Nairtl Grants Initiative

The mission of the National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (NAIRTL) is to ensure that all higher education students are exposed to cutting edge research in their classrooms, and that students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are actively engaged in relevant and authentic research in their chosen discipline. To this end, NAIRTL has initiated a wide range of events and activities aimed at enhancing student learning and that support stronger links between research and teaching. This report focuses on the impact of just one of these creative interventions, namely the NAIRTL grants initiative. The objective of the grants initiative is to provide financial support to research proposals that endeavour to enhance student learning through developing innovative and creative approaches to teaching and assessment. More than forty per cent of the National Academy's total budget to date has been invested in the grants initiative, funding 161 projects that involve 420 researchers in seventeen higher education institutions in Ireland. This report focuses on the impact of the projects that were funded in the period 2007-2010. The report is divided into three parts. The first part provides a brief introduction to the National Academy, giving an overview of a selection of its main initiatives i.e. the awards programme for excellence in teaching, professional development activities in academic practice, and development of publications and resources. Part two of this report presents the findings of an evaluation of the impact of the grants initiative. Part three of this report presents fifteen case studies of projects that were funded through the NAIRTL grants initiative. Appended are: (1) NAIRTL Publications; (2) Table of Outputs; and (3) List of Projects Funded 2007-2011. (Contains 23 footnotes.).

This edited volume explores how undergraduate research and research-based teaching is being implemented in countries around the world. Leading educators come together to discuss commonly accepted definitions of undergraduate research, country-specific models and partnerships for student research, university policies and practices to support faculty and staff who engage students in research, and available assessment data that supports the effectiveness of undergraduate research as a means to increase student engagement and academic achievement. As undergraduate research has spread around the world, professors, administrators, and policymakers benefit by learning about other approaches and models of undergraduate research.

Research Skills Among Undergraduate Students: Case Studies from the Humanities and Sciences at Dublin City University (Francoise Blin and Sheelagh Wickham); (24) Untying the Accountancy Knot: The Design, Development and Implementation of Interactive Animations and Simulations to Support Underperforming 1st Year Accountancy Students, Including Those with Dyslexia (Frances Boylan, Pauline Rooney, Fionnghuala Kelly, Jennifer McConnell, Alice Luby, Elaine Mooney, Rebecca Maughan, Dan Shanahan, Daniel King and Tony Kiely); (25) Using Prediction Markets to Create an Active Learning Environment in Large Groups (Patrick Buckley and John Garvey); (26) Crossing Borders through Cyberspace: A Social Work Education Electronic Exchange Project across the Atlantic (Janet Carter Anand and Kris Clarke); (27) Enhancing Rural Development through Graduate Programmes--An Ethiopian Case Study (Nick Chisholm, Mike FitzGibbon, Una Murray, Stephen Thornhill, Tsega Gebrakirstos, Anteneh Belachew); (28) Integrative Learning: Learners Design and Reflect on their "Economic" Behaviour to Coursework Assessment (John Considine); (29) Supporting Therapists' Engagement in Evidence Based Practice through an Interprofessional Post-Qualification Master's Programme (Janice Crausaz, Gill Chard and Clare O'Sullivan); (30) Problem Based Learning in Graduate Nursing Education (Caroline Dalton, Elaine Drummond, Lynne Marsh and Maria Caples); (31) Fostering Interpersonal Skill Development in Online Programmes (Kay Dennis); (32) A National Doctoral Programme for Structured PhD Training (Oonagh Dwane and Martina Prendergast); (33) Cognitive Level of First Year University Science Students (Odilla E. Finlayson, Lorraine McCormack and Thomas J.J. McCloughlin); (34) Multi-Disciplinary Graduate Education at Tyndall (Jim Greer and Orla Slattery); (35) How We Use Values-Exchange in NUI Galway (Barbara L. Griffin, Martin Power and Jane Sixsmith); (36) A Blended Learning Enquiry Based Module: Best Practice of Evaluation Skills in Health Promotion (Barbara L. Griffin, Verna McKenna and Lisa Pursell); (37) Formal PhD Training Experienced by National University of Ireland Maynooth Geography Students (Adrienne Hobbs, Elaine Burroughs and Jackie S. McGloughlin); (38) The Implementation and Evaluation of Peer Learning Programmes in Third Level Science Modules (Jennifer Johnston and Maeve Liston); (39) Focus on Patient Safety: How Lifelong Learning begins between Pharmacy and Medical Students at UCC (Aislinn Joy and Laura Sahm); (40) Nursing Students Design "Glossy" Magazine (Jacinta Kelly); (41) Teaching Historical Research--A Thing of the Past (Jacinta Kelly); (42) DCU Business School Next Generation Management (Theo Lynn, John Connolly, Gerry Conyngham, Aoife McDermott and Caroline McMullan); (43) Preparing Students for Postgraduate Research? Techniques for Improving the Quality of the Undergraduate Dissertation (Kay McKeogh and Proinnsias Breathnach); (44) Promoting Integrative Learning through Student Assignments (Kevin McCarthy); (45) Teaching and Learning Education for Sustainable Development (Amanda McCloat and Helen Maguire); (46) Research Awareness and Readiness Evaluation (RARE) of Undergraduate Chemistry Students at DIT (Claire McDonnell, Christine O'Connor, Sarah Rawe, Michael Seery and David Kett);(47) An Assessment of Ultrasound Scanning Competencies of Radiology Residents: Is There a Role for Improved Sonography Training? (Claire Moran, Patrick C. Brennan, Dermot Malone and Louise A. Rainford); (48) Post Graduate Students Experience Thematic Review (Anne Morrissey, Joseph Stokes and Gary Murphy); (49) Development of a Structured MD Research Curriculum (Shanthi Muttukrishna, Geraldine Boylan and Ray Noble); (50) A Focus Group Investigation of the Learning Opportunities Available in a 1:1 and a 2:1 Model of Clinical Education (Aileen O'Brien and Anne O'Connor); (51) Development of an Online Data Handling Module for Postgraduate Life Science Students (Sandra O'Brien, John Kelly, Ambrose O'Halloran, Fiona Concannon); (52) Enhancing Student Learning on Placement through the Implementation of a Case Based Interprofessional Model of Education: Perspectives of Students, Therapists and Regional Placement Facilitators (Marie O'Donnell, Alison Warren, Mairead Cahill and Olive Gowen);(53) Student Research Skills Development on a Level 9 Taught Programme in Engineering: Experiences and Reflections (Aidan O'Dwyer);(54) The Transfer of the Seven Principles of Universal Design to Diverse Domains (Ciaran O'Leary, Damian Gordon and Deirdre Lawless); (55) Ranking Graduate Competences: Perspectives from Employers and Academia (Catherine O'Mahony); (56) Supporting the Supervisors of Research Students in Higher Education (Catherine O'Mahony, Alan Kelly, Niall Smith, Pat Morgan, Carol O'Sullivan and Willie Donnelly); (57) Professional Attitudes among Final Medical Students in Cork: An International Comparison (Eoin O'Sullivan and Anthony Ryan); and (58) Application of the Teaching for Understanding Framework in Topographical Anatomy (Deniz Yilmazer-Hanke). Individual papers contain tables, figures, references and appendices.

This book draws on both traditional and emerging fields of study to consider consider what a grounded definition of quantitative and qualitative research in the Digital Humanities (DH) might mean; which areas DH can fruitfully draw on in order to foster and develop that understanding; where we can see those methods applied; and what the future directions of research methods in Digital Humanities might look like. Schuster and Dunn map a wide-ranging DH research methodology by drawing on both ‘traditional’ fields of DH study such as text, historical sources, museums and manuscripts, and innovative areas in research production, such as knowledge and technology, digital culture and society and history of network technologies. Featuring global contributions from scholars in the United Kingdom, the United States, Europe and Australia, this book draws together a range of disciplinary perspectives to explore the exciting developments offered by this fast-evolving field. Routledge International Handbook of Research Methods in Digital Humanities is essential reading for anyone who teaches, researches or studies Digital Humanities or related subjects.

This volume presents 64 abstracts of keynote and parallel paper presentations of the Irish National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning's (NAIRTL) conference on the theme of flexible learning. The Flexible Learning conference was a joint initiative by NAIRTL and the Learning Innovation Network. The keynote presentations can be accessed via hyperlinks as video recordings. Authors were encouraged to have their papers peer-reviewed. The 64 abstracts are: (1) Keynote Speech: The Open Education Revolution (Richard Baraniuk); (2) Keynote Speech: Flexible Learning: The European Context (Michael Horig); (3) The Use of Information and Communication Technology in Irish Language Learning and Teaching: WIMBA Voice Tools as Gaeilge (Riona Ni Fhrighil); (4) A Framework for the Comparison of Virtual Classroom Systems (Daniel McSweeney); (5) E-Portfolio for Language and Intercultural Learning: The Lolipop Experience (Fionnuala Kennedy); (6) Review of Common Synchronous, Live Online-Classroom Tools (Arnold Hensman); (7) Getting There from Here: Learning to Use Readily Available Technologies to Engage Learners and Enhance Learning (Liam Boyle); (8) The Perceived Impact of Peer Education on an Occupational Therapy Student Cohort (Clodagh Nolan, Carmel Lalor, and Paula Lynch); (9) A Student-Led Approach to Personal and Professional Development--A Case Study of a Level 9 Module in Professional Development for Graduate Engineers (Carol O'Byrne); (10) Interdisciplinary Study and Integrative Learning--A Search for Evidence (Aileen Malone); (11) Linking Assessment Methods with Innovative Teaching and Learning Strategies in Postgraduate Nursing Education (Lorraine Murphy and Frances Finn); (12) Making Connections: The Use of Ethnographic Fieldwork to Facilitate a Model of Integrative Learning (Michelle Finnerty); (13) Guiding Student Learning Using Programmed Research Projects (Oisin Keely, Michael Carty, Iain MacLabhrainn, and Andrew Flaus); (14) Social Work within a Community Discourse; Integrating Research, Teaching and Learning on the Master of Social Work (MSW) Programme (Catherine Forde and Deborah Lynch); (15) The Building Expertise in Science Teaching (BEST) Project (Cliona Murphy, Janet Varley and Paula Kilfeather); (16) Developing Teaching in an Institute of Technology (Marion Palmer); (17) The Effects of an Innovative Peer Learning Programme on Undergraduate Science Students (Jennifer Johnston and George McClelland); (18) The Merits of Blogging; Its Usefulness as a Pedagogical Tool (Siobhan O'Sullivan and Hugh McGlynn); (19) Flexible Learning or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Technology (Laura Widger); (20) The Establishment and Evaluation of a National Online Clinical Testing Repository for Surgical Trainees and Students (Seamus McHugh, Mark Corrigan, Athar Sheikh, Arnold Hill, Elaine Lehane, Conor Shields, Paul Redmond, and Michael Kerin); (21) Operations Management Online at Dundalk Institute to Technology (Angela Short); (22) Integrative Learning: What Is It--and Why Is It More Important Than Ever? (Bettie Higgs, Shane Kilcommins, Tony Ryan, Alan Booth and Angela Smallwood); (23) The Development of a Theoretical Model of Integrative Learning for Use in Professional Programmes (Irene Hartigan, Siobhan Murphy, Nuala Walshe, and Terry Barrett); (24) Teaching Teachers How to Teach: Implementing Research in the Science Classroom (Sarah Hayes and Peter E. Childs); (25) Promoting Healthy Behaviour Choices: Understanding Patient Challenges By Undertaking a Personal Behaviour Change Task (Frank Doyle, Anne Hickey, Karen Morgan, Ian Grey, Eva Doherty, and Hannah McGee); (26) Integration of Technology in Mathematics and Science Teaching and Learning (Teresa Bradley, Leah Wallace and Liam Boyle); (27) Learning from Engagement of Cross-Disciplinary Lesson (Dolores Corcoran, Sinead Breen, Maurice O'Reilly and Therese Dooley); (28) Using Blogs to Foster Reflective Practice for Professional Development of Teaching Staff in Higher Education (Martina Crehan and Muireann O'Keeffe); (29) Towards a Standardised, Student-Centred Approach to Continuous Assessment: A Case History of GMIT Letterfrack (Kate Dunne, Pauline Logue-Collins and Angelika Rauch); (30) Virtually There (Michael Goldrick); (31) Art Works! (Marian McCarthy); (32) Moving Laboratory Work into the Cognitive Domain (Maeve Scott); (33) Learning Enhancement through Peer Support (Carina Ginty and Nuala Harding); (34) Designing Research Posters: A Workshop (Imogen Bertin); (35) Flexible Learning and Online Language Portfolios (Houssaine Afoullouss); (36) Blended Not Scrambled: Pedagogic Design for the 21st Century College Student (Leo Casey); (37) The Role of the WEBINAR in Flexible Continuous Professional Development (Brian Mulligan); (38) Student Ownership of Assessment as Integrative Learning (Kevin Howard); (39) Approaches to Learning of Postgraduate Healthcare Professionals in an Outcomes-Based Curriculum (Pauline Joyce); (40) The Use of Learning Journals in Legal Education as a Means of Fostering Integrative Learning through Pedagogy and Assessment (Shane Kilcommins); (41) Innovative Teaching through Video Games: Literature Review and Best Practice (Patrick Felicia); (42) Universal Design for Learning--The Benefits of Technology Enhanced Learning for Students with Disabilities (Patricia Kearney and Elaine O'Leary); (43) Promoting Flexible Learning through Negotiation (Lorraine McGinty); (44) Technology Based Teaching and Learning: E-Law Summer Institute, UCC (Fidelma White and Louise Crowley); (45) Evaluation of Interactive Video Based Scenario to Teach Professionalism to Medical Interns (Bryan Butler and Michelle McEvoy); (46) Flexible Learning Opportunities for Teachers in the 21st Century (Michael Hallissey); (47) Group Projects in the Information Technology Curriculum: Towards Best Practice (Brendan Lyng and Catherine Lowry O'Neill); (48) A Multidisciplinary Approach for Science Learning (Eilish McLoughlin and Odilla Finlayson); (49) Integrative Learning and Technoculture: What's at Stake? (James Cronin, Daniel Blackshields, and Julianne Nyhan); (50) Exploring the Synergy between Pedagogical Research, Teaching and Learning in Introductory Physics (Leah Wallace); (51) The Impact of Education Level and Type on Cognitive Ethical Development (Elaine Doyle and Joanne O'Flaherty); (52) A "Whole Discipline" Approach to Enhancing Research in the Undergraduate Geography Curriculum (Niamh Moore-Cherry, Susan Hegarty, Ruth McManus, Kay MacKeogh, and Shelagh Waddington); (53) Instructional Videocasts: Facilitating Learning in a Mobile World (Robert Hickey); (54) What Do Students Think About Technology? (Shelagh Waddington, Una Crowley, and Conor McCaffery); (55) Chance Favours the Prepared Mind: Strategies to Enhance Educational Research Experiences (Etain Kiely, Gail Cummins, Rowan Watson, Margaret Savage, and Orla Walsh); (56) Essential Considerations in Implementing an E-Learning Strategy at Institutional Level (John Dallat and Brendan Ryder); (57) The Experiences of Engineering Students Working in Multidisciplinary Project Teams (Sivakumar Ramachandran, Timm Jeschawitz, and Denis Cullinane); (58) Integrated, Interprofessional Education for First Year Undergraduate Medical, Physiotherapy and Pharmacy Students (Judith Strawbridge, Celine Marmion, and John Kelly); (59) Preparing for Success: A Study of How Targeted Skills-Based Workshops Can Effectively Aid First Year Students to Bridge the Gap between Second and Third Level Learning (Natasha Underhill, Lyndsey EL Amoud and Seamus O'Tuama); (60) Using Learning Agreements to Facilitate Integrated Learning (Jane Creaner-Glen and Mary Creaner); (61) Development of a Patient Safety Online Programme for Doctors (Siobhan McCarthy, Ciaran O'Boyle, Dermot O'Flynn, Alf Nicholson, Ann O'Shaughnessy, Irene O'Byrne-Maguire, and Ailis Quinlan); (62) Student Services, a Key Aspect of the Provision of Flexible Learning in Higher Education Institutions (Josephine O'Donovan and Terry Maguire); (63) Use of Laboratory-Scale Wastewater Treatment Plants for Undergraduate Research, Training and Teaching (William Fitzgerald and Lil Rudden); and (64) Building Bridges Instead of Walls: Academic Professional Development through Inter-Institutional Collaboration (Nuala Harding and Marion Palmer). This document also includes 71 "Poster Abstracts." (Individual papers contain figures, tables, and references.).

Focusing on the partnerships and collaborations between teacher educators and students with regards to faculty members’ professional development, contributors from around the world provide insight into professional development opportunities in the context of teaching and collaborating with students. Contributions from these distinguished scholars come from a broad range of countries and cultures to ensure that the presented studies reveal rich information about diverse systems of teacher education. The studies presented in the book demonstrate how these faculty student partnerships can significantly assist faculty members to develop professionally and produce benefits and impacts on their professional identity. Providing ideas and tools aimed at teacher educators around the world, this book explores partnerships and cooperation as a tool to lead to development and ultimately promotion. This book is a must-read for all researchers, teacher educators and lecturers looking to expand their knowledge of partnerships with students in higher education.

Online Learning and Its Users: Lessons for Higher Education re-examines the impact of learning technologies in higher education. The book focuses particularly on the introduction and mainstreaming of one of the most widely used, the virtual learning environment (VLE) or learning management system (LMS). The book presents an activity theoretic analysis of the VLE’s adoption, drawing on research into this process at a range of higher education institutions. Through analysis and discussion of the activities of managers, lecturers, and learners using the VLE, lessons are identified to inform future initiatives including the implementation of massive open online courses (MOOCs). A replicable research design is included and explained to support evaluation and analysis of the use of online learning in other settings. The book questions accepted views of the place of technologies in higher education, arguing that there has been a repeated cycle of hype and disappointment accompanying the development of online learning. While much research has documented this cycle, finding new strategies to break it has proved to be a more difficult challenge. Why has technology not made more impact? Are lecturers going to be left behind by their own students in the use of digital technologies? Why have we seen costly and time-consuming failures? This book argues that we can answer these questions by heeding the lessons from previous experiences with the VLE and early iterations of the MOOC. More importantly, we can begin to ask new and different questions for the future to ensure better outcomes for our institutions and ultimately our learners. presents institution-wide analysis of the adoption of a key educational technology for higher education, validated across multiple sites, to support deeper understanding of the use of learning technologies in context describes Activity Theory and presents a replicable model to operationalise it for investigations of the use of online learning in higher education and other settings provides a unique perspective on the historical experience of VLE adoption and mainstreaming to identify important insights and essential lessons for the future