Current Enhancement Initiatives
Capacity Building through Collaboration
Joint Teaching & Learning Initiative Between TUS and SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) led by Dr Nuala Harding, Head of the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation and Development (CPID, TUS) and Tashmin Khamis, Associate Vice President, Teaching Learning Commons (TLC, SAIT)
This joint initiative between TUS and SAIT focuses on the professional development of all those who teach, including teaching and learning in a digital world, teaching and learning within and across disciplines, and student success. In September 2024, TUS and SAIT signed a three-year international collaborative agreement to develop joint programmes, establish opportunities for faculty and student changes, share information and best practices and explore research initiatives. The “Capacity Building through Collaboration” initiative brings together TUS and SAIT to advance learning, teaching, and assessment practices through joint Teaching Enhancement Projects (TEPs) and Student Fellowships. The initiative is enabling inter-institutional engagement between SAIT and TUS to advance professional development opportunities for staff by working collaboratively to develop learning, teaching, and assessment practices in a mutually beneficial manner. Enhancement projects focus on the following priority areas.
- Education for Sustainable Development
- Digital transformation in the tertiary sector
- Best practice in upholding and cultivating academic integrity
- Interdisciplinary Collaboration (under any of the three themes)
Teaching Enhancement Projects (TEPs)
Project Theme: Education for Sustainable Development
| Project Title | Project Leads and Mentors |
|---|---|
| 1. Sustainable Living Labs in Culinary Arts and Tourism: Sharing Best Practices | Dr Noëlle O’Connor, Dr Catherine-Ann O’Connell (TUS), Dr Sonja Johnston (SAIT) and Dr Flora Mahdavi (SAIT) |
| 2. Developing a compendium of ESD teaching, learning and assessment practices in SAIT. | Dr Noëlle O’Connor, Dr Catherine-Ann O’Connell (TUS), Dr Sonja Johnston (SAIT) and Dr Flora Mahdavi (SAIT) |
Project Theme: Digital Transformation
| Project Title | Project Leads and Mentors |
|---|---|
| 1. Investigating the impact of immersive technologies on the development of core skills and competencies. | Dr Geraldine McDermott (TUS), Seamus Ryan (TUS) and Ryan Mann (SAIT) |
| 2a. Exploring the integration of Generative AI (GenAI) Tools in teaching practice to develop AI Literacy. | Seamus Ryan (TUS), Ryan Mann (SAIT) |
| 2b. A collection of case studies on GenAI in the curriculum. | Ryan Mann (SAIT), Dr Geraldine McDermott (TUS), Dr Denise Mac Giolla Ri (TUS) and Frank Bergdoll (SAIT) |
Project Theme: Academic Integrity
| Project Title | Project Leads and Mentors |
|---|---|
| 1. Involving students as co-creators within the assessment process to promote Academic Integrity and the ethical use of GenAI. | Dr Mike Russell (TUS), Eimear Kelly (TUS), Dr Denise Mac Giolla Ri (TUS) Dr Sonja Johnson (SAIT), and Dr Flora Mahdavi (SAIT) |
| 2. Modelling Academic Integrity to improve practice in the enactment of the curriculum. | Dr Mike Russell (TUS), Eimear Kelly (TUS), Dr Denise Mac Giolla Ri (TUS) Dr Sonja Johnson (SAIT), and Dr Flora Mahdavi (SAIT) |
Student Fellowship Projects
Project Theme: Education for Sustainable Development
| Project Title | Project Leads and Mentors |
|---|---|
| “How Well Are We Doing? A Student-Led Review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Implementation Across TUS and SAIT | Dr Noëlle O’Connor, Dr Catherine-Ann O’Connell (TUS), Dr Sonja Johnston (SAIT) and Dr Flora Mahdavi (SAIT) |
Project Theme: Academic Integrity and Digital Transformation
| Project Title | Project Leads and Mentors |
|---|---|
| Student-led evaluation of assessments within an existing taught module to determine if, and how, GenAI tools may or may not be integrated ethically. | Dr Mike Russell (TUS), Dr Sonja Johnston (SAIT), and Dr Flora Mahdavi (SAIT) |
Learning Enhancement Projects (LEPs)
What is a Learning Enhancement Project (LEP)?
Through the National Forum’s Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding, specific groups or individuals who have already established their expertise/interest in a thematic area were invited to submit a proposal for funding, which is clearly aligned to one or a combination of the National Forum themes:
· Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
· Digital Transformation in the Tertiary Sector
· Best practice in upholding and cultivating academic integrity
The outputs from each project will inform learning, teaching, and assessment practices and programme design, guided by the TUS Learning and Teaching Strategy, ‘Putting Learning First 2022-2025′, and the TUS Graduate Attributes Framework.
| Title | Lead | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| ‘Woofing and Wagging’ -Use of interactive online software for active learning of Veterinary Physiology. | Dr Maeve O’Reilly | Maeve.OReilly@tus.ie |
| Computer-based learning and assessment within Management Accounting | Dr Orlaith Kelly | Orlaith.Kelly@tus.ie |
| The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in enhancing Social Care students’ soft skills, knowledge and professional development. | Lorraine Daly | Lorraine.Daly@tus.ie |
| Inspiration Mind Mapping Software Using Inspiration Mind Mapping Software to support academic integrity and promote active learning and engagement. | Elaine Kelly | Elaine.Kelly@tus.ie |
| Integrated Media for Digital Student Onboarding | Sarah La Cumbre | Sarah.LaCumbre@tus.ie |
| Digitalization and Sustainability in Energy: Educating and skilling Students with Material Characterization, Multiscale Modelling and Artificial Intelligence. | Dr Amit Haldar | Amit.Haldar@tus.ie |
| Education for A Sustainable Foods System Programme for TUS | Gayle Tarmey | gayle.tarmey@tus.ie |
| Critical Conversations on Copyright & Licensing: Staff Student Partnership | Johanna Archbold | johanna.archbold@tus.ie |
TUS Communities of Practice (CoPs) (Ringfenced initiatives)
What are Communities of Practice (CoPs)?
Communities of Practice (CoPs) are naturally forming groups that come together through a shared passion or goal to learn by reciprocating knowledge, experiences, and ways of addressing problems (Lave & Wenger, 1991).
Through the National Forum’s Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement Funding, specific groups or individuals who have already established their expertise/interest in a thematic area were invited to submit a proposal for funding, which aligned with one or a combination of the National Forum themes:
· Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
· Digital Transformation in the Tertiary Sector
· Best practice in upholding and cultivating academic integrity
The outputs from each project will inform learning, teaching, and assessment practices and programme design, guided by the TUS Learning and Teaching Strategy, ‘Putting Learning First 2022-2025′, and the TUS Graduate Attributes Framework.
| Title | Lead | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| Integrating Digital Capabilities into the Curriculum: A Compendium for Teaching, Learning and Assessment at TUS | Dr Trevor Prendergast | Trevor.Prendergast@tus.ie |
| Integrating Generative AI and Virtual Reality (VR) for Enhanced Learning and Assessment in Agile Methods: “Gen AI as an assessor” | Dr Mary Giblin | Mary.Giblin@tus.ie |
| Empowering TUS Graduates: A Community of Practice for Employability Excellence | Aoife Prendergast | Aoife.Prendergast@tus.ie |
| Experimental Hub: Exploring Expanded Moving Image, Print and Lens-based Practices | Lorraine Neeson | Lorraine.Neeson@tus.ie |
| Enhancing the TUS Flexible Learning applicant/student experience through the upgrade of student experience data collection processes | Veronica Walsh | Veronica.Walsh@tus.ie |
| Design and Manufacturing of a Formula Student Race Car Using Recyclable Materials and In-House Technology Through Collaboration Between Multidisciplinary Academic Staff and Student Teams | Dr Daniela Butan | Daniela.Butan@tus.ie |
Previous Enhancement Initiatives
Learning Enhancement Projects (LEPs)
| Title | Lead | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| Sustainable food production in a learning restaurant utilising Tower Gardens | Sean Connell | sean.connell@tus.ie |
| Using Accessible VR and AI Platforms for Interdisciplinary Teaching, Learning and Collaboration | Dr Martina Cleary | martina.cleary@tus.ie |
| Authentic STEM Education: Mathematical foundations for engineers and computer scientists | Dr Patrick Browne | patrick.browne@tus.ie |
| The digitalisation of OSCE & DOPS assessment in TUS | Gillian Coughlan | gillian.coughlan@tus.ie |
TUS Communities of Practice (CoPs) (Ringfenced initiatives)
| Title | Lead | Contact information |
|---|---|---|
| Exploring the use of immersive technologies to enhance the student experience | Geraldine McDermott | geraldine.mcdermott@tus.ie |
| Academic Integrity | Catherine O’Donoghue | catherine.odonoghue@tus.ie |
| Integrating ESD Curriculum Design | Noelle O’Connor | noelle.oconnor@tus.ie |
| Internationalising the Home Curriculum | Eimear Kelly | eimear.kelly@tus.ie |
| Studio Intersections – Transmissions Hub | Lorraine Neeson | lorraine.neeson@tus.ie |
| Lightboard | Seamus Ryan | seamus.ryan@tus.ie |
Strategic Alignment of Teaching and Learning Enhancement (SATLE) Funded Projects
- Online 2.0: Kaleidoscope of Assessment for the Lifelong Learner (KALL)
- Micro-credentials and Digital badges in Engineering (MaDE)
- Demystifying Academic Integrity
- Designing an Implementation Strategy for the Internationalisation of the Home Curriculum
- Enhancing Placement Experience in Civil Engineering
- Developing Team Based Learning as a Unique Student-Centred Pedagogy (USP)
- Working Collaboratively to Enhance Provision for those who Teach and Learn Online in Athlone
- Technology Enhanced Learning: What works and why?
- Assessment for Learning Resources for First Year Undergraduate Mathematics Modules
Y1 Feedback
The Y1Feedback project sought to enhance feedback dialogue in first year undergraduate programmes to support student transition by using digital technologies. The aim of the Y1Feedback project was to develop and pilot technology enhanced feedback approaches to facilitate teacher feedback and feed-forward, and peer-feedback specifically aimed at large first year undergraduate classes, to support student transition.
TEAM
The Technology Enhanced Assessment Methods (TEAM) project explored the potential offered by digital technologies to address these concerns. Its primary aim has been to develop a framework for applying the principles of good assessment and feedback to practical assessment, and to facilitate dialogue among stakeholders about what it is we want students to learn in practical classes and how our assessment can facilitate this. For further information on the TEAM project click on the links below.
- The TEAM-Project: Investigating and enhancing assessment in science and health practical sessions with digital technologies.
- Technology Enhanced Assessment Methods (TEAM) in Science and Health Practical sessions: a progress report on an Irish multi-institutional initiative
- Embracing alternative formats, assessment strategies and digital technologies to revitalise practical sessions in Science & Health
ATLAS
Using a reflective and evidence-based approach, Aligning Teaching and Learning Across the Technological Sector (ATLAS) sought to interpret the National Professional Development Framework within the context of existing accredited provision across technological higher education institutions in Ireland. For more information on the ATLAS project click on the link below,
Contact Information
For more information, please contact the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation and Development at cpid@tus.ie