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The following was the schedule of workshops for the 2022/2023 academic year including links to recordings and resources:

Preparing for take-off: Are you ready for the academic year ahead?

Monday September 5th, 2022, 10:00 - 11:00

Description

The start of the new academic year is upon us again.

This can be quite stressful and daunting with so many competing tasks: preparing lectures and practical sessions, meeting and getting to know new groups of students, administrative requirements, dealing with student issues and requests, etc.

The last two academic years in particular have brought with them additional challenges due to the need to rapidly respond and adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, before jumping into the hustle and bustle of a new academic year, it makes sense to first try and look at examining and adapting practices that could lessen the challenges ahead.

This workshop provided some hints and tips on how best to prepare for the academic year ahead to alleviate some of the regular stresses and strains.

Presented By:
  • Prof Jim O’Mahony, Biological Sciences & Teaching and Learning Unit, MTU Cork Campuses

View Resources
  • Slide Deck
  • Module Tracker

Designing for Clarity in Canvas - Supporting Executive Functions

Tuesday September 6th, 2022, 14:00 - 15:00

Description

Executive function (EF) describes a set of cognitive processes and mental skills that help an individual plan, monitor, and successfully execute their goals. The “executive functions,” as they’re known, include attentional control, working memory, inhibition, and problem-solving, many of which are thought to originate in the brain’s prefrontal cortex.

Many behaviours in which humans engage, such as breathing or stepping out of the way of an oncoming car, occur without conscious thought. Most others, however, rely on executive function. Any process or goal pursuit that requires time management, decision-making, and storing information in one’s memory makes use of executive function to some degree. Since much of college life is process-driven and demands that students set and meet goals, disruptions in executive function can make it challenging for students to succeed.

This workshop examined how we, as lecturers, can support executive functions in our students through the way in which we organise our modules on Canvas.

Those who participated in this workshop:

  1. Experienced the difference between a well-designed module, and a poorly designed module.
  2. Discovered ten strategies for supporting EF for college students
  3. Brainstormed and share other strategies for supporting EF for college students.
Presented By
  • Jennifer Pusateri, Universal Design Consultant, Center for the Enhancement of Learning and Teaching (CELT), University of Kentucky
Introduction by
  • Colleagues from the Department of Technology Enhanced Learning, MTU Cork Campuses
Organised by
Resources:

My Professional Development - TLASE related CPD Opportunities for 2022 - 23

Thursday September 8th, 2022, 10:00 - 11:00

Description

Each academic year, the Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) and AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office offer an important range of relevant, useful and accessible formal continuing professional development opportunities related to teaching, learning, assessment, and student engagement (TLASE) to MTU staff as follows:

These offerings provide staff with opportunities to reflect on and identify potential changes to their practice with the ultimate aim of providing an enhanced teaching, learning, assessment and student engagement experience for both themselves and students.

The purpose of this session was to provide more information about each of the above programmes and to provide potential candidates with an opportunity to hear from previous  participants in terms of what they learned and how it has impacted on their practice.

 
Presented By:
  • Dr Eileen O’Leary, Physical Sciences & TLU, MTU Cork Campuses
Resources:

View Recording

Academic Integrity: What everyone needs to know... now!

Friday, September 9th, 2022, 10:00 - 11:00

Description:

Examinations and assessments in education vary greatly depending on the stage of a programme, the discipline being examined and the prescribed learning outcomes. The most important feature of any examination relates to its suitability in allowing a student display their knowledge and competence through a fair, consistent and authentic means of assessment.

Never before has this process been under more threat from essay mills, contracting cheating companies, and artificial intelligence algorithms, all of which are now freely available to vulnerable and misguided students.

This seminar updated participants on the scale of the problem locally, nationally and internationally, the types of challenges every lecturer and student is now facing, and what can be done to protect against breaches of academic integrity through the design of authentic assessments.

Speakers:

  • Mairéad Boland, Senior Manager, Academic Integrity Regulation and Strategic Partnerships
    Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
  • Sue Hackett, Academic Integrity Enhancement and Strategic Projects
    Quality & Qualifications Ireland (QQI)
  • Clodagh McGivern, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Union of Students in Ireland (USI)

Resources:

View Recording

View Side Deck

AnSEO - Transitions at MTU! From little seeds mighty engagement grows!

Tuesday, September 13th, 2022, 10:00 - 10:45

Description

The Transitions at MTU Fund is a funding stream available from AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office which can be accessed each year through the Teaching & Learning Unit (TLU) and AnSEO's Combined Funding Call.

Transitions at MTU is designed to support staff to support students through projects that impact on all aspects of transitions at MTU, focusing on 3 main areas as follows:

  • Transitions into MTU:
    • helping 1st year students adjust both socially and academically into Higher Education
  • Transitions through MTU:
    • settling into 2nd, 3rd or final year of studies
    • helping students leaving on, or returning from, work placement
    • support students adjusting from employment into full-time or part-time study
  • Transitions out of MTU:
    • Aimed at students progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

In this session, we learned more about Transitions at MTU and heard from colleagues who have received funding in the past. Get inspiration from their experiences of how a small amount of seed funding, up to €2000, can expand reach and impact to enhance student engagement and improve the student experience, and how often the simplest projects can be the most effective.

Presented by:
  • Róisín O’ Grady, Student Engagement Officer, AnSEO – The Student Engagement Office, MTU Cork campuses

  • Sandra Power, Academic Success Coach, AnSEO – The Student Engagement Office, MTU Cork campuses

Resources:

View Recording

View Slide deck

University Human Research Ethics Processes

Thursday September 15th, 2022, 13:00 - 14:00

Description

The seminar provided an overview of the new Human Research Ethics processes that came into effect across the University on 01 September (as approved by the Research Council and Academic Council in AY 21/22), including:

In parallel with the above mentioned documents, information on a new suite of learning resources to aid in the implementation of the processes will be presented.

The seminar should be of interest to colleagues carrying out research studies involving human participants including, but not limited to:

  • Data collection using research methods such as questionnaires, web surveys, interviews, observations, focus groups, etc.
  • Access to, or utilisation of, anonymised datasets or case files/records concerning identifiable individuals.
  • Conducting internet mediated research.
Presented by:
  • Dr Seán Lacey, Research Integrity & Compliance Officer, MTU
Resources:

Being a Better Coach & Mentor Series: The power of listening at a deeper level

Friday September 16th, 2022, 13:00 - 13:45

Description

This ¾ hr workshop briefly explores the coaching partnership that focuses on ‘deep listening’, where ‘people can think with rigor, imagination, courage and grace.’ (Kline, 2010). The content is based on Nancy Kline’s ‘Time to Think’ and ‘More Time to Think’ and discusses the 10 components for enabling a ‘thinking environment’ e.g., appreciation, encouragement, attention, feeling.

This workshop was not just for coaches or mentors, but for anyone who functions within an environment that requires a deeper level of listening i.e., teachers, lecturers, team leaders, team members, support staff, parents etc.

By the end of this workshop, participants had a broader understanding of what it means to:

  1. Be in the listening environment with authentic presence
  2. Remain focused, observant, empathetic and responsive to the other party
  3. Demonstrate curiosity during the listening and coaching process
  4. Manage one’s emotions to stay present with the other party
  5. Interrupt the other party because of certain assumptions
  6. Harness the power of gratitude in a way that is useful and empowering for both parties
  7. Use incisive questioning to enable deep thinking in other party.

This workshop formed part of the Being a Better Coach and Mentor series and is eligible for Continued Professional Development credit contributing to a Coach/Mentor/Supervisor EMCC Global Individual Accreditation.

Presented by:
  • Shelley Crawford, TLU, MTU Cork Campuses
Resources:

View Recording

View Slide Deck

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