Other resources

Feedback from Students and Lecturers: Technology Enhanced Learning Improving the Learning Experience of Students

Eileen O'Donnell — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 04:58:03 PDT

Technology is pervading all areas of education and training. The use of interactive whiteboards is on the increase in our local primary schools. The use of learning management systems and e-learning platforms are encouraged throughout the higher education sector. Increasingly, mandatory courses for staff are provided in the form of online training, for example: manual handling and emergency response training. This research was undertaken to establish students and lecturers opinions regarding the use of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL). In the context of this study, the terms Technology Enhanced Learning and E-Learning refer to the use of technological tools as an enhancement to existing teaching methods in the form of blended learning. Overall, a significant number of students and lecturers were of the opinion that the use of Technology Enhanced Learning was having a positive effect on the learning experience of students. The final conclusion was that e-learning blended with other teaching methods when used effectively, further improves the learning experience and better prepares students for work.

Students' Overview: the Impact of Technology on Learning in Higher Education

Eileen O'Donnell et al. — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 03:58:47 PST

This research explores students’ views on the impact and transformations that technology has brought to the learning experience of students in higher education. The students who kindly participated in this study are from: The School of Computer Science and Statistics, Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, Trinity College Dublin and The Faculty of Business, Dublin Institute of Technology, both based in Dublin City, Ireland. The use of technologies in third level education facilitates flexible learning environments. The pedagogic approach employed by e-learning development officers or lecturers when designing e-learning platforms or learning management systems has the capability to transform student learning. From experience and cases studied there is ample evidence to suggest that the use of technology does not always necessarily meet user requirements. Students are the end users of the technologies educators use to enhance the learning experience. This study was undertaken in two separate third level educational establishments to compare students’ views on the impact that technology was having on learning. The first set of students surveyed in 2009 were studying in the College of Business, Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT), the second set of students surveyed were studying in the School of computer Science and Statistics (SCSS), Trinity College Dublin (TCD) in 2010. By analysing students views (as the end users) on educators uses of technologies, feedback is now available to learning designers and educators for the purpose of improving the pedagogical design of e-learning platforms and the use of technologies in higher education. The responses received from students clearly indicate they are of the opinion that the use of technologies in higher education beneficially transforms learning but will never replace lecturers. In essence, the benefits that can be achieved through the use of technologies are totally dependent on the ways they are employed pedagogically by lecturers.

E-Learning and DIT’s Strategic Plan

Eileen O' Donnell — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 07:25:27 PDT

This presentation explores the question can e-learning be used to enhance the student experience and further prepare students to work in industry?

Students' Overview: the Impact of Technology on Learning in Higher Education

Eileen O' Donnell et al. — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 13:01:15 PST

Can E-Learning Be Used to Further Improve the Learning Experience To Better Prepare Students For Work In Industry

Eileen O'Donnell — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 07:30:39 PDT

In the context of this study, the term e-learning refers to the use of an e-learning platform as an enhancement to traditional teaching methods in the form of blended learning. The term industry is used here in a generic sense i.e. a form of employment that will remunerate the employee. This dissertation sets out to explore the hypothesis ‘Can e-learning be used to further improve the learning experience, to better prepare students for work in industry?’ The theoretical framework consists of empirical research to identify the conclusions drawn by others who have previously explored similar hypotheses. Initially a Survey of Representatives from Industry was conducted, to establish what they considered to be the characteristics students should have if they are to be regarded as being prepared for work in industry?From the responses received from the hundred and twenty surveys distributed to representatives from various industries (i.e. recruitment agencies, banks, hotels, retail chains, manufacturing, etc.), surveys for students and lecturers were then created, to establish their views on whether e-learning was improving the learning experience (in accordance with the expectations of representatives from industry) to better prepare students for work in industry. The survey of students and lecturers was undertaken to find out how they perceived elearning with respect to improving the learning experience and how effective e-learning was over traditional teaching methods in preparing students for work in industry. The final conclusion is that e-learning blended with traditional teaching methods when used effectively, further improves the learning experience, to better prepare students for work in industry.