Maynooth University Centre for Teaching and Learning

Colleagues from across the university gathered on Wednesday 15th May to celebrate those who teach and those that support teaching in Maynooth University. The Maynooth University Teaching and Learning Showcase, hosted by the Centre for Teaching and Learning (CTL),  provided an opportunity to connect with colleagues, facilitated the sharing of T&L practice and innovations through posters, Teaching and Learning Fellowship awardee updates, a panel discussion chaired by Professor Tim Thompson, Vice-President for Students and Learning, and a keynote delivered by Professor Randall Bass, Vice President for Strategic Education at Georgetown University. Attendees were also able to avail of a range of technology demonstrations in the specially set up Innovation Space.  

 

The Showcase was opened by an address from Professor Eeva Leinonen. The President thanked Lisa O’Regan, Head of the Centre for Teaching and Learning, for her invitation to open the event and noted: ‘Our Centre for Teaching and Learning is a source of pride for our university. It inspires, enables, and promotes excellence in teaching.’  

 

The range of innovations described on the posters and the research presented by the 2022-23 Teaching and Learning Fellows demonstrated that the theme of the Showcase, ‘Imagining and creating better futures for all’, is being undertaken by university staff across the campus. This was made evident by the range of creative and imaginative approaches to teaching, learning and student engagement presented at the Showcase. At the event, colleagues enjoyed meeting each other and learning about the teaching and learning enhancement work that is being undertaken by staff across the disciplines. 

 

‘The role of education in imagining and creating better futures for all’, was the title of the keynote delivered by Professor Randall Bass, Vice President for Strategic Education at Georgetown University. His address was inspirational and provocative and he drew particular attention to the question of what the educational response to the condition of the world should be right now.  

 

The panel discussion, chaired by Professor Tim Thompson, Vice-President for Students and Learning (VPSL), expounded further on the Showcase theme, ‘My perspective on The role of education in imagining and creating better futures for all’. The panel members, Professor Bass; Susi Gottlöber (Dean of T & L ) Mary Murphy (FSS); Aidan Mooney (FSE) and Kyla Henry (SU VP Student Life) offered a range of perspectives which led to a stimulating and thought-provoking discussion. 

 

Six new Teaching and Learning Fellowship awards were announced at the Showcase. The 2024-25 theme was ‘Valuing Teaching and Learning:  Action, Enquiry, Inspiration’. The Fellowships, which have been running in Maynooth University since 2011, support teaching and learning development, recognise staff commitment to teaching and learning, and enhance the student learning experience. The Fellowships build institutional capacity, contribute to professional development, acknowledge and celebrate staff, and inspire and motivate colleagues and students. The awardees are: 

• Dr Gordon Delap, Department of Music, ‘Role Modelling: Enhancing Standards and Aspirations in Music and Sound Design for Screen through Professional Engagement’ 
• Dr Alison FitzGerald, Department of History & Áine Carey, Library, ‘Fostering a Community of Scholarship in an Undergraduate Dissertation Module within the Faculty of Arts & Humanities’ 
• Professor Robert Galavan, School of Business, ‘Transition to Digital: A Case Study and Guide’ 
• Dr Carla Mateus, Department of Geography, ‘Exploring Students' Perceptions of Experiential Learning in Geography’ 
• Andrew Meehan, Department of Electronic Engineering, 'Low-Cost Transmission Line Experimental set up - A practical implementation for Active Student Understanding and Experimentation’ 
• Dr Peter Mooney, Department of Computer Science, ‘Turning Back to Online – Evaluating the Impacts of Online Teaching for Computer Science Lab-based Subjects’ 

Two SPARK 2024-25 award recipients were also announced. The awardees are: 

• Dr Denis Casey, Critical Skills, 'Developing Student Information Literacy Skills Through a Two-Stage Multiple Choice Quiz' 
• Dr Catherine Gander, Department of English, 'Mapping Documentary Poetry: Creating an Open Education Resource (OER) as Assessment' 

The CTL 2024 SPARK Initiative aims to support individual staff and teams in implementing small-scale Teaching and Learning enhancement projects. The idea behind SPARK is to identify one aspect of your Teaching and Learning that you would like to enhance and to begin to address this issue with a starter project that creates opportunity to build on the initiative beyond the funding timeframe. Lisa O’Regan, Head of the Centre for Teaching and Learning congratulated all the awardees and highlighted the importance of these SoTL Funding opportunities in recognising and supporting excellence and innovation in teaching and learning. 

The Spark initiative is a rolling call with a closing date of August 30th, 2024.

We invite colleagues to view the 2024 Teaching and Learning Showcase interactive photobook to get a sense of the event. Thanks to all who contributed and attended the Showcase!