A total allocation of €170,000 was made available in late 2019 through the HEA and the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning to stimulate and support small-scale local enhancement projects, aligned to one or more of the following strategic priorities:
UCD Teaching and Learning consulted with a broad cross-section of the UCD community including students, faculty and staff to help identify areas within and across schools and units that could benefit from small-scale enhancement funding. Informed by the consultation, a competititve scheme was put in place with the oversight of an advisory group comprised of members of the UCD community. Applications were invited for grants of up to €5,000. 90 applications were submitted, including 14 cross-disciplinary applications. The strong engagement from staff and students with which the call was met was most welcome, particularly in light of the requirement for active student involvement. There were seven adjudication panels, one for each college and a non-college panel.
Forty-five interesting and diverse Learning Enhancement projects were funded. A number of these managed to complete by the original timeline whilst other projects are working to an extended deadline due to the pandemic. The first of the completed projects are showcased below. Congratulations to the teams on the successful completion of their projects.
Follow this on Twitter at #UCDLEP
This initiative set out to work with existing postgraduate tutors in order to develop high quality professional training in university teaching and learning for all Arts and Humanities tutors.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to design specific lab activities based on VBA, Python and a FinTech software (FAS) in order to enrich financial mathematics theory and in turn the computational learning.
Learn MoreThis project set out to develop a novel, cross-discipline, vertically integrated framework and associated resources to optimise the teaching, learning and assessment of Evidence Based Practice (EBP).
Learn MoreThis project sought support for the purchase of resources and learning tools for the analysis, design and redesign of digital/spatial environments impacting people with different accessibility needs.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to introduce UCD tutors to Problem-Based Learning (PBL) method, aiming to enhance student learning and engagement.
Learn MoreThis initiative introduced new Lightboard technology aiming to capture hand written content and retain student engagement in the classroom, tasks especially challenging in large auditoriums.
Learn MoreThis initiative introduced Academics to fundamental Video Production skills through online course, aiming to streamline and frontload essential theoretical concepts reinforced by active participation.
Learn MoreThe UCD School of Veterinary Medicine recruited 132 students in project aimed to improve stock recourses and model innovation of intravenous catheter in their Clinical Skills Centre.
Learn MoreThis initiative aimed to empower students to recognise and assert the value of their experiences as language users and learners.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to collaborate with faculty, staff and students to create and implement a College-wide tutor training and recognition programme for the College of Social Sciences and Law.
Learn MoreThis project aimed to enhance the successful outcomes for students considering and taking up the progression pathway towards undergraduate degree programme.
Learn MoreThe School of Biology & Environmental Science and the School of Biomolecular & Biomedical Science set out understand how stress affects both undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to demonstrate how low-fidelity simulated models can provide insight towards nonlinear dynamical systems and their behavior, aiming to outline their use in teaching & learning.
Learn MoreThe aim of this initiative was to enable students to gain practical experience of working with born-digital records and preservation systems, building their confidence for when becoming professional.
Learn MoreThis initiative aimed to introduce the students to the Magma computational algebra system and especially aimed to enhance student learning of algebraic coding theory.
Learn MoreThis initiative aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an undergraduate module designed to promote students’ psychosocial competencies important for managing their own learning at college.
Learn MoreThe UCD Library aimed to enhance student's teamwork, communication skills and understanding of digital technology through a group competition directed towards promotion of green awareness.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to provide supportive network for faculty, academics and students to share learning, enhance understanding and improve practice in community engaged learning and teaching.
Learn MoreThis project is about the development of a suite of digital resources to decrease time in the field and laboratory, increase the number of sessions and better facilitate distance learning.
Learn MoreThe online course underpinning this initiative aimed to provide educators with a dynamic and innovative forum, exploring potential for immersive technology to optimise teaching and learning.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to introduce technology-related topics onto accounting modules using case studies as well as to develop a tool that encourages problem solving and group work.
Learn MoreThis project aimed to make the teaching and learning of undergraduate Geometry more engaging and autonomously accessible to all learners by increasing students' visualisation skills.
Learn MoreAssistant Professor Marcus Baumann set out to improve delivery of laboratory teaching using modern chemistry experiments.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to support students in overcoming the technical barriers to using R, to better prepare them for practical work in other modules.
Learn MoreUCD School of Psychology set out to enhance student success by providing free Acceptance and Commitment Therapy based workshops and online workbooks, aimed to reduce student academic procrastination.
Learn MoreDr Takfarinas Saber digitised and localised lecture materials to enable easy access and provide better cultural context for students of Beijing Dublin International College.
Learn MoreThis initiative set out to supplement existing writing services offered by the UCD Writing Centre, by offering support to students in creative writing.
Learn MoreUCD colleagues are learning how to create and use digital animation to enhance student understanding of abstract and complex concepts.
Learn MoreUCD Access & Lifelong Learning has developed redesigned interactive workshops and resources which can be accessed by any UCD student at any time.
Learn More
Principal Applicant |
School/College |
Project Title |
|---|---|---|
|
Dr Martin Brady |
Classics |
Access Classics: Facilitating Outreach Through Our Student Cohort |
|
Dr Julie Brooks |
History |
Building and developing student capabilities in digital preservation |
|
Dr Naomi McAreavey |
Arts & Humanities |
Designing and piloting a blended professional training module for postgraduate tutors in the Arts and Humanities |
|
Dr Teresa Cecilio |
Languages, Cultures and Linguistics |
Introduction to Common European Framework and the Companion – a supplementary self managed toolkit for Portuguese language for A1 level. |
|
Dr Mary Farrelly |
Languages, Cultures and Linguistics |
Living Multilingually: Online Tools for Empowering Language Learners in Transition |
|
Dr Paul Perry |
English, Drama & Film |
Creative Writing Support at The Writing Centre |
|
Professor Eamonn Delahunt |
Public Heath, Physiotherapy & Sports Science |
Is a “Connected Curriculum” achievable in UCD? (a pilot study of five undergraduate programmes across the College of Health and Agricultural Sciences). |
|
Dr Thomas Flanagan |
Medicine |
Conquering ‘Neurophobia’ Using AXON: An Interactive Multimedia Resource for Enhanced Understanding of Neuroanatomy by Medicine Students |
|
Assoc Professor Helen Gallagher |
Medicine |
An integrated, technology-enhanced approach to prescribing education in medical degree programmes. |
|
Ms Pamela Kelly |
Veterinary Medicine |
Implementation of veterinary business management education using blended learning across the veterinary medicine curriculum. |
|
Ms Renagh Kelly |
Veterinary Medicine |
“Project I.V.”: Veterinary Clinical Skills Mastery through student involvement in Simulation Model Creativity |
|
Dr Mark Pickering |
Medicine |
Interdisciplinary, student-led design of innovative 3D learning tools in human anatomy. |
|
Dr Catherine Redmond |
Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems |
Development of an interdisciplinary curricular framework to promote effective teaching and learning of evidence-based practice |
|
Ms Nicola Walshe |
Veterinary Medicine |
Communication Skills Project - the development of a professional skill that is critical to student success |
|
Dr Sarah Cotterill |
Civil Engineering |
Digital resources to improve student access to practical applications of environmental engineering. |
|
Dr Kevin Nolan |
Mechanical and Materials Engineering |
Digital Animation for Educators Enabling a Library of World Leading Learning Content |
|
Ms Mairead O’Reilly |
Engineering and Architecture |
New Dimensions |
|
Assoc Professor Vikram Pakrashi |
College of Engineering & Architecture |
Design of Physical Models for Classical Mechanics Teaching and Learning (College level application) |
|
Dr Marcus Baumann |
Chemistry |
MoLECULE - Modern Laboratory Experiments for Chemistry Undergraduate Learning Enhancement |
|
Assoc Professor Eimear Byrne |
Mathematics |
A concrete approach to learning algebraic coding theory using a computer algebra system. |
|
Dr Adam Kane |
Biology and Environmental Science |
A Crash Course in Data Handling with R |
|
Assoc Professor Pauline Mellon |
Mathematics |
Geometric Visualisation - Using the mathematical software Maple to enhance the teaching and learning of Geometry for student and teacher success. |
|
Dr Adamaria Perrotta |
Mathematics |
How coding languages and FinCad Analytics Suite for Excel can facilitate a sensemaking to quantitative finance: a learner-centered and EBS approach to teaching Computational Finance |
|
Dr Takfarinas Saber |
Computer Science |
Digitisation for Localised Lecturing Material in BDIC (DiLLeMa-BDIC) |
|
Dr Sharon Shannon |
Physics |
Improving the Professional Practice of Teaching Assistants via EDI Awareness |
|
Dr Craig Slattery |
Biomolecular & Biomedical Science |
E-learning supports for enhancement of student learning in Regulatory Affairs & Toxicology |
|
Assoc Professor Emma Sokell |
Physics |
Improving the consistency of the 1st year laboratory experience in UCD Science |
|
Dr Gavin Stewart |
Biology and Environmental Science |
Enhancing teaching and learning in UCD biology by tackling stress amongst students and staff. |
|
Ms Rachel Farrell |
Education |
Virtual Reality (VR) in Initial Teacher Education: Towards a model of collaborative professional development for university methods lecturers, school placement mentors and student teachers. |
|
Assoc Professor Crystal Fulton |
Information & Communication Studies |
UG Research Accelerator for the Social Sciences |
|
Dr Deirdre McGillicuddy |
Education |
UCD Community Engaged Learning and Teaching (CELT) Network |
|
Assoc Professor Louise McHugh |
Psychology |
Using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to reduce academic procrastination |
|
Dr Sarah Morton |
Social Policy, Social Work and Social Justice |
Fulfilling potential: supporting community engagement progression students through peer networking, educational skills development and enhancement of digital literacy. |
|
Dr Brendan O’Neill |
Archaeology |
Building Futures: A Samburu/Irish teaching collaboration |
|
Assoc Professor Jennifer Symonds |
Education |
Human Learning: Promoting Students’ Psychosocial Competencies Associated with Success in College Through a School-to-College Transition Support Programme |
|
Dr Tobias Theiler |
Politics & International Relations |
Introducing Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to a Stage 2 International Relations module |
|
Assoc Professor Niamh Moore-Cherry |
College of Social Sciences & Law |
Developing a tutor training and recognition programme for the Social Sciences (College level application) |
|
Dr Quinn Dupont |
Business |
Enhancing the Scholarly Value Chain: The Blockchain Research Network |
|
Mr Matt Glowatz |
Business |
Development and implementation of a multi-disciplinary interactive multimedia business case study to advance students’ digital business skills for both academic and professional development |
|
Mr Allen Higgins |
Business |
Resources for Experiential Learning of the Disability Environment for a new module (MIS20090 Design Thinking). |
|
Dr Sean Power |
Business |
Actively learning accounting analytics through task-based simulation |
|
Dr Jamie O'Neill |
College of Business |
Creating a diversity of learning and teaching experiences in using lightboard technology (College level application) |
|
Mr James Molloy |
Library |
Looking through the green lens |
|
Dr Lisa Padden |
Access & Lifelong Learning |
Access Student Supports: Designing Online Workshops and Resources |
The original completion date for projects was the end of December 2020. Project teams were invited to apply for a project extension, if necessary, due to challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic. A number of projects will end by the original completion date and others will avail of an extension. All projects will be complete by 31st May 2021.
Recipients of funding are required to showcase and disseminate the approach taken and key outcomes from their project at a Teaching and Learning event(s) and through the development of a case study for publication on the UCD T&L website.