National Forum – Page 6 – Digital Learning Dispatches

The final presentation on the Y1 Feedback project funded by the National Forum was given by project lead Lisa O’Regan to the review panel in October, 2016. This project set out to pilot technology enhanced feedback approaches to facilitate teacher feedback/feedforward and peer-feedback in large first year classes to support student transition. An extensive review of existing experience in this area was undertaken based on a literature review and survey of existing practice.

The basic assumption is that technology enabled feedback approaches can support learning designs that may not otherwise be possible due to time, large groups, or location as well as providing more opportunities for teachers to provide ongoing dialogical feedback. Currently the final phase of the project is underway in documenting a number of Y1 Feedback case studies of effective feedback practices. The results of the Y1 Feedback project will be presented at a Feedback Symposium at Maynooth University at the end of January 2017.

In October 2016, Dr James Brunton gave the final presentation on the outputs and deliverables of the Student Success Toolbox project to the National Forum’s International Expert Panel. This DCU-led project has been very successful in producing a suite of online tools for flexible part-time learners that current research suggests are lacking in early stages of the study lifecycle. The project team has produced numerous outputs and publications beyond the original scope of the project and recently developed and piloted a MOOC called Head Start Online in order to embed many of the tools in a facilitated learning experience for prospective flexible learners. We hope to fully embed these tools in the future for prospective students as part of our wider orientation to the DCU Connected experience.