We are delighted to share the good news that the major US-based Online Learning Consortium (OLC) has selected one of our doctoral students, Elaine Beirne, to join their inaugural class of Emerging Scholars. The Emerging Scholars program provides current and recently graduated doctoral students the opportunity to contribute to research projects in the OLC Research Center for Digital Learning and Leadership. The program also offers a chance to collaborate with institutions and organizations around the world on research projects and network with peers and mentors in the digital learning field.
In the official press release, Kathleen Ives, D.M., OLC’s Chief Executive Officer says the “Emerging Scholars is a unique program in the digital learning arena”. Dr. Ives reports that “It complements our other graduate student initiative, which provides the opportunity for graduates students to present at OLC conferences. These two programs offer the OLC community the chance to engage with the next generation of digital learning researchers and practitioners, and help them advance their careers.”
The call for Emerging Scholars generated applications from around the world. After a rigorous review process four inaugural scholars were selected for a two-year term, including:
- Elaine Beirne, Dublin City University, Ireland
- Katherine McAlvage, Marylhurst University, Oregon
- Mary Rice, University of New Mexico, New Mexico
- Matthew Romanowski, University of Arizona, Arizona
Elaine Beirne, PhD candidate working in the Ideas Lab in the National Institute for Digital Learning (NIDL), is being supervised by Associate Professor Mairéad Nic Giolla Mhichíl and Dr. Gearóid Ó Cleircín Fiontar agus Scoil na Gaeilge. 
Elaine’s research interests include educational psychology, online learning, second language acquisition, massive open online courses (MOOCs) and computer-assisted language learning. Specifically, her thesis, which is funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is focused on exploring the antecedents of learner emotions during an Irish language MOOC. The study aims to inform the development of online language learning environments that foster learning enhancing emotions.
Dr. Jill Buban, OLC’s Senior Director, Research and Innovation, who instituted the Emerging Scholars program said, “These graduate students bring unique professional perspectives and research interests from varied institutions, and we are thrilled to welcome them as Emerging Scholars,” Dr Buban who is well known to the NIDL team went on to say, “It’s exciting to launch a program like Emerging Scholars – perhaps the first of its kind in the digital learning space to provide doctoral students an opportunity for hands-on research and networking within the field.”
Congratulations to Elaine and we look forward to hearing more about her experiences of being an OLC Emerging Scholar – Faith thú.
Digital Learning Dispatches 