Jun 2017

Community Education And The Labour Activation Challenge, Liam Mcglynn

The ITB Journal

In the aftermath of the global economic crisis of 2008 and the subsequent recession in Ireland and indeed across Europe, public discourse in politics, society, academia and media has focused on explaining the crisis as well as looking for solutions to the crisis. In the context of the Irish recession now in its fifth year, with unemployment at 13.6% or 435,357 (Central Statistics Office, 2013) there is understandable urgency across all sectors to find ways out of the crisis. It is against this backdrop of Ireland’s fall from the dizzying heights of the celtic tiger years to the depths of …


A Minority Within A Minority? Social Justice For Traveller And Roma Children In Ecec, Colette Murray Jun 2017

A Minority Within A Minority? Social Justice For Traveller And Roma Children In Ecec, Colette Murray

The ITB Journal

Following years of lobbying by Human Rights NGOs working with Roma and Travellers and despite centuries of oppression, Roma issues have only recently become prominent on the EU policy agenda. Similarly, Children’s Rights issues, and in particular Early Childhood Care and Education, have surfaced after years of being the second class citizen to ‘formal’ education. Why is this happening now? This article discusses the recent policy developments in Europe regarding Roma and Traveller integration and Early Childhood Provision, drawing at the same time on the Irish experience for analysis and insights on policy and practice. We are all aware of …


Equality Of Access To Higher Education: Discussion Of Emerging Issues Regarding The Performance Of Migrants At The Institute Of Technology Blanchardstown, Brid Ni Chonaill, Ruth Harris Jun 2017

Equality Of Access To Higher Education: Discussion Of Emerging Issues Regarding The Performance Of Migrants At The Institute Of Technology Blanchardstown, Brid Ni Chonaill, Ruth Harris

The ITB Journal

This paper presents the findings of a small scale study of the impact of English language competency on the performance of migrants in higher education in Ireland. It is based on a case study of a group of first year Social Studies students at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB). First, relevant terminology will be outlined before focusing on the promotion of equality in higher education by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) – the framework within which the data will subsequently be critiqued. Next, the presence of migrants in the Institutes of Technology (IOTs) will be discussed, before presenting the …


From Grand Dad’S To Grand Daughter’S Binge Drinking – A Recent Evolution Of Heavy Episodic Alcoholic Consumption In Ireland., Gaël Le Roux Jun 2017

From Grand Dad’S To Grand Daughter’S Binge Drinking – A Recent Evolution Of Heavy Episodic Alcoholic Consumption In Ireland., Gaël Le Roux

The ITB Journal

This article is aimed at understanding how female students perceive and explain the feminisation of binge drinking among their age group in Ireland. It focuses on the responsibility of older generations as well as female students’ gender and ethnic identity quests as possible explanatory factors for their increasing level of episodic heavy alcohol consumption. This empirical research was of a qualitative nature. 50 female students at the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, were interviewed individually in 2011 and 2012. The findings might be of significance in order to improve the effectiveness prevention strategies implemented in Ireland to reduce heavy …


Violent Video Games And Attitudes Towards Victims Of Crime: An Empirical Study Among Youth, Lavinia Mclean, Mark D. Griffiths Jun 2017

Violent Video Games And Attitudes Towards Victims Of Crime: An Empirical Study Among Youth, Lavinia Mclean, Mark D. Griffiths

The ITB Journal

Previous research has indicated that playing violent video games may be associated with an increase in acceptance of violence and positive attitudes towards perpetrators of crime. This study is the first to investigate the relationship between playing violent video games and attitudes towards victims of crime. A total of 206 young people (aged 12-24 years) completed measures of attitudes towards victims and violent video game exposure. The results suggest that exposure to violent video games is associated with less concern being reported for victims of crime. Young people who play more violent video games reported less concern for general victims …


Virtual Interaction: A Real Alternative, Emmett Tuite, Lavinia Mclean Jun 2017

Virtual Interaction: A Real Alternative, Emmett Tuite, Lavinia Mclean

The ITB Journal

Social care students on block placement have reported a feeling of disconnection from both the broader student group and the natural supports available in the college environment. Students experience a variety of challenges and opportunities on placement, and when combined with practical and geographical limitations on support this can provide a key obstacle for successful progression through placement. Appropriate navigation of practice placement challenges offer the opportunity for key personal and professional development. This article is intended to outline the implementation and use of a specific moderated online interactive support space designed for social care students on final practice placements. …


The Social Pillar Of Sustainable Development A Literature Review And Framework For Policy Analysis, Kevin Murphy Jun 2017

The Social Pillar Of Sustainable Development A Literature Review And Framework For Policy Analysis, Kevin Murphy

The ITB Journal

There is a need to develop a clearer understanding of what the social pillar of sustainable development means and how it relates to the environmental pillar. This article contributes to this process by presenting a conceptual framework that identifies four overarching social concepts and links them to environmental imperatives. These concepts are: public awareness, equity, participation, and social cohesion. The framework builds on concepts and policy objectives outlined in research on international sustainable development indicators and the social sustainability literature. The social pillar can be expanded to include environmental, international, and intergenerational dimensions. This framework can then be used to …


Discussion, Cooperation, Collaboration: The Impact Of Task Structure On Student Interaction In A Web-Based Translation Exercise Module, Mary Ann Kenny Jun 2017

Discussion, Cooperation, Collaboration: The Impact Of Task Structure On Student Interaction In A Web-Based Translation Exercise Module, Mary Ann Kenny

The ITB Journal

A major challenge facing the online translation instructor is to design learning opportunities that encourage communication and the sharing of ideas between students. This article asks how such group interaction may be facilitated and evaluates, in particular the impact of task structure on student interaction in an online translation exercise module. Drawing on an empirical study carried out at Dublin City University during the academic year 2003/14, the article compares levels of intermessage referencing, the number and size of message clusters, and extent and type of cognitive presence evident in messages posted by students given three different types of task …


Interprofessional Education Challenges In Contemporary Social Care Placement Education, Aoife Prendergast Jun 2017

Interprofessional Education Challenges In Contemporary Social Care Placement Education, Aoife Prendergast

The ITB Journal

It is vital in contemporary practice that interprofessional education is effective and it requires engagement from students from a variety of different professions using interactive learning methodologies to develop social care professional student’s knowledge, skills and attitudes, behaviours and perceptions. Interprofessional education is a complex adult learning (andragogy) approach that is most effective when integrated throughout a programme of study moving from the basic to the most complex learning activities that bridge the gap from post-secondary to practice education settings. Educational accreditation standards being developed to stimulate the advancement of interprofessional education will have an impact on policies in both …


Editorial, Brian Nolan Jun 2017

Editorial, Brian Nolan

The ITB Journal

I am delighted to introduce the 25th edition of the ITB Journal, the academic journal of the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown.