How Learning Communities are benefiting staff and students across MTU
"Since 2019 the TLU have launched and supported over 40 learning communities across MTU. During this session we heard from Learning Community members about who they are, what inspired them to start/join a Learning Community, what they have achieved and how others might initiate or join an existing learning community.
Professor Jim O’ Mahony also spoke about how funding can be awarded and used effectively to transform teaching and learning both within and across disciplines."
"This seminar showcased a range of innovative curricular wellbeing initiatives in UCC and MTU and also provided a forum for discussing such initiatives in line with the National Forum’s USI ""Embedding Wellbeing in the Curriculum"" report.
In addition, Gareth Hughes from the University of Derby who has authored the book “Be well learn well” shared his insights on the topic as keynote speaker.
The seminar was timely given the growing concern for the increased levels of student mental ill health and low wellbeing. As educators, we have the means to ensure that curricula are well designed, and enabled to support the needs of students.
Attendees learned from experienced practitioners who have successfully altered their respective curricula and what effect it has had on students.
The overall goal of this seminar was to ensure that the sharing of resources and information between HEIs will lead to increased knowledge of curricular approaches to student wellbeing and in turn lead to improved mental health promotion and prevention across higher education in Ireland."
Innovative Assessment and Feedback Mechanisms for Placement
This event shared the changes made to the assessment and feedback mechanisms on placement as part of a pilot project within the School of Business, MTU Cork Campuses. The pilot project was undertaken with funding from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education (NFETLHE) within MTU as part of the university’s Reimagining Assessment and Feedback Together (RAFT) series of interventions. These changes were made following feedback from Geraldine O’Neill’s NFETLHE Research Fellowship study on 'Assessing Work-Integrated Learning' last year.
Innovative Assessment and Feedback Mechanisms for Placement
This event shared the changes made to the assessment and feedback mechanisms on placement as part of a pilot project within the School of Business, MTU Cork ...
Advance HE Teaching and Learning Fellowships Information Webinar
As part of MTU’s commitment to excel in teaching, research and development work, for the benefit of staff, students, industry and the wider community, MTU is offering staff the opportunity for professional recognition of their teaching practice and leadership.
Advance HE Teaching and Learning Fellowships Information Webinar
As part of MTU’s commitment to excel in teaching, research and development work, for the benefit of staff, students, industry and the wider community, MTU is offering staff the opportunity for professional recognition of their teaching practice and leadership.
Advance HE Teaching and Learning Fellowships Information
As part of MTU’s commitment to excel in teaching, research and development work, for the benefit of staff, students, industry and the wider community, MTU is offering staff the opportunity for professional recognition of their teaching practice and leadership.
MTU funding opportunities to support TLASE projects
"The Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) and AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office are delighted to announce our annual Combined Funding Call to support staff and students who wish to undertake short term projects related to teaching, learning, assessment and student engagement (TLASE) activities.
This funding call enables teams, of staff and/or students, to develop ideas that might enhance teaching, learning, assessment and student engagement across the student life cycle.
The purpose of this session was to provide more information about the funding process itself, describe what supports are available and provide participants with an opportunity to hear from previous recipients in terms of what they achieved and how they felt about the experience and the impact these projects have had on staff and students."
MTU funding opportunities to support TLASE projects
"The Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) and AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office are delighted to announce our annual Combined Funding Call to support staff and students who wish to undertake short term projects related to teaching, learning, assessment and student engagement (TLASE) activities.
This funding call enables teams, of staff and/or students, to develop ideas that might enhance teaching, learning, assessment and student engagement across the student life cycle.
The purpose of this session was to provide more information about the funding process itself, describe what supports are available and provide participants with an opportunity to hear from previous recipients in terms of what they achieved and how they felt about the experience and the impact these projects have had on staff and students."
MTU funding opportunities to support TLASE projects
"The Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU) and AnSEO - The Student Engagement Office are delighted to announce our annual Combined Funding Call to support staff and students who wish to undertake short term projects related to teaching, learning, assessment and student engagement (TLASE) activities.
This funding call enables teams, of staff and/or students, to develop ideas that might enhance teaching, learning, assessment and student engagement across the student life cycle.
The purpose of this session was to provide more information about the funding process itself, describe what supports are available and provide participants with an opportunity to hear from previous recipients in terms of what they achieved and how they felt about the experience and the impact these projects have had on staff and students."
Managing Intellectual Property (IP) & the National IP Protocol
Intellectual Property, also known as IP, is any intangible asset consisting of knowledge and ideas. Like any form of physical property, IP is owned, and it can be bought and sold. It can also be rented out through a process of licensing that can result in significant commercial and financial benefits for individuals, research groups and the organisations employing them.
MTU and the research it generates is obliged to meet the requirements of the National IP Protocol (Ireland's framework for research commercialisation) as well as the MTU IP Policy. This talk summarised the key requirements of these policies as well as the importance of keeping a good lab notebook.
The Active Learning Movement is an initiative to support staff to implement active learning strategies in their classroom It is essentially a learning community where you, as a member, will have the opportunity to experiment and investigate new approaches to teaching and engaging your students with the support of like-minded colleagues and the TLU.
The Active Learning Movement is an initiative to support staff to implement active learning strategies in their classroom It is essentially a learning community where you, as a member, will have the opportunity to experiment and investigate new approaches to teaching and engaging your students with the support of like-minded colleagues and the TLU.
There are many challenges with engaging students actively in both synchronous and asynchronous environments. To support staff to address some of these challenges the Teaching and Learning Unit (TLU), in Munster Technological University (MTU) developed the ‘Be ACTIVE’ Framework. It is an exploratory framework to support staff and institutions to implement and embed active learning in their everyday teaching practice.
Active Learning to Engage Students and Enhance Learning - Part 3: The 'Be ACTIVE' Framework
"This seminar was split into three with the first part of the seminar exploring “10 Ideas on how to Enhance Interaction and Student Engagement in your Teaching”. It selected examples that highlight the importance of student engagement in learning. Active learning strategies, suitable to a range of different learning environments, online, blended, and face-to-face were explored, with consideration given to different group sizes. These 10 ideas and practical tips were provided alongside a collaborative discussion amongst attendees, where best practice were shared.
Munster Technological University are active members of the Active Learning Network (ALN) which is a group of people from around the world (over 35 institutions represented) who share an interest in active approaches to learning. In the second part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the work of the ALN and shown how to connect with the Network.
In the third and final part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the “Be ACTIVE” Framework, a new and exploratory framework focusing on Active Learning. Participants had an opportunity to actively engage in the development of a plan to implement active learning in their individual context using this framework. The framework empowered participants to plan strategies that work for them in their context to get the most out of students and develop a structured overall approach to active learning.
Those who participated in this seminar:
Discussed practical ways to Enhance Student Interaction in their Teaching
Evaluated effective student engagement strategies for their context
Described the challenges of student engagement and shared best practice
Applied the “Be ACTIVE” Learning Framework and created a structured plan to embed active learning in their own teaching and learning context"
Active Learning to Engage Students and Enhance Learning - Part 2: Introduction to the Active Learning Network
"This seminar was split into three with the first part of the seminar exploring “10 Ideas on how to Enhance Interaction and Student Engagement in your Teaching”. It selected examples that highlight the importance of student engagement in learning. Active learning strategies, suitable to a range of different learning environments, online, blended, and face-to-face were explored, with consideration given to different group sizes. These 10 ideas and practical tips were provided alongside a collaborative discussion amongst attendees, where best practice were shared.
Munster Technological University are active members of the Active Learning Network (ALN) which is a group of people from around the world (over 35 institutions represented) who share an interest in active approaches to learning. In the second part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the work of the ALN and shown how to connect with the Network.
In the third and final part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the “Be ACTIVE” Framework, a new and exploratory framework focusing on Active Learning. Participants had an opportunity to actively engage in the development of a plan to implement active learning in their individual context using this framework. The framework empowered participants to plan strategies that work for them in their context to get the most out of students and develop a structured overall approach to active learning.
Those who participated in this seminar:
Discussed practical ways to Enhance Student Interaction in their Teaching
Evaluated effective student engagement strategies for their context
Described the challenges of student engagement and shared best practice
Applied the “Be ACTIVE” Learning Framework and created a structured plan to embed active learning in their own teaching and learning context"
Active Learning to Engage Students and Enhance Learning - Part 1: 10 Ideas on how to Enhance Interaction and Student Engagement in your Teaching
"This seminar was split into three with the first part of the seminar exploring “10 Ideas on how to Enhance Interaction and Student Engagement in your Teaching”. It selected examples that highlight the importance of student engagement in learning. Active learning strategies, suitable to a range of different learning environments, online, blended, and face-to-face were explored, with consideration given to different group sizes. These 10 ideas and practical tips were provided alongside a collaborative discussion amongst attendees, where best practice were shared.
Munster Technological University are active members of the Active Learning Network (ALN) which is a group of people from around the world (over 35 institutions represented) who share an interest in active approaches to learning. In the second part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the work of the ALN and shown how to connect with the Network.
In the third and final part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the “Be ACTIVE” Framework, a new and exploratory framework focusing on Active Learning. Participants had an opportunity to actively engage in the development of a plan to implement active learning in their individual context using this framework. The framework empowered participants to plan strategies that work for them in their context to get the most out of students and develop a structured overall approach to active learning.
Those who participated in this seminar:
Discussed practical ways to Enhance Student Interaction in their Teaching
Evaluated effective student engagement strategies for their context
Described the challenges of student engagement and shared best practice
Applied the “Be ACTIVE” Learning Framework and created a structured plan to embed active learning in their own teaching and learning context"
Active Learning to Engage Students and Enhance Learning - Part 1: 10 Ideas on how to Enhance Interaction and Student Engagement in your Teaching
"This seminar was split into three with the first part of the seminar exploring “10 Ideas on how to Enhance Interaction and Student Engagement in your Teaching”. It selected examples that highlight the importance of student engagement in learning. Active learning strategies, suitable to a range of different learning environments, online, blended, and face-to-face were explored, with consideration given to different group sizes. These 10 ideas and practical tips were provided alongside a collaborative discussion amongst attendees, where best practice were shared.
Munster Technological University are active members of the Active Learning Network (ALN) which is a group of people from around the world (over 35 institutions represented) who share an interest in active approaches to learning. In the second part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the work of the ALN and shown how to connect with the Network.
In the third and final part of the seminar, participants were introduced to the “Be ACTIVE” Framework, a new and exploratory framework focusing on Active Learning. Participants had an opportunity to actively engage in the development of a plan to implement active learning in their individual context using this framework. The framework empowered participants to plan strategies that work for them in their context to get the most out of students and develop a structured overall approach to active learning.
Those who participated in this seminar:
Discussed practical ways to Enhance Student Interaction in their Teaching
Evaluated effective student engagement strategies for their context
Described the challenges of student engagement and shared best practice
Applied the “Be ACTIVE” Learning Framework and created a structured plan to embed active learning in their own teaching and learning context"
"Established in June 2020, those involved in organising and facilitating work placement in MTU Cork set about forming a learning community to collectively work towards improving the work placement experience for all key stakeholders, i.e., students, staff, employers and the institute. This learning community has gone from strength to strength and is now university wide with in excess of 90 members, including those from the MTU Kerry campus.
They have put together a steering group as follows to represent various placement programmes across the college.
Annette Coughlan, NCMI
Catherine Murphy, Accounting & Information Systems & TLU, MTU Cork
Clive Atkinson, Process Energy & Transport Engineering, MTU Cork
Eleanor Baldwin, Physical Science, MTU Cork
Marian Quinn, Childhood Studies, MTU Cork
Mary Moloney, Civil, Structural & Environmental Engineering, MTU Cork
Rachel O' Farrell, Process Energy & Transport, MTU Cork
Sean Donovan, Management & Enterprise, MTU Cork
Shirley Millar, Tourism & Hospitality, MTU Cork
Trevor Hogan, Media Communications, CCAD
This session was effectively a meeting of the MTU Work Placement Learning Community, but those involved in, or interested in becoming involved in, work placement were also encouraged to come along to gain insights into the work of this highly successful learning community."
Learning Communities 2022: Update on established and emerging LCs in MTU
"Learning communities provide a space and a structure for people to align around a shared goal. Effective communities are both aspirational and practical. They connect people, organisations, and systems that are eager to learn and work across boundaries, all the while holding members accountable to a common agenda, metrics, and outcomes. These communities enable participants to share results and learn from each other, thereby improving their ability to achieve rapid yet significant progress.
Over the last three years, the TLU have initiated and supported over 30 learning communities across MTU. This seminar provided a short update from each of our learning communities which highlighted their successes and challenges. The session was also useful to those wishing to learn more about the benefits of initiating or joining learning communities in MTU."
Learning Communities 2022: Update on established and emerging LCs in MTU
"Learning communities provide a space and a structure for people to align around a shared goal. Effective communities are both aspirational and practical. They connect people, organisations, and systems that are eager to learn and work across boundaries, all the while holding members accountable to a common agenda, metrics, and outcomes. These communities enable participants to share results and learn from each other, thereby improving their ability to achieve rapid yet significant progress.
Over the last three years, the TLU have initiated and supported over 30 learning communities across MTU. This seminar provided a short update from each of our learning communities which highlighted their successes and challenges. The session was also useful to those wishing to learn more about the benefits of initiating or joining learning communities in MTU."
"This one-day course was designed for education professionals who work closely with those who have dyscalculia either in a teaching or supporting role or those who wish to develop their own knowledge and understanding of the area. The one-day course had a particular focus on identifying dyscalculia in learners in a post 16 setting. By the end of the one-day course, participants got an understanding of:
What is Dyscalculia?
How is dyscalculia different from maths learning difficulties?
How can dyscalculia and maths learning difficulties be identified in Post 16 learners?
What is maths anxiety?
What is good practice in supporting learners with dyscalculia?
"
"This one-day course was designed for education professionals who work closely with those who have dyscalculia either in a teaching or supporting role or those who wish to develop their own knowledge and understanding of the area. The one-day course had a particular focus on identifying dyscalculia in learners in a post 16 setting. By the end of the one-day course, participants got an understanding of:
What is Dyscalculia?
How is dyscalculia different from maths learning difficulties?
How can dyscalculia and maths learning difficulties be identified in Post 16 learners?
What is maths anxiety?
What is good practice in supporting learners with dyscalculia?
"
UDL@MTU - Universal Design for Learning: From Zero to Superhero
In this seminar, we outlined the principles of UDL focusing on the why, how and what of learning. We shared with you our experiences of completing the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education’s (NFETLHE’s) UDL Digital Badge which we completed during the 2020-21 academic year. We provided an insight into what was involved and how it has impacted our thinking and practice in MTU.
Active Learning: The Way Forward for 21st Century Learners
"This workshop briefly described the why and what of Active Learning. Members of the Active Learning Movement shared their experiences and key learnings.
This was a great opportunity to learn from others about what active learning practices work in the MTU context. The perils, positives and possibilities of Active Learning were also be discussed and developed in this interactive and engaging workshop.
"
"The Academic Success Coaching team at MTU hosted a workshop on the value and applications of coaching approaches in Higher Education. Equally of interest to Academic and to Professional, Management and Support staff at MTU, the workshop provided an overview of the uniqueness of coaching approaches and how they can enrich teaching, supervision, and mentoring scenarios.
We were joined by Dr Jill Andreanoff, a leading coaching scholar and practitioner, who shared her wealth of experience on the value of using a coaching approach in Higher Education settings. Dr Andreanoff facilitated a short interactive session exploring both mentoring and coaching, giving practical examples of how these approaches can be adopted."
"The Academic Success Coaching team at MTU hosted a workshop on the value and applications of coaching approaches in Higher Education. Equally of interest to Academic and to Professional, Management and Support staff at MTU, the workshop provided an overview of the uniqueness of coaching approaches and how they can enrich teaching, supervision, and mentoring scenarios.
We were joined by Dr Jill Andreanoff, a leading coaching scholar and practitioner, who shared her wealth of experience on the value of using a coaching approach in Higher Education settings. Dr Andreanoff facilitated a short interactive session exploring both mentoring and coaching, giving practical examples of how these approaches can be adopted."
"Writing a thesis is a huge undertaking and one that often overwhelms doctoral candidates. Many students struggle at this stage, experience writer’s block, delay writing and in some cases fail to submit at all. Supervisors can play a crucial role in this stage of the PhD. This seminar looks at the strategies supervisors can employ to help their student complete and submit their thesis.
In this seminar, Hugh Kearns facilitated a discussion of:
The writing challenges faced by late-stage doctoral students.
How supervisors can support students in these challenges.
Developing a writing plan and completion plan with the student
Providing critical and constructive feedback
Supporting the student when the going gets tough
The problems experienced by supervisors and potential solutions
On completion of the workshop, participants can now:
Implement strategies for providing writing feedback to students.
Diagnose common problems that need to be resolved in the final draft.
Provide support for the emotional challenges of writing up.
Offer advice on writing productivity to doctoral students"
"Writing a thesis is a huge undertaking and one that often overwhelms doctoral candidates. Many students struggle at this stage, experience writer’s block, delay writing and in some cases fail to submit at all. Supervisors can play a crucial role in this stage of the PhD. This seminar looks at the strategies supervisors can employ to help their student complete and submit their thesis.
In this seminar, Hugh Kearns facilitated a discussion of:
The writing challenges faced by late-stage doctoral students.
How supervisors can support students in these challenges.
Developing a writing plan and completion plan with the student
Providing critical and constructive feedback
Supporting the student when the going gets tough
The problems experienced by supervisors and potential solutions
On completion of the workshop, participants can now:
Implement strategies for providing writing feedback to students.
Diagnose common problems that need to be resolved in the final draft.
Provide support for the emotional challenges of writing up.
Offer advice on writing productivity to doctoral students"