e-learning projects at DCU receive President's awards for teaching and learning
13th May 2002

e-learning today received a major boost at DCU with the conferring of the first President's Awards for Innovation in Teaching and Learning. They were presented to academics for their creative but practical use of technology as a teaching tool. The winners were Professor Richard O'Kennedy, professor of biological sciences who recently also won the Royal Irish Academy Biochemistry award, and a marketing team from the Business School comprising Dr Anne Sinnott, Dr Michael Gannon, Ms Naoimh O'Reilly, Ms Joanne Lynch and Mr Shane Martin.

Students were invited not only to propose academics for the award, but were also represented on the evaluation panel by Student Union president, Derek Scanlon.

"The awards are a recognition for those lecturers who, in the view of the students, have really delivered above and beyond the normal obligation of teaching", said Barry McMullin, Dean of Teaching and Learning. "The two winning projects, one by an individual and one by a teaching team, demonstrate the commitment to innovation by using a combination of new techniques which involve technology".

The marketing team in the DCU Business School converted their traditional lecture-based course to one delivered interactively via the web. The course, 'Introduction to Marketing', previously taught to over 600 first-year students in traditional lecture-hall format, was this year delivered in the form on online tutorials, self-test materials and links to relevant sites and databases to encourage independent research. In addition, the students used a bulletin board where students and staff could address academic and administrative questions relating to their course. Students were also offered a facility to download lecture notes through the web, an element which was particularly welcomed by students with disabilities. Class contact was maintained through lectures and small class tutorials. Students were also tested online, making end of year examinations redundant.

Professor O'Kennedy has played a key role in the teaching of anatomy to nursing students at DCU. He employs a computer-based interactive teaching system which has proved not only effective but also popular amongst the student nursing body.

"While the main objectives in teaching are to enlighten, motivate and inform, we are moving away from a traditional learning environment. We can now use technology to challenge intellectual capacity and to develop a critical and analytical approach to information and learning", said Prof O'Kennedy.

ENDS

For further information please contact:

Eilis O'Brien: 700 5217 or 087 205 7125
Eileen Colgan: 700 5656