1. LIN Newsletter Volume 2 Issue 1
HEADLINES
LIN APD modules running in 6 different institutes
Still time to register for LIN/NAIRTL Conference
Level 9 PG dip being developed for academic staff
LIN APD Coordinator appointed
Introduction Inside this
The LIN newsletter is back and its regular production will be led by the new LIN APD issue:
Coordinator Dr. Niamh Rushe. This edition contains:
An overview of the LIN project to date
A summary of LIN activities for 2010/2011
An overview of the LIN/NAIRTL Conference—it’s not too late to register!! Headlines 1
LIN Conference 2010
The Third LIN Conference is happening this year from October 6th – 7th in the Royal Introduction 1
College of Surgeons. This year, for the first time, the Learning Innovation Network
(LIN) and the National Academy for Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning
(NAIRTL) are hosting a joint annual conference. The theme of this conference is Flexi-
ble Learning, which relates to providing learners with increased choice about where, LIN/NAIRTL 1
when and how they learn. Conference
The aim of this conference is to encourage and support staff in Higher Education Insti-
tutions to undertake innovative approaches to their curriculum design and course LIN Overview 2
implementation to meet the challenges of flexible learning. There are three strands
covering the overall theme of the conference. They are Technology Enhanced Learn-
ing, Integrative Learning and Innovation in Integrating RTL. These themed sessions
will run in parallel and will see 60 oral presentations from 37 different institutes. ‘Eye on’ starts 3
There will also be 80 poster presentations on the same strands. again
The Keynote speakers for this year’s event are Professor Richard Baraniuk, founder of
Connexions, whose speech is entitled ‘The Open Education Revolution’ and Michael
LIN APD Coor- 4
Hörig, Policy officer in the Higher Education Policy Unit at the European University dinator
Association, who will present a talk entitled ‘Flexible Learning: The European Con-
text’. To register for this year’s conference please go to
http://www.nairtl.ie/index.php?pageID=27&eventID=236
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2. LIN Overview
LIN is gathering momentum! Since the establishment of LIN, seven 10 - credit CPD modules have been written
and piloted in various institutes. These modules and the lead institute in each are summarised in Table 1. So far
over 60 academic staff in 6 institutes have completed a 10 credit module. Furthermore, the module developed in
AIT has been run successfully in IADT. This project has been hailed as a huge success (Davies 2010) and work is
ongoing to build on this success.
Module Lead Institute
Learning and Teaching in Higher Education AIT
Mentoring WIT
Engaging in Educational Research Practice ITS
Formative Assessment and Feedback ITC
Technology enhanced learning LIT
Enquiry based learning ITB
Assessment and Evaluation WIT
Table 1
Table 2 summarises the LIN modules that are being run in institutes in Semester one throughout the country.
Three institutes are running modules that were first written and piloted in another institute. This process of
modules written and piloted in one institute being validated and run in other institutes is a hugely significant ac-
tivity for LIN and is something that will be further utilised as the project proceeds.
Institute Module
IADT Learning & Teaching in Higher Education
IT Tallaght Learning & Teaching in Higher Education
IT Carlow Formative Assessment & Feedback
DIT Technology Enhanced Learning
AIT (2 MODULES) Technology Enhanced Learning
Learning & Teaching in Higher Education
LIT (2 MODULES) Technology Enhanced Learning
Practice and Reflection in T&L in HE
Table 1
The overall aim of the project is to ensure staff in all institutes will have the opportunity to complete the LIN
modules and can, if they wish, complete a LIN PG Diploma or use some LIN credits for exemptions on any other
HE Education qualification. Each module is recognised as a level 9 special purpose award. The pathways aca-
demic staff can take within LIN are demonstrated in Figure 1.
Summary of current activities for the LIN APD Project
New terms of reference for the LIN working group have been drafted
Participation from each institute has been sought and encouraged
LIN Conference October 2010
LIN Newsletter starts again
Validation for modules in various institutes is being sought
Validation for PG Dip is being processed
Eighth 10 credit module on Practice & Reflection in Teaching & Learning in HE is being piloted in LIT
Page 2
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3. LIN APD modules are open to academic staff from all HE institutes, pending availability of places. Completing a
number of modules will ultimately lead to a postgraduate diploma in the area of teaching in higher education.
The graphic below indicates how this major award could be achieved and how lecturers at different stages of their
careers and with varying areas of interest could plan their postgraduate qualification. The baseline qualification is
a level 9 special purpose award which can be achieved with the completion of one module.
Figure 1
Eye on Series starts again
In each edition of Volume 1 of the LIN newsletter there was a feature article on one institute. These articles
were the ‘Eye on’ series and each of the 14 institutes featured at some point. The ‘Eye on’ feature will be run
again in this volume of the LIN Newsletter starting in the next edition. The first Institute to feature will be IT Sligo.
The LIN APD coordinator will be in touch with all IoTs to assist with the preparation of the ‘Eye on’ article.
LIN APD Coordinator
Dr. Niamh Rushe has joined the LIN team. Niamh will be working as the APD Coordinator and has a number of
responsibilities which include the production and circulation of the LIN newsletter. Niamh’s previous position was
the Manager for the Centre for Educational Development in IT Tralee. Over the next number of months she will
be in n touch with all institutes on LIN-related matters. C OR REMOVE OR PERSONALISE A LITTLE?
Volume 2 Issue 1 Page 3
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4. LIN
Institutes of Technology Ireland
1st Floor, Fumbally Square,
Fumbally Lane,
Dublin 8
Phone: 01 708 2900
Fax: 01 4736068
E-mail: niamh.rushe@ioti.ie
www.lin-ireland.ie
Supporting Academic Professional
Development
Upcoming events
LIN conference
LIN/NAIRTL October 6th-7th Royal College of Surgeons “Flexible
learning http://www.nairtl.ie/conference
‘Teaching is
SEDA conference the highest
SEDA Spring Teaching, Learning and Assessment Conference 2011
“Academics for the 21st Century’ Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh from 5th-
form of un-
6th May 2011 http://www.seda.ac.uk/index.php?p=14-2&e=414 derstanding’
Aristotle
Reporting events in your institute
Every edition of the LIN Newsletter will have an upcoming events sec-
tion. If there are any events in your institute that you would like in-
cluded in this section please send details to niamh.rushe@ioti.ie and
they will be in the next newsletter.
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