TEU Update May 8 2025

If you wish to transfer your grades directly from Loop into the Banner Gradebook, we’ve implemented a very convenient process for doing so using the “Transfer Grades to Banner” feature. To transfer grades directly into Banner, please follow the instructions provided here. You can review our recent “Go Go Loop Gradebook and Grades Transfer” workshop here on the Loop Staff Support Page, which walks through the Grades Transfer procedure (you can scroll directly to the 36:00 mark on the workshop video).

Grading tips

As we wrap up with marking, keep these tips in mind for grading on Loop.

Keep your grade items hidden in the Gradebook while grading if you do not want students to see grades while you are still grading.
Ensure that grade items in the Gradebook are weighted correctly and all weights add up to 1.0.
Organise assignments, quizzes, and other graded activities into ‘Grade Categories’ (e.g., Exams, Participation, Weekly Quizzes), which makes it easier to view things, and helps students clearly see their coursework grade breakdown.

A comprehensive suite of resources on grading and Loop Gradebook are also available on the Loop Staff Support Page in the Assessment section—including a specific-purposes resource on Loop Gradebook.

Are you thinking about enhancing the learning experience on your modules, updating your learning outcomes, or actioning your student feedback? Did something not go quite as planned this year? Is a new module or programme coming your way next year?

Join Dr Maeve O’Dwyer, Academic Developer, for a series of interactive workshops introducing key aspects of curriculum development and learning design to help support you with your reflection and planning- including an in-person curriculum refresh workshop.

The following dates and times are available:

Introduction to Curriculum Design, online, 11.00-12.00, Wed May 21st or June 11th
Curriculum Refresh Workshop, in person, 14.00-16.00, Thurs May 29th or June 19th
Reviewing Learning Outcomes, online, 11.00-12.00, Wed June 4th or June 25th.

Sign up here to book your preferred times and dates, or to request additional support.

On May 1st, we celebrated the 2025 President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching when staff gathered to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions to DCU's teaching and learning environment of all those who were nominated. Congratulations to all who received awards across the categories.

Teaching Support - Henry Langton, Teaching Enhancement Unit
Team Award - DCU Futures team
New Lecturer Award - Christina Hannify, School of Inclusive & Special Education
Doctoral Supervision Award - Janine Bosak, DCU Business School
Overall Academic Award - Paula Lehane, School of Inclusive and Special Education
Distinctive Approach to Teaching Award - Kate Sheridan, School of Health & Human Performance
Distinctive Approach to Innovation in Assessment - Digital Business and Innovation team

We also congratulate all those who were nominated and thanks to all who attended the event and contributed to a wonderfully positive atmosphere.

Join us on Wednesday, May 28th at 2pm for another engaging and insightful Sipping Point conversation, this time centered on Transforming Higher Education: From Micro-curricula Design to Innovative Teaching Practices.

Dr. Yalemisew Abgaz from the School of Computing will share insights on the design and implementation of a large-scale, university-wide module utilising a micro-curricula model. Following that, Dr. Marianna Pagkratidou from the School of Psychology will discuss her innovative teaching strategies and assessments, which blend modern, evidence-based pedagogy with non-formal educational tools, technology, and creative approaches.

Register now.

These sessions are open to all DCU staff and you can find out more about the speakers and their talks here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

On Monday 19th May, DCU will host a mini-symposium focusing on two important aspects of ESD:

Dr Kieran Higgins from the University of Ulster and Dr Alison Calvert from Queen’s University, Belfast will lead a session on integrating ESD themes into modules using their CRAFTS methodology. This was developed for Advance HE and more details can be found here.
Lizzy Noone from Worldwise Global Schools (Irish Aid) will lead a workshop on simple yet powerful active learning methodologies involving a ball of string. This hands-on method turns abstract issues like inequality, climate change, and human rights into something participants can see and feel.

The event will take place in HG 10 (Alice Reeves Building) on the Glasnevin campus between 11am and 2pm. Lunch will be provided.

The event is open to all staff and PhD students and will also serve as a celebration for staff who have completed the NFTL Digital Badge ‘Introduction to Education for Sustainability.’

Please register here.

The higher education student population is increasing in diversity and there are demands for increased flexibility in when and how learning opportunities are provided. Digital devices and applications are ubiquitous. To respond to these changes in higher education and the increasingly digital environment, educators have to develop their digital skills and adapt to more innovative teaching approaches.

Educators and those who support education are invited to participate in a rollout of the Open Course "Getting Started With Personal & Professional Digital Capacity", jointly facilitated by ATU and DCU. Those who successfully complete the course will earn a digital badge issued by the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching & Learning.

For more information on what’s involved, the indicative course schedule, and to register, visit this link.

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.