NDLR Research Groups

Learning & Teaching

Athlone Institute of Technology and the National Digital Learning Repository

The institutional strategy includes a commitment to develop its capacity and expertise in the area of learning technology. The AIT Learning and Teaching Unit will continue an innovative project which focuses on Technologically Enhanced Learning (TEL) and commenced in the academic year 2007-2008. The award scheme has been extended on an annual basis subject to funding. Projects will be supported through the National Digital Learning Repository (NDLR). The NDLR is an online service for Irish Universities and the Institutes of Technology which supports the collaboration and sharing of learning and teaching resources. The NDLR is a joint initiative of the Universities and Institutes of Technology, and is funded by the HEA, and hosted by HEAnet. www.ndlr.ie

The Learning and Teaching Unit is now issuing a call to staff to submit a project proposal. Successful projects will be allocated a budget-manager. Project teams will be supported through the AIT Community of Practice in Information Technology (CoPIT) to enable individuals to give regular updates on their work and discuss their experiences with other project teams. In addition it is expected that the forum may identify training needs and make provision through the Learning and Teaching Unit to address these.

Seed funding to the maximum sum of up to €2,000 will be allocated to each successful project. Collaborative projects undertaken by groups of 2/3 staff are encouraged. Development of the projects will take place during the current academic year with deployment in Semester 1 2011-2012. Recipients will be required to produce at least one reusable resource for the NDLR and present at learning and teaching event in 2011-2012. Please return the Proposal Form to gmcdermott@ait.ie  by Monday, 23^rd May 2011.

Please download the application form, both pdf or word version.

Technology Enhanced Learning in AIT with NDLR funded Pilot Project App Form  PDF version

L&T Tech Enhanced Learning Research Application Form Word Doc  Word version

The CoPIT comprises of:
 

• Seamus Ryan , School of Business
• Eimear Kelly, School of Humanities
• Dr. Sinead Devery, School of Science
• Assumpta Byrne, Library
• Barry O'Loughlin, School of Business
• Sean Connell, School of Humanities
• Frank Doheny, School of Engineering
• Michael O'Rourke, School of Engineering
• Donnie McHugh, Technology Support
• Noel Tierney, School of Business
• Padraig Cooke, School of Engineering

Research papers were presented by all members of the CoPIT at EdTech 2009. For more information, please click EdTech Papers

Successful projects are allocated a budget-manager. Project teams are supported through the AIT Community of Practice in Information Technology (CoPIT) to enable individuals to give regular updates on their work and discuss their experiences with other project teams the aim of the CoPIT is to foster a research mindset within the Institute towards instructional technology and deploying classroom technology in pedagogically appropriate situations. Training needs identified by the forum will be addressed through the Learning and Teaching Unit.

Learning Resources Activities

AIT have continued to provide digital learning resources in 2010-2011, examples of these were showcased at the NDLR fest in April 2010. The Learning and Teaching Unit continued to support research projects through the provision of seed funding and/or training. Listed below are current projects which commenced or were awarded in 2009-2011.

AIT LINCs project:

Luke Fannon, School of Business and Orlaith Kelly, School of Business are working on this inter- institutional collaborative project in conjunction with Carlow IT and Dundalk IT. The key concept or goal of the project is to enhance the learning experience for students studying financial accounting. The project team aim to produce a bank of resources for use on Moodle (screen casts /tutorials/multiple choice questions) that assist students who are studying introductory financial accounting in tertiary education. This project has emanated from the initial NDLR research funding award made to Luke Fannon and Orlaith Kelly in the 2009 competitive bid. They both presented at the NDLR fest on April 14^th 2010 http://www.ndlr.ie/resources/ndlr_fest_2010.php Their presentation generated interest amongst academics from other IoT’s involved in the teaching of Financial Accounting. It is an excellent example of the how seed funding projects at local level can in turn lead to cross institute collaborations.