Education Commons^™

An Exploration Of Student Focused Initiatives To Support Recognition Of Prior Learning (Rpl) Case Preparation, Phil O'Leary

Theses

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is recognition given for relevant learning, regardless of how or where it was gained, prior to starting on a programme or module. This research explores a number of student focused initiatives to support RPL case preparation. An action research methodology was used where existing RPL procedures in an Institute of Technology setting were examined and evaluated. The aim of the research was to create a positive environment for RPL case preparation. A mixed method using both qualitative and quantitative approaches such as questionnaires and focus groups was used to gather data. The initial survey captured …

Assessment Of Informal Learning: Critical Review Of Current Methodologies And Research Into Appropriate Instrument(S), Deirdre Goggin

Theses

This thesis seeks to examine the recognition and formal assessment of informal and non- formal learning, paying particular attention to the methodologies that are currently being used and identifying the possibility of more appropriate instruments. This examination is conducted within the context of the national emphasis on the creation of a learning and knowledge intense society, the requirements necessary for this to become a reality and the increasing discussion on the recognition of informal and non formal education and training.

In order to discuss the above comprehensively, this research will examine the Irish education framework which supports the recognition of …

Higher Education In And For The Workplace: Models And Methods, Ray Coughlan

Theses

This dissertation reports on research and development work, undertaken from 2000 to 2005, to develop and apply innovative models and methods to the establishment of a provision, within higher education in Ireland, tuned to the identified needs of diverse groups of learners in the workplace and in society at large.

Initial research identified, from the workplace perspective, the characteristics required of such provision and the topics it should address. The role of higher education in establishing such provision is reviewed in supporting learner development through the continuum; competence, capability, creativity. Relevant models and methods are identified as existing along a …

The Convergence Of Traditional Higher Education And E-Learning: Organisational, Societal, Technological And Pedagogical Trends, Gearóid Ó Súilleabháin

Theses

The thesis is about the coming together of two traditions and how they are both changing dynamically in relation to each other, giving rise to a number of discernable organisational, societal, technological and pedagogical trends. Each tradition is examined in turn in the first two chapters, which deal with issues such as what the definitional characteristics of each tradition are and what factors have determined them. Organisational and societal trends in the convergence of traditional higher education and e-learning, as described in chapter three, highlight the tensions between the two traditions, as evidenced in the specific challenges e- learning represents …

Integrating Experiments And Simulators Into A Distributed E-Learning Environment, Frank Koehler

Theses

New information and communication technologies have emerged in the last few years which have made an impact on learning at all levels. At universities, the spectrum of learning support ranges from enriching traditional lectures and courses with multi- media elements to complete web-based interactive learning environments. A special aspect based on the new media technologies is learning within model worlds by use of simulations or real-life experiments. There are normally no links between these applications and the learning content, so it is impossible to tap the full potential of these applications. Research activities in the area of e-learning underline the …

Speech Enabled E-Learning Technology For Adult Literacy Tutoring, Jason Meade

Theses

This research presents the work involved in developing a speech-enabled e-Learning prototype for use in literacy tutoring. As the main objective was to develop an interface for literacy learning, initial research concentrated on establishing a framework for literacy e-Leaming through the use of speech technology. Requirements for best practice e-Learning and the relevance of learning theories to an e-Learning application were also investigated. The technologies to facilitate this, such as text to speech technologies and mark-up languages, were addressed during the implementation of speech-enabled prototypes. Both server-side and client-side prototypes were implemented to investigate speech technology. Testing found the server-side …

Balancing The 'E' With Learning And Teaching Skills, Áine O'Brien

Theses

Many lecturers today want to move past passive learning to active learning, to find better ways of engaging students in the learning process. Since most groups of individuals have a variety of learning styles, the lecture material needs to be presented in a variety of ways. With the introduction of web-based learning and e-leaming, lecturers can use a variety of teaching methods with their students.

This study will focus on what is required to balance the ‘E’ with the ‘learning’ skills and ‘teaching’ skills. Too often there is more emphasis placed on the ‘E’ aspect with little consideration given to …

An Assessment Of Distance Learning Delivery Methodologies And The Proposal Of An Open Distance Learning Delivery Model For A Third Level Course In Sports Development, Deirdre Kiely

Theses

In the development of a distance learning curriculum the appropriate choice of media, in terms of both presentation of course materials, and of the approach to providing tutorial and other support, is a key question that needs to be addressed at the outset. However, very few studies provide guidelines for distance learning facilitators to help them in choosing these delivery methods. This study aimed to propose an Open Distance Learning (ODL) delivery model for a third level course in Sports Development and in doing so identifies a number of criteria which may be used by institutes when deciding on their …

An Investigation Of The Influence Of Irish As An L1 Or L2 On Subsequent Instructed Language Acquisition In L3 Or L4, Corina Griffin

Theses

Research in Ireland to date has paid little attention to the fact that all foreign language teaching occurs in the context where the FL (foreign language) is an L3. The present study examines the extent to which students transfer or modify strategies they had previously deployed in learning Irish to their L3/L4. It is proposed that students are deploying the same strategies in their learning of Irish as an L1/L2 and the foreign language (FL) as an L3/L4, thus indicating a similar approach to the learning process. Cognitive, metacognitive and socio-affective strategies are examined. The research also focuses on differences …