Tag: DCU

Associations

NIDL joins ICDE

We are pleased to announce that DCU and more specifically the National Institute for Digital Learning (NIDL) has recently been accepted as a new member of the International Council for Open and Distance Education (ICDE).  ICDE is widely regarded as the world’s peak professional body for promoting Open, Distance and Digital Learning and is celebrating 75 years of global impact. Last year, at the annual conference in Tianjin, China, Professor Mark Brown was recipient of an ICDE prize under the theme of impact.  The NIDL looks forward to actively contributing to the ICDE community. Notably, staff associated with the NIDL already play valuable leadership roles on a number of professional bodies and currently serve on the executive committees of the following associations:

image004ICDE member 2014 logo 1

 

Conferences

Major Contribution to EdTech 2014

NIDL and DCU staff played a prominent role at the recent EdTech 2014 conference of the Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA). Over a dozen presentations were given by DCU and linked College staff and both Dr Eamon Costello and Dr Mark Glynn were centrally involved in the conference organisation. The highlight was probably Professor Mike Sharples‘ keynote on lessons from massive pedagogy using FutureLearn as a case example. Dr Enda Donlon was a finalist for the Jennifer Burke Award and only missed out by 2 votes in taking out the prize.

Presentations from NIDL staff included amongst a range of topics: using surveys without the hassle in Moodle, lessons from the experience of implementing MOOCs down under,  the use of Metis for school placements, the DCU e-portfolio initiative, an assessment matrix for designing and developing assessments, an example of augmented reality in higher education, and design and implementation of a blended learning programme in Malawi, and the value of increasing flexible access to third level learning.

The conference closed with an address from Professor Sarah Moore from the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning who formally launched the draft or preliminary Digital Learning Roadmap for building capacity in higher education.