T&L Initiative Type 002/19 - Focus on Teaching and Learning Enhancement within Disciplines
This T&L Initiative funding stream is to enable discipline groups to engage with the Disciplinary Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Assessment (DELTA) Framework and support them in taking a structured, coherent approach to enhancement within their discipline. The discipline group can focus generally on all elements of the DELTA Framework or on a particular element that responds to a priority need at this time. This funding stream also supports the efforts of disciplinary groups/programme teams towards a national DELTA award.
T&L Initiative Type 003/19 - Focus on Teaching and Learning Enhancement across Disciplines
This T&L Initiative funding stream enables an inter-disciplinary approach to teaching and learning enhancement. The sharing of good practice and key lessons between discipline groups/multidisciplinary programme teams is a central focus, with a view to disciplines, and those who learn and teach within them, gaining from the collective knowledge and expertise that exists across disciplines.
In September 2019, a call was issued in CIT for applications to support Learning Enhancement Projects, with an indicative budget of €20,000 –€25000, from across all disciplines under the above funding streams. The expectation was that approximately 6 projects would be funded. However, 21 impressive applications were submitted and following review of each application by an international panel of 3 external experts, it was decided to fund 9 projects - with any shortfall in funding being covered by CIT.
The 9 projects selected represent both single and interdisciplinary activities, involving more than 18 departments/teams with an excess of 80 staff members involved.
The successful project teams were as follows:
No. |
Project Details |
1 |
TEMPO-I – Technology Enhanced Music Performance, Open – Inclusive Departments Involved:
Project Contact: Hugh McCarthy Description: Through the TEMPO-I project it is envisioned that CIT would create a model for the provision of inclusive, sustainable, equality-driven music performance courses for young adults shared between learners with disabilities and our existing staff and student cohort. Keywords: inclusivity; music performance; disabilities; assistive technology; equality More Information: For further details email the team: TEMPO-I – Technology Enhanced Music Performance_ Open – Inclusive |
2 |
The International Undergraduate Journal of Health Science and Professional Training: CITs first student-led journal Departments Involved:
Project Contact: Brigid Lucey Description: The project will:
Keywords: Undergraduate Journal; collaborative; Health Sciences; Professional development, peer review More Information: For further details email the team: Undergraduate Journal of Health Science and Professional Training |
3 |
Integrating Graduate Attributes to Enable Student Success Departments Involved:
Additional funding: Faculty of Science and Engineering Project Contact: Martin Hill Description: The project will develop graduate attributes and enhance the employability of our graduates by embedding graduate transferable skills across the curriculum from Y1 to Y4. The pilot will redesign the BEng (Hons) in Electrical Eng. and the BEng. (Hons) in Electronic Eng. programmes to integrate specific skills e.g. writing, engineering ethics within a range of technical modules. To support this work, resources will be developed to reduce the burden on lecturers in both defining suitable attainment targets at each programme stage, providing support resources for learners such as exemplars and case studies and processes for engaging learners e.g. peer review. The intention is to engage with a top-down approach to curriculum development, which to embed further skills (teamwork, critical thinking) over time. Keywords: Transferable skills; spiral curriculum; peer review; professional development; blended learning More Information: For further details email the team: |
4 |
Development of an Information Literacy OER (Open Educational Resource) for Undergraduate Students Departments Involved:
Project Contact: Michael Costello Description: This work will enhance the information literacy skills of undergraduate students via a digital platform throughout CIT and develop the teaching skills of staff in the Library to create and deliver new, interactive, online course and knowledge tests. The resources will be interactive, digitally delivered and comprise a series of automated modules on information literacy skills created in collaboration with CIT’s Technology Enhanced Learning department (TEL). These modules will include student training in: Online Search Techniques, Critical Thinking, Referencing, Plagiarism Avoidance and Research Management. Keywords: Information-Literacy; OER; Lifelong-Learning; Innovative; Skills; More Information: For further details email the team: Information Literacy OER _Open Educational Resource_ for Undergraduate Students |
5 |
SPIRIT Maths: ‘Students’ Perceptions Informing and Redefining Innovative Teaching of Mathematics in Higher Education Departments Involved:
Project Contact: Violeta Morari Description: SPIRIT Maths is a student-centred project that aims to ascertain learner needs in mathematics through targeted diagnostic testing and produce a range of evidence-based learning resources tailored to student cohorts. Through focus groups, the project will gather additional feedback to assess students’ needs, understanding student perceptions of mathematics and allow for focused content creation. The online diagnostic tests will be developed with students from specific programme departments and will run at the start of each semester. It will empower students to increase their mathematical abilities, providing students with the tools and confidence to succeed in mathematics, and therefore in their chosen programme of study, creating digital resources as an integral medium for the teaching and learning of mathematics. Keywords: Interdisciplinary; Student-centred; Empowered; Numeracy; E-resources More Information: For further details email the team: SPIRIT Maths: Students’ Perceptions Informing and Redefining Innovative Teaching of Mathematics |
6 |
Virtual Space – “My Business Degree – Employability, Progression and Pathways using my degree” Departments Involved:
Project Contact: Caroline O Reilly Description: Create a live virtual space (portal) where students can access course information relevant to their degree of study using interactive and media rich content. The portal will allow students to access online via PC or Mobile app, CIT generic and course specific information from first year through to final year, which will allow easy access to advice on their degree, employability, progression and pathways. The virtual space will give students an insight into their degree from a Programme outcomes perspective, linking modules as building blocks and detail opportunities for soft skills development as linked to assessment type and level. Keywords: Proactive; information ; User-friendly; employability; online More Information: For further details email the team: |
7 |
Enhancing Teaching Practice to Facilitate the Development and Maintenance of an Inclusive Classroom and Workplace Department Involved:
Project Contact: Deirdre O'Donovan Description: This project will facilitate the development and maintenance of an Inclusive Classroom and Workplace through enhanced teaching practice, student and staff induction programmes, and best practice Diversity and Inclusion policies. An Inclusive Classroom, and Workplace, is one in which students (and staff) perceive belongingness, feel safe and able to be their authentic selves. This research will also inform policies and procedures for CIT and assist in proactively minimising risk to the Institute. The Institute has a duty of care to staff and students, and, as legislation concerning D&I increases and becomes more specific, the Institute must act now to ensure it is developing a work environment that is demonstrably striving to be equal and inclusive. Keywords: Inclusion; Diversity; Engagement; Teaching; Students More Information: For further details email the team: |
8 |
BALI – Building Assessment Literacy Initiative Departments Involved:
Project Contact: David Goulding Description: BALI is an interdisciplinary approach to develop, in collaboration with IT Tralee, a suite of translatable resources to support students and staff in growth of competencies and capabilities in Assessment Literacy (AL). It will work across both Faculties / Professional Services to develop tools and mechanisms that can be multiplied across subjects. Assessment methods have a greater influence on student learning than any other single factor and potentially more important than teaching materials (Boud, 1988), due, in part that “students can escape bad teaching but they can escape bad assessment” (Boud, 1995). The project will develop student and staff friendly “Getting to Grips with Assessment and Feedback. It will encourage a focus of both Feedback and Feedforward through the use of continuous improvement CPD seminars, improving Assessment and Feedback strategies and action plans for participating departments and, develop discipline appropriate assessment and feedback methods and processes Keywords: Assessment Literacy; Student-Staff Partnership; Resources; Interdisciplinary, Co-creation More Information: For further details email the team: |
9 |
ELISA – Enhanced Learning Initiative involving STEM Alumni Departments Involved:
Project Contact: Donagh O'Mahony Description: The work will develop and implement a learner centred approach by initiating a "Lecturer-Learner- Alumni" engagement initiative. The primary objective of the ELISA project is to increase awareness of the relevance of programme learning requirements to associated career progression among students and lecturing staff – particularly at the early stages of the programme (year 1-2), through structured engagement with graduates. Specific outputs will include:
Keywords: Engaged-learner; student-centred; staff-student-partnership; student-employee –partnership; student-employability-network More Information: For further details email the team: |