TEU Update Jun 19 2025

Loop pages for 2025/2026
 

• The process of creating new, fresh module pages will commence from 30 June, based on the curriculum information managed by faculties in Banner.
   
• Existing module pages from 24/25 will remain on Loop for module coordinators to import content and activities from.
   
• If you wish for additional (non-module or module-adjacent) Loop pages, e.g. some subcourse pages for a consolidated module; an information page for students going abroad; a shared page between two similar/overlapping modules, etc. you can request that after 30 June via this request form. 
   
• Banner controls teacher (and student) enrollment to Loop module pages. You need to ensure that your faculty office has you listed as “Primary Instructor” for your module on Banner if you are a module co-ordinator, or as “Instructor” if you are another teacher. Neither TEU nor DTS can manually enrol you to your module pages. You must ensure your own faculty has you correctly listed as an instructor, as Banner is the single source of truth for this information.
   
• If there are multiple instances of your module (multiple CRNs), you will have multiple Loop pages for that module, with different cohorts of students enrolled on each. You must ensure you are listed as an instructor on each of these multiple CRNs if they apply to you. If you wish for a shared page to teach out of, rather than multiple CRN pages, make a request via this request form after 30 June.
   
• With thanks to faculty office colleagues, we are also in the process of manually creating programme pages for the new academic year and intend to make those available to programme chairs from 7 July.

New Loop features
 

In previous weekly updates we have profiled new navigation and activity features of the upgraded Loop. This week we wish to highlight new assessment and Gradebook features, which will make grading, feedback, and assessment management smoother and faster. These updates are particularly helpful during busy marking periods.

The Gradebook will feature a sticky footer, keeping key actions visible as you scroll. This makes it easier to save changes or switch views without losing your place. Assignment grading has also been streamlined, with inline comments, a cleaner layout, and better visibility of student submissions.

If you use quizzes, you’ll notice more intuitive handling of questions, numbering, and feedback. You can now group questions, which makes it easier to balance your assessments and helps students better understand their strengths and areas for improvement.
 

Highlights:
 

• Sticky footer in the Gradebook keeps save and view controls in sight
   
• Cleaner assignment settings with improved layout and inline feedback options
   
• Default scales and grade types reduce setup time
   
• Simplified feedback view for easier reading and replying
   
• Quiz enhancements, including group marking and inline editing
   
• Bulk messaging tools to send reminders and encourage student completion
   

Loop Reflect downtime

Following the successful Loop upgrade yesterday, we will proceed to update the Loop Reflect learning portfolio platform next week. Loop Reflect will be offline 24th-26th June for this upgrade.

Last week the TEU joined DCU colleagues at the 2025 ECIU Forum at Università di Trento. Over 2 very busy days colleagues attended and presented at a range of workshops, panels and presentations. The TEU participation included a workshop on Peer Observation of Teaching (Clare Gormley & Dr Martina Crehan), a panel session on Innovative Practices in ECIU University Teaching and Learning Centres (Dr Martina Crehan), and a workshop on CBL as part of ECIU Work Package 8 which focuses on professional development. DCU colleagues presented on topics ranging from Design Thinking (Dr Peter Robbins) to Advancing Innovation from Research to Societal Impact (Ronan Cunningham). Aoife Butler (outgoing SU VP Academic Life) also participated in a ECIU Student Ambassador session.

We also celebrated the ECIU Team Impact Award which this year was won by DCU and the work of Dr Cliona McParland and team for the CBL module “The Eco-Tech challenge: Pioneering Innovative Technologies for a Sustainable Future” The winning team includes the TEU’s Clare Gormley and her work on CBL guidance and support for the module. Congratulations to Cliona, Clare and all the team!

Theme: Teaching and Learning in Turbulent Times: Recognising Diversity and Promoting Inclusion

Dates: September 29th - October 3rd 2025

Modes: Series of In-Person and Online Events

This year’s Teaching and Learning Week, themed "Teaching and Learning in Turbulent Times: Recognising Diversity and Promoting Inclusion", encourages staff to share teaching and learning practices that critically engage with global challenges, acknowledge diverse perspectives, and actively promote inclusion. For more information about topics of interest and how to get involved, please visit the Call for Contributions. If you are interested in sharing your work, please complete the form by Friday July 18th and a member of the Teaching Enhancement Unit will get back to you.

Following the success of the digital badge earlier this year, we will be offering it again to staff during Semester One of the new academic year.

This is a six week course, involving a total of 25 hours learning time. 

The six sessions will take place over Zoom on Wednesdays at 1pm during weeks 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10 of the semester. Each session will last one hour. Participants will also be required to complete pre-session tasks and group reflections.

The course has been designed to meet the needs of staff at DCU. Sessions will focus on a range of issues: sustainability and sustainable development; education for sustainable development; sustainability competencies; integrating ESD into modules and programmes; and integrating ESD into assessment.

To register, please complete this form and if you’ve any questions contact barry.peak@dcu.ie. 

If you require assistance or guidance with teaching and learning or Loop related matters, avail of the below methods.

Support for technical issues
For Loop technical queries, go to help.dcu.ie. You can also attend one of our regular online Loop drop in clinics, details in the TEU calendar. The drop in clinics are particularly useful for more complex queries. The Loop Staff Support Page also provides a comprehensive range of resources on Loop and Zoom. For new users, the enrolment key for this page is ‘staff’. 

Advice on using technology for Teaching and Learning
If you are looking for advice on developing your teaching practice, including but not limited to the application of technology, please contact the TEU team teaching.enhancement@dcu.ie. We will endeavour to respond to you as soon as possible.

Consultancy request form
Interested in requesting a workshop or more extended consultation on a specific topic?  Use this consultancy request form.

TEU mailing list 
Going forward, the TEU newsletter and other updates will be issued to the academic staff mail group.  Anyone else who wishes to receive our communications, please click “Join Group” to be added to our mailing list. This is particularly important if you wish to receive updates on Loop related communications; professional development opportunities such as Advance HE supported journey, etc.