Enhancement of Learning (EOL) is one of four component strands of the DRHEA SIF submission. EOL is the largest strand and involves all 8 of the collaborating institutions. It comprises a number of projects organised into four major areas – The Dublin Centre for Academic Development; Transforming the Curriculum; Teaching for Engagement and Retention and Enabling E- and Blended learning.

A major component of the SIF project is DCU’s internal change management project, the Academic Framework for Innovation (AFI), the majority of which also falls under the Enhancement of Learning Strand.

The DCU Learning Innovation Unit has developed a number of resources to assist and guide in the writing of module learning outcomes.  Further information and links to resources are available at: http://www.dcu.ie/ovpli/liu/writing-module-learning-outcomes/

Overview and Objective

The increased levels of participation in higher education over the past decades create significant challenges for third-level teaching and learning.  These include:

• curricula with insufficient emphasis on outcomes
• engagement and retention problems arising from a more diverse student body
• management of very large classes
• opportunities for better use of new educational technologies
• deficits in core competencies
• personal and academic difficulties experienced by many students on transition to third level.

The DRHEA Enhancement of Learning strand is an ambitious, integrated collaborative programme of work addressing these challenges as a system rather than as individual institutions.  Strand 1 comprises the establishment of a Centre for Academic Development and three major projects.

• Dublin Centre for Academic Development 
• Reforming the Curriculum: Focus on Outcomes and Flexibility
• Teaching for Engagement and Retention
• Enabling E and Blended Learning

The full list of projects and participating institutions is portrayed by the EOL Project matrix - PDF.