Education Commons^™

The Beast In The Jungle: The Humanities In The Future Higher Education Landscape, Richard Hayes

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

That universities—existing and to-be-invented—will by necessity be more entrepreneurial in the future is enshrined in higher education policy in Ireland and, indeed, has been seemingly uncritically accepted by higher education institutions, old and new. Commercializing research output, nurturing spin-out commercial activity, embracing on-campus private, commercial companies, forming entrepreneurial graduates with entrepreneurial training embedded in the curriculum—all these strategies are encouraged, if not required, of a new higher education culture that promises, in adopting these strategies, a pathway towards "economic renewal". An industry- and business-led vision of the future of higher education sits uneasily with faculty in Humanities, however, where a …

The Role Of Governance In The Cultivation Of University As An Ethical Enterprise, Thomas B. Morrow

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

Universities have always relied on financial and other resources to pursue their goals. Over the last two decades, the percentage of financial support they receive from government has dwindled (Metcalfe, 2010). The expression, “enterprising university”, is generally used to refer to post- secondary educational institutions adopting entrepreneurial approaches to locate new sources and forms of revenue. Invoking the term in a normative register, some adopt a cheerful, triumphant tone (Meyer, 2002), others a gloomy, foreboding one (Lynch, 2006). Certain opponents condemn the “enterprising university” for spelling the end of university as we know it, whereas certain proponents claim being “enterprising” …

Creating An Experiential Learning Based Multi-Disciplinary Program, Jeff Moretz, Steve Marsh, Jennifer Percival

Stream 2: Curriculum

For many years, curriculum development has considered learning outcomes at the program level largely via learning outcomes at the course level. Some programs have modified their designs to use different structures such as condensed courses or project based learning. Recently, there has been an increased interest in experiential learning as a way to facilitate student acquisition of real-world applicable capabilities while enhancing student learning of ‘soft skills’ such as professionalism, communication, and team management. Historically, such engagement including complexities of real-world problems has been accomplished through internships, co-op, capstone courses, or project based learning. In this paper we present an …

A Study Of Student And Instructor Perceptions Of Tablet Pcs In Higher Education Contexts, Jennifer Percival, Timothy Claydon

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

The advent of the tablet device has fundamentally changed the instructor’s ability to mobilize the student’s learning environment, freeing them from the limitations of laptop based features, to expanding interactions and collaboration with other students. While other smart devices have enhanced mobility, the tablet computer with its true portability, long-battery life and haptic capabilities has made the mobile classroom practical in functionality and versatility. Despite their popularity with students and faculty, usability studies concerning mobile tablet devices in post-secondary environments are lacking. This study is aimed at determining user perceptions and usability of Microsoft Surface Pro tablets in the classrooms …

Academic Engagement Using Social Media: Revisiting The Technological, Pedagogical And Content Knowledge Framework In Higher Education Today, Matt Glowatz, Orna Keane

Stream 6: Global University

Research into the use of social media for academic purposes is increasingly emerging. Such research suggests that a social networking site (SNS) could be used as an innovative tool for teaching purposes. However, much of previous research has focused on outlining the experience of students and the empirical evidence to date reports how a SNS may develop a higher level of academic engagement amongst students. In addition, research in this field has overlooked review of the pedagogy involved in utilising a SNS for education purposes successfully. Previously, Koehler and Mishra (2009) proposed the TPACK framework to explore the relationship of …

Wiki'd Transformations: Technology Supporting Collaborative Learning, Bill Hunter, Roger Austin

Stream 6: Global University

This paper examines the uses of wikis in teaching in higher education. It was developed in support of a workshop offered at the Higher Education in Transformation conference in Dublin, Ireland, in March, 2015. The paper describes one author’s use of a wiki over a period of five years to support graduate students in their study of principles of learning, reviews some of the literature on educational applications of wikis and suggests directions for future research.

A New Model Within Canadian Colleges And Universities To Develop A Diverse Future Generation Of Entrepreneurs: Inclusivity And Accessibility, Jay Fisher

Stream 6: Global University

This paper reviews past research that focused on the delivery of, and support for, entrepreneurship education (EE) within the Canadian post-secondary academic environment. Specifically this review focuses on the trend towards EE ‘inclusivity’ within both the Canadian post-secondary system and the individual institutions examined. A wide range of studies is reviewed and impacts are categorized across key stakeholder groups. This paper concludes with insights for future research specific to other key stakeholders and provides examples to highlight academic institutions that have established EE experiences both within and outside the curriculum to satisfy a broad and diverse student population

The Pursuit Of Civic Engagement: Youth Civic Engagement And The Role Of Higher Education, Aideen Mccormack, Aiden Carthy, Cormac Doran

Stream 6: Global University

Putnam (2000) argues that, in recent years, there has been a steady decline of social capital and civic engagement in western societies. However, arguments claiming a 'crisis' of civic engagement have also been met with fierce academic disagreement, leading to a strongly contested debate as to whether civic engagement is in decline or simply evolving. Using a mixed methods approach, this research sought to explore youth civic engagement among the students of the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown aged 18 to 25. Preliminary quantitative results provide evidence of both disengagement with traditional routes and a re-routing of engagement towards more lifestyle …

Creating Space In The Curriculum For Workplace And Generic Skills, Brian Campbell

Stream 6: Global University

There are competing forces affecting university credibility. On the one hand there is credibility in the competitive academic environment that results in the expansion of the curriculum. And on the other hand there are the increasing pressures from outside the academy for university graduates to have economically relevant workplace skills. In this paper I analyze some of the difficulties that result from these competing pressures and speculate on how they might be resolved. The example of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology is used as a new university in attempting to establish its credibility. I suggest that collegial review …

The Ict Skills Plan And The Higher Diploma In Science In Computing Graduate Conversion Programme: An Example Of Government, Third Level And Industry Engaging To Address A Specific Skills Deficit In The Irish Economy, Finbarr Feeney

Stream 6: Global University

The past 15 years have been ones of rapid change not only in the ever growing impact of ICT on everyday life but also locally in terms of talent development and delivery for ICT graduates. One of the critical issues identified for Ireland and indeed internationally, has been a shortage of Level 8 Graduates in Computing and Computer Science. Enterprise Ireland, Forfás, the HEA, the IDA, Industry bodies such as ICT Ireland, The Irish Computer Society, Engineers Ireland and IBEC as well as government departments recognised the criticality of supply of talented graduates to Ireland’s ICT sector and took measures …

An Evaluation Of The Effectiveness Of Using A Hybrid Pbl Approach In The Teaching Of The Java Programming Language To First Year Third Level, James Doody

Stream 2: Curriculum

First year students on third level Computing courses find Software Development difficult: learner outcomes are poor, with high failure rates and low learner retention. A number of research studies have shown that novice programmers have low intrinsic motivation and low programming self-efficacy. One of the other possible explanations for the difficulties many learners have with Software Development is that it may be a Threshold Concept in Computing. The literature suggests that Problem-Based Learning (PBL) can improve the teaching of difficult concepts, and it has been promoted by professional and funding bodies as a teaching strategy that can improve learner outcomes …

Engagement With A Custom-Made Online System Designed To Support Undergraduate Work Placement, Claire E. Mcdonnell, Francis Pedreschi

Stream 3: Digital Campus and Universal Design

This paper describes an online system that was custom-made to allow BSc Optometry undergraduates to submit work electronically, while off-campus on work placement. One of the main aims of the system was to allow internal (college) supervisors to provide students with timely, formative feedback on work submitted. The system was piloted in academic year 2013-14 and an intrinsic case study was carried out to examine the engagement of the students, the external placement supervisors and the internal supervisors with the system. Engagement was gauged by examining all subjects’ interaction with the system and by asking them to complete a post …

Community Building In Online Pbl Courses: Instigating Criticality, Elizabeth Childs, Roland Van Oostveen, Kathleen Flynn, Jessica Clarkson

Stream 6: Global University

As post secondary institutions continue to endeavor to address changing stakeholder expectations and policy directions, new curriculum models that allow for choice and learner flexibility are required. One approach that shows promise in this area is online problem-based learning (PBL). This paper discusses a case-study of the implementation of a problem-based learning pedagogical framework that fosters the development of meaningful teacher-learner; learner-learner, and learner-content relationships (vanOostveen & Desjardins, 2013) in an online Bachelor’s program in adult education and digital technology. Within this context, the attributes and affordances of a program design model on facilitating online community are examined.

What Stick Figures Tell Us About Irish Politics: Creating A Critical And Collaborative Learning Space, Sharon Feeney, John Hogan, Paul Donnelly

Articles

This paper focuses upon the interpretation of freehand drawings produced by a small sample of 220 first-year students taking an Irish politics introductory module in response to the question, ‘What is Irish Politics?’ By sidestepping cognitive verbal processing routes, through employing freehand drawing, we aim to create a critical and collaborative learning environment, where students develop their capacity for interpretation and critical self-reflection. This is because the freehand drawing technique, as part of a critical pedagogy, can generate a more critical and inclusive perspective, as visual representations permit us to comprehend the world differently, and understand how others also see …

The Evolution Of A New Technological University In Terms Of Policy Definition And Control Of Implementation, Kevin Kelly, Deborah Brennan

Stream 1: Enterprise and Engagement

This paper derives from a Doctoral case study completed in the Technological University Dublin (DIT) in 2008. The main issues of the case study are still being addressed today as DIT prepares to amalgamate with the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) and Institute of Technology Tallaght (ITT) in 2015. The combined new institute will become a university in 2016 and is in the process of a move to a green field site. The rate and scope of these changes are challenging for all concerned. Through a series of interviews and focus groups in 2008, a story of DIT emerged. The …

Embedding Reflective Practice And Creativity To Link A Modularised Curriculum., Muireann Okeeffe, Roisin Donnelly

Books/Book Chapters

Providing space for students to reflect and integrate their learning is the theme of this chapter, where Muireann has researched ways of integrating ePortfolios into the curriculum to encourage students to develop and reflect on their learning through student-led communities of practice.

Does Accredited Professional Development For Academics Improve Teaching And Learning In Higher Education?, Claire Mcavinia, Roisin Donnelly, Claire M. Mcdonnell, Orla Hanratty, Jen Harvey

Books/Book Chapters

This Chapter examines the extent to which we can assess whether accredited professional development programmes for academics have improved teaching – and students’ learning – in higher education. A review of the literature will be presented, along with new research undertaken in our home institution. The authors are part of a team delivering accredited programmes in teaching at tertiary level, and have collaborated to examine the impact of their work and that of the team over more than ten years in this area. Our findings from both the literature and our most recent research within our own institution indicate a …

Authentic Assessment, Sinead Freeman, James Fox, Vanessa Murphy, Nicola Hughes

Practitioner Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Using Learning Preferences To Inform Module And Curriculum Design, Cormac Breen, David Mcdonnell, Paul Redmond, Aisling Mcgowan, Claire Wynne

Practitioner Research Projects

No abstract provided.

Connected: An Enhanced Online Interface For Engagement Between Industry And Academia, David Kirk, John J. Keogh, Terry Maguire

Conference Papers

The drive for third level education institutes to engage with industry, enterprise and the community recognises their interdependence and need for continuous knowledge exchange. The extent to which students are capable of embracing their post-qualification roles, may be determined by the currency of the curriculum and work-readiness, which is informed by the context of the ‘real-worlds’ however they are shaped. Similarly, the activities that challenge industry, enterprise and the community could find support in the broad the spectrum of knowledge, skills and expertise that resides in the domain of formal education.

A key obstacle to collaboration between higher education institutes …

Lttc Resource Pack On Academic Writing & Referencing, Roisin Donnelly, Marian Fitzmaurice

Articles

No abstract provided.

An Evaluation Of Formative Audio Feedback Within Part Time Professional Development Programmes In Dit., Roisin Donnelly, Claire M. Mcdonnell, Claire Mcavinia

Conference papers

No abstract provided.

Institutional Mergers In Ireland, Siobhan Harkin, Ellen Hazelkorn

Books/Book chapters

The importance of knowledge as a driver of social and economic growth and prosperity, and the increasingly competitive “global race for knowledge and talent” (Hazelkorn, Higher Educ Manage Policy 21(1):55–76, 2009) have combined to transform the higher education landscape, forcing national governments and higher education institutions (HEIs) to pursue new ways of addressing the challenges of a multi-polar world order. Rising demand for higher education (HE), as part of the broader shift from elite to mass to universal participation, has led to the emergence of new models of provision. At the same time, many governments face restrictions on public resources …

Critical Race Theory: A Strategy For Framing Discussions Around Social Justice And Democratic Education, Wesley Crichlow

Stream 2: Curriculum

The increasing diversity of our classrooms means we must learn to work with, and across, cultural, racial and gendered differences, without falling into diversity management. This paper employs Critical Race Theory (CRT) and paradigmatic frameworks to address social crises in our classrooms—thus demonstrating how we can value (i.e., not erase) our differences and equitably share power in the classroom. Employing an CRT intersectional analysis, I will explore the social, economic, and cultural dimensions of racial (in) justice in diverse contexts (within frameworks that recognize the salience of social identities including, but not limited to, class, and race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, …

Maximising Student Retention In The Tu4dublin: Lessons To Be Learned From The Early College High School Initiative In The U.S., Gerard Stockil

Stream 6: Global University

Student retention is a key metric for the TUD (Technological University of Dublin), the first new University in 21st century Ireland. Failure to improve preparedness for some students at TUD will limit improved retention as supported by NELS88 and recent ESRI studies. An AIR ( American Institute for Research ) Impact Study review of the US based Early College High School Initiative (ECHSI) provides convincing evidence that credit based activities shared between colleges, universities, high schools, local government and local communities is working well and improves both access and retention, especially in disadvantaged areas. A TUD Irish version of ECHSI …