National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education

Mentoring as a pedagogical approach in early childhood education and care
2019-04-06 | Tralee
Learning Outcomes:

Situate the role of mentoring in ECEC degrees
Share good practice in training mentors
Explore the role of technology in supporting mentoring

Eventbrite registration link will be available soon, in the interim please contact the organiser directly for further information.

Internationalising the curriculum for student success
2019-04-05 10:00 - 13:00 UTC | Waterford
We live in an increasingly globalised world that brings with it a myriad of complexities and opportunities. The challenge of preparing students to participate fully in such an environment is more relevant than ever. This seminar by renowned expert in the area of internationalisation of higher education, Professor Elspeth Jones, will focus on ways to internationalise the curriculum and will enable participants to:
Learning Outcomes:

Appraise how internationalising the curriculum can support success for all students throughout and beyond their studies
Evaluate approaches to curriculum internationalisation in different national and institutional contexts
Identify new approaches to internationalising the curriculum within an Irish context
Plan for institutional integration of curriculum internationalisation within disciplines

Presenter: Emerita Professor Elspeth Jones (Leeds Beckett University) and editor of Internationalization in Higher Education series, Routledge is Emerita Professor of the Internationalisation of Higher Education, Leeds Beckett University and Honorary Visiting Fellow, Centre for Higher Education Internationalisation (CHEI),Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Milan. She has undertaken work for universities around the world and for organisations including the European Commission, European Parliament, British Council, European Association for International Education (EAIE), and IEAA Australia. Her specialisms include personal, professional and employability outcomes from international mobility and internationalisation of curriculum at home. She has published widely, is founding series editor of Internationalization in Higher Education (Routledge) and winner of the EAIE Award for Excellence in Research.
Lunch will be provided for attendees at 1pm.

Professional development on teaching international students through a language other than their mother tongue in a higher education context
2019-03-29 | Dublin, Ireland
Learning Outcomes:

Participants will have a deeper awareness and understanding of the challenges facing international students and all learners studying through a language other than their
mother tongue
Participants will have strategies which they can implement in designing and delivering courses which will support learning through a language other than the mother tongue
Participants will have a deeper awareness of theories and principles of language
learning in the context of curriculum design

Eventbrite link for registration will be available soon, in the interim please contact the organiser directly for further information.

Getting Started with Professional Development – PACT
2019-03-27 12:30 - 2019-05-08 13:30
Launch of Online Open-Access Professional Development Short Course for All Those Who Teach
The National Forum’s open-access professional development short course ‘Getting Started with Professional Development – PACT’ is an exciting new opportunity for anyone who teaches in Irish higher education to receive recognition, in the form of a digital badge, for their commitment to engagement in professional development. The PACT course is now available fully online through the National Forum’s new VLE platform.
What is involved?
To complete the course and gain the nationally-recognised digital badge, you will need to commit to a total of 25 learner hours, spread over six weeks. The course will start with a lunchtime webinar at 12.30-1.30 on Wednesday, 27 March. During this webinar you will meet the facilitators who will outline how the course will be supported over the following six weeks. You will be given activities to complete during the week and every Wednesday between 12.30 and 13:30 a webinar will take place to reflect on the week’s activities and introduce the topics for the following week.
Some activities will be completed individually but many will require online collaboration with other participants. You will form peer groups to support each other on your journey to achieve the PACT badge.
There is no need to worry if you have never used the online tools before, facilitators will be on hand with tips and support throughout the course.
The final webinar will be held on Wednesday, 8 May, after which you will complete the course, in collaboration with your peer group, and achieve the nationally-recognised digital badge.
How can I become a facilitator?
If you would like to become a facilitator for this course, to run it in your own institution, a further commitment of five learner hours will be required, in addition to attendance at two extra webinars, on Thursday, 18 April and Thursday, 9 May at 12.30 to 1.30pm. If you have already completed the PACT badge, you can sign up just to complete the facilitator course. However, you cannot become a facilitator without first completing the PACT badge.
How do I sign up?
To register for the upcoming PACT course, as a participant, a facilitator, or both, please click here.

Important Dates:
Introduction Webinar 1: 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 27 March
Webinar 1: 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 3 April
Webinar 2: 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 10 April
Webinar 3: 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 17 April
Facilitator Webinar 1: 12.30-13.30 on Thursday, 18 April
Webinar 4: 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 24 April
Webinar 5: 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 1 May
Webinar 6: 12.30-13.30 on Wednesday, 8 May
Facilitator Webinar 2: 12.30-13.30 on Thursday, 9 May

Consultation Open for Upcoming NStEP Strategy
2019-03-25 08:00 - 2019-04-12 17:00
The Steering Group of the National Student Engagement Programme (NStEP) is currently developing a strategy for the future and would like to hear from all those studying or working in Irish higher education. The new strategy will determine how resources are directed and policies are shaped in the area of student engagement over the coming years.
Your feedback is invited to help to shape and inform the strategic goals and actions of NStEP over the coming years. The consultation can be accessed here.
NStEP was launched in 2016 to develop a national vision for enhancing and embedding student engagement within higher education. This national programme has brought together staff and students within their own contexts, with the aim of fostering a culture of meaningful engagement. NStEP provides space for collaboration and capacity building, for sharing ideas, and for creating best practice to elevate the student voice and to implement student/staff partnerships. The national partnership of the HEA, QQI, and USI aims to champion student partnership at the strategic level and embed meaningful student engagement in future sectoral developments.

Using small scale digital initiatives to support large scale digital policies
2019-03-22 10:00 - 13:00 | TUDublin, Bolton Street, Rotunda, Dublin 1, Ireland
Learning Outcomes:

Outline how small scale initiatives, such as the ABC curriculum design, can be used to support large scale institutional policies on digital learning
Describe how to implement the ABC Curriculum design process
Create a visual storyboard of a module using the ABC Curriculum design toolkit
Define activities and assessments that will help students achieve the module learning outcomes based on Laurillard’s (2009) six learning types
Apply this curriculum design process at a programme learning level

Arena blended connected learning design (ABC to VLE)
2019-03-21 10:00 - 13:00 | Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Learning Outcomes:

Worked with colleagues in teams to review the curriculum design of their programmes
Reviewed the design of their face-to-face programmes and apply a new design for blended delivery in a VLE
Applied the ABC to VLE design method to their programme and modules to enhance student learning
Identified new activities and collaborations to include into the blended design to improve the student engagement and learning

Ahead Conference 2019 - Journey to Oz -Travelling Together Towards Inclusive Education
2019-03-20 - 2019-03-21 | Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
In the classic story The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy leads her charges through the Land of Oz to the Emerald City seeking a hearing from the all-powerful wizard. They hope to convince the wizard to use his powers to grant them all something they believe they are missing – the scarecrow, a brain; the lion, courage; and the tin man, a heart. When the wizard turns out to be a charlatan, all seems to be lost but with Dorothy’s encouragement and support, her charges realise through the journey they have made, that they already have the traits they wished for inside of them.
Students and staff in our further and higher education system are also on significant journeys – students are travelling the road to graduation and staff are navigating the move towards mainstreamed inclusion on campus. Much like in Oz, they find that the journey itself is more important than the final destination and they find what they crave within them.
This international conference featuring over 50 different sessions, delivered by more than 70 contributors, spanning 4 continents of the world will ask:

How can our college services respond to an increasingly diverse student population and help them to release the potential within as they travel the yellow brick road towards graduation?
How can our teachers and academics, recognising the journey that they themselves are on, adapt their practice in our evolving inclusive institutions and like Dorothy, be the catalyst our diverse students need to help them realise their aspirations?
How do our Disability Service Staff share their knowledge, expertise and best practice with academics and wider student services to help them to ‘find their way home’ in this changing landscape?

This conference is for teaching staff, student services staff and all others in the campus infrastructure interested in an inclusive approach. If students are your concern, then there’s something here for you!

Fostering a partnership between students and clinicians in the assessment of practice education
2019-03-20 | Dublin
Learning Outcomes:
The attendees will:

Understand approaches and techniques that facilitate better partnership between students and clinicians in the assessment of practice education
Appreciate how collaborative assessment contributes to the development of desired graduate attributes (i.e. to act responsibly, think independently, communicate effectively, and develop continuously)
Be able to implement approaches and techniques that facilitate collaborative assessment

The hosts will:

Understand what supporting resources are needed to improve assessment literacy among students and clinicians over the course of practice education

Eventbrite registration link will be available soon, in the interim please contact the organiser directly for further information.

Virtual Education Spaces and VLE Change: Opportunities and Challenges
2019-03-13 12:00 - 13:30 | Online
Learning Outcomes:

Identified key features/tools in virtual educational spaces that are important for students, academics and other stakeholder
Explored reasons for changing an institution’s VLE (virtual learning environment)
Identified important considerations when reviewing VLE options
Discussed the organisational and technological opportunities and challenges involved

Aligning Teaching and Learning Across the Technological Sector (ATLAS): sharing outpus from mapping accredited professional development to the National Professional Development Framework.
2019-03-13
Learning Outcomes:

Discuss the National Professional Development Framework
Identify opportunities for engagement with the PDF when planning/facilitating formal and informal development activities
Use the “ATLAS Consultation Pack” to explore professional development for the technological sector with colleagues
Engage collaboratively to advance professional development opportunities in the technological sector

NStEP Conference
2019-03-12
To mark the completion of the three year NStEP Work Plan a conference will be held in the Departments of Education on Tuesday, March 12th 2019. The conference will share the out puts of the 5 National Projects and present the work of the Class Rep Training Programme.

Documenting Erasmus student experiences through ePortfolio
2019-03-12 | Dublin
Learning Outcomes:

Participants will be able to design and implement an eportfolio task to support students studying abroad
Participants will have designed a draft eportfolio task aimed at supporting study abroad students
Participants will be able to demonstrate an awareness of eportfolio pedagogy

Evenbrite registration link will be available soon, in the interim please contact the organiser directly for further information.

Assessment in teacher education: Placement in further education
2019-03-11 | Limerick
Learning Outcomes:

To explore the potential of the student placement for supporting assessment for, of and as learning – with a particular regard for teaching qualification programmes for the further education sector
To examine good practice in lesson observation including the communication of post-observation feedback
To share good practice in achieving consistency and fairness in the interpretation and assessment of student teacher competences
To work collaboratively and creatively towards maximising the benefits of placement assessment for both teacher educators and student teacher

Eventbrite registration link will be available soon, in the interim please contact the organiser directly for further information.

Harnessing student engagement data for a holistic personalised feedback
2019-03-08 | Galway
Learning Outcomes:

Explore what student engagement information is available within the VLE (Moodle) and how it may be accessed
Use algorithms to transform numerical student data into meaningful descriptors
Create personalised feedback suitable for delivery to students

A practice exchange of innovation using technology in professional education: Sharing experiences of nurse, solicitor and teacher education
2019-03-07 | Dublin
Learning Outcomes:

Understand how technology is being used innovatively in professional educational domains, to include nurse, solicitor and teacher education
Recognise the rewards and associated challenges in using technology innovatively in these professional domains
Critically evaluate the technologies presented
Apply the use of these technologies to one’s own professional education context

Exploring the use of video to enrich learning experiences
2019-03-06 | University College Cork
Learning Outcomes:

Describe the learning context with regards to discipline, audience and delivery mode
Map the various elements that inform the development of online resources using the “matter, method and manner” frame of the workshop
Identify barriers to learning that students may encounter with different online delivery styles (“Manner”)
Review and revise content and delivery of pre-recorded AV content
Use tools and techniques to enhance planning and delivery of content e.g. story-boarding, scripting etc.

Eventbrite link for registration will be available shortly, in the interim please contact the organiser directly for further information.

National Forum is Ireland’s Participant in Open Education Week Web-a-Thon
2019-03-05 20:30 - 2019-03-06 20:30
The National Forum will participate in a 24-Hour Web-a-thon on 5-6 March 2019 for Open Education Week, an annual convening of the global open education movement to share ideas, new projects and to raise awareness about open education and its impact on teaching and learning worldwide.
The National Forum’s Dr Terry Maguire and Dr Catherine Cronin will front the Forum’s opening web-a-thon webinar from 20:30-20:50 on Tuesday 5 March next and will explore New open education initiatives in Ireland.
A follow-on session will run from 21:30-21:50 and will explore themes for the upcoming Open Educational Resources Conference 2019 which takes place in NUI Galway, Ireland on 10-11 April. The conference is sponsored by the National Forum.
The National Forum will be part of the web-a-thon’s network of speakers from Algeria, Nigeria, Argentina, South Africa, Italy, Chile, United Kingdom, Afghanistan, United States, Ireland, Sweden, Canada and Poland who will present their open education projects.
All webinar sessions will be in: https://creativecommons.org/2019/02/28/open-education-week-webathon/
The 2019 web-a-thon is being organised by the Creative Commons (CC) Open Education Platform and CC Poland.

Students as partners in assessment and feedback
2019-03-05 | Limerick
Learning Outcomes:

Explore the role of the responsibility sharing in the giving and receiving of feedback in the learning process for both the assessor and the student
Examine the importance of including the student in the feedback process as a means of increasing the learning experience
Define some principles that should underpin a culture of including the students as partners in the feedback process
Discuss the practicalities of incorporating this approach within the programmes of study

Joining the dots: Supporting students throughout the student journey
2019-02-28 | Maynooth
Learning Outcomes:

Participants will explore working definitions for ‘Student Success’ for their unit/department/office/campus
Participants will be familiar with the research and theory of Student Transitions throughout higher education
Participants will be able to identify key transitions, both anticipated and unanticipated, their students may experience and potential strategies to empower

Eventbrite registration link will be available soon, in the interim please contact the organiser directly for further information.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) - A professional development workshop to promote and implement an inclusive teaching and learning environment
2019-02-22 10:00 - 15:00 | Dublin
Learning Outcomes:

Identify the principles and best practice approaches of Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Discuss key issues around inclusivity and UDL in Higher Education Institutions
Apply the principles of UDL to promote and implement an inclusive teaching andnlearning environment across a range of settings
Evaluate the benefits of UDL interventions over time
Establish a Community of Practice (CoP) to promote a UDL culture

Cross Cultural Teaching and Learning for Home and International Students
2019-02-22 | Dublin
This seminar aims to:

Examine context of internationalisation of higher education
Overview of teaching and learning context for home and international students
Examine internationalisation of the curriculum and pedagogy in practice and benefits for all students
Review impact of diverse classrooms on teaching and learning; Overview of teaching strategies
Reflect on Challenges and opportunities presented by internationalised classrooms

Exploring different dimensions of educational leadership
2019-02-22 | Waterford Institute of Technology, Ireland
Learning Outcomes:

Created opportunities for networked relationships across the educational sector amongst existing and aspiring leaders
Be able to discuss the role leaders’ play in the ongoing improvement and transformation of education institutions
Identify the key trends and developments with respect to educational leadership across the spectrum of education
Be aware of national-systemic initiatives in professional learning and development directed at changing learning and teaching and the critical role of leadership in education

Exploring dimensions of educational leadership in times of continuous change
2019-02-22 | Waterford
Learning Outcomes:
At the close of this seminar the participants will be enabled to:

Create opportunities for networked relationships across the educational sector amongst existing and aspiring leaders
Contribute to a discussion on the role leaders play in the ongoing improvement and transformation of education institutions
Identify the key trends and developments in educational leadership across the spectrum of education
Share experiences of national-systemic initiatives in professional learning and development directed at changing learning and teaching
Raise awareness of the critical role of leadership in education in times of continuous change

Presenters:
Professor Paul Conway, School of Education, University of Limerick
Ass. Professor Leslie Cordie, College of Education, Auburn University

Assessment design to promote academic integrity
2019-02-21 11:00 - 20:00 | Dublin
Learning Outcome

Consider the role of assessment design in promoting academic integrity
Integrate Academic Integrity Principles in the assessment design process
Evaluate own assessment practice in relation to the Academic Integrity Principles
Identify ways of involving students to promote and enhance academic integrity

Understanding student anxiety and building resilience in the learning environment
2019-02-21 10:00 - 13:00 | Carlow
Learning Outcomes:

Demonstrate awareness of how anxiety and stress contribute to challenging learning experiences
Identify strategies used to support students in transition to higher education, to manage their emotions and/or enhance their learning
Create environments more conducive to learning and help students perform to their potential
Demonstrate an insight into the interaction between emotions, the brain and learning

Learning from student success: Barriers and facilitators
2019-02-21 | Dublin
Learning Outcomes
To gain an overview of best practice across institutions in involving and engaging students as partners in discussions about success

To learn from student experiences through engaging students as partners in discussions around success across a range of disciplines
To learn from students what their needs are in terms of supports to help them attain success
To gain insight into what students feel are the most effective ways to engage them as partners in thier own success
To share approaches to promoting student success across different Irish HE Institutions.

Embedding threshold concepts in curriculum design
2019-02-21 | Limerick
Learning Outcomes:

Describe the pedagogic principles that underpin Threshold Concepts
Outline the key attributes associated with Threshold Concepts and their application within disciplines
Identify activities that embed the principles of Threshold Concepts into day to day teaching
Discuss approaches for incorporating Threshold Concept into teaching and learning

Eventbrite registration link

Innovative teaching across subjects with digital photographs: An inquiry graphics method
2019-02-19 10:00 - 13:00 | Athlone Institute of Technology, Ireland
Learning Outcomes:

Develop new skills in visual literacy and the use of visual resources in teaching Learn about the latest innovative and engaging approach to visual teaching and learning in higher education termed “Inquiry Graphics”, ahead of the Inquiry Graphics book publication
Understand how to explore difficult concepts with students and colleagues via graphic resources such as photographs, videos, and illustrations
Able to design and develop personal teaching to incorporate visual resources more effectively for teaching and learning purpose

Revisiting "research-led teaching": Integrating teaching and research activities with open science framework
2019-02-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Limerick
Learning Outcomes

Explore definitions of “research-led teaching” and examine one’s own teaching activities through the lens of research (and vice versa)
Identify programme-level opportunities for integration of teaching and research within one’s own discipline(s), including opportunities for inter-institutional collaboration
Demonstrate basic proficiency with key features of Open Science Framework mapped on to core research skills acquired at undergraduate level (e.g., development of a research question and/or hypothesis, conducting literature reviews, and dissemination activities).
