The hot topic of conversation at the moment in the world of Teaching and Learning is the HEA's proposal for a National Academy for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. The NDLR service is very excited about this new development as it reiterates national recognition of the strategic importance of teaching and learning within higher education in Ireland.  As representatives of the NDLR community we look forward to contributing to the Academy in a positive way.  Submission deadline is the 2nd of December, if anyone has any thoughts on the NDLR's role within a national academy we would love to hear them, just email helpdesk@ndlr.ie.

Professor William T. (Billy) O'Connor of the UL Medical School shares, with the NDLR community, a lecture entitled: 'Inside the Gaming Brain.'

Professor Billy O'Connor is an internationally recognised leader in both research and education in neuroscience. He has been recognized by the award of the Conway Silver Medal for Achievement in the Biosciences and has secured over 3 million Euro in research funding.
Billy has held appointments at several medical schools including Head of Neuroscience Research in University College Dublin, Ireland and Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. Billy is currently Foundation Chair in Physiology at the Graduate Entry Medical School, University of Limerick, Ireland.

In this lecture, given to students of computer science in UL, Professor O'Connor translate cutting-edge neuroscience to answer such questions as how a gamers brain is 'formed' and illuminates the brain processes involved in generating creative games and using them to get the best from the brain.

Professor O'Connor's website 'Inside the brain' reports on the latest from the world of brain research including recent neuroscience findings to get the best from your brain.

TCD is a winner of the JISC TechDis OASES Award for Institutional Progress on Equality using Technology. It has been chosen as one of six that have an exemplary approach to embedding accessibility into institutional policy thereby ensuring equality of access to teaching and learning for all students. TCD has received this award in recognition of the numerous strategies currently in place that are working to enhance accessibility and inclusion within the academic environment.

What is JISC TechDis?
JISC (www.jisc.ac.uk) is a UK organisation with an international reputation for driving innovation in education and research. Historically, the acronym stood for 'Joint Information Systems Committee', though over fifteen years their role has evolved. JISC champions the use of digital technology for world-class in research, teaching and learning.

TechDis is a branch of JISC, and the leading UK advisory service on technologies for inclusion. They explore and promote inclusive practices, resources and advice for learning and teaching in higher education, further education, the skills sector, and independent and specialist colleges.

Finding your academic voice booklet
A booklet designed to introduce students to the purpose and conventions of academic writing. The booklet deals with a number of areas that students have identified as being challenging: the nature of academic writing; using the passive and active voice; using verbs appropriately; using sources; the principles of referencing. These are explored through examples and exercises.

Enquiry based Learning Resources
This submission to the NDLR repository comprises of three 'trigger' or 'scenario' templates used in an enquiry based learning module with a group of 19 first year undergraduate student midwives. The module's focus was on the role of the midwife in health promotion. Resources: The resources comprise of three templates that each present 'real world' circumstances. The scenarios mimic situations where student midwives might find themselves promoting health.

If you have found a resource in the NDLR you really like then let us know!

Every year during the summer months, a number of German universities offer a broad range of three- to four-week language courses which focus on literary, cultural, political and economic aspects of contemporary Germany. Extra-curricular activities complement the core material.
Undergraduate students in all disciplines, enrolled full-time at universities in Ireland or the UK are eligible to apply. Students need to be able to follow lectures in German and participate in discussions, so a good knowledge of German at the time of application is essential. The courses applied for must be taught exclusively in German and last a minimum of 18 days. The grant awarded is €850 and is intended as a contribution to the course fees and living expenses for a 3-to-4-week summer course.
All applications must be submitted by 18 November 2011.
For details of this programme, please CLICK HERE..

This new DAAD Summer Law School offers a unique opportunity to receive intensive legal training at the University of Freiburg, which hosts one of the most prestigious law faculties in Germany. After a one-week introductory seminar, you will spend about three weeks as an intern at a German law firm, court, or other legal institution.

The Summer Law School placements provide students with the opportunity to work in an international firm or organisation, to learn about the daily life of a lawyer, consultant or judge, and to gain confidence in an international environment. Last but not least, the internships are a source of mutual cultural and professional enrichment for both the interns and their hosts.
For further information CLICK HERE ; For any queries, please contact: lawingermany@daad.de

National Events

Congratulations to all the National Award Winners for Excellence in Teaching 2011! Winners of the 2011 National Awards for Excellence in Teaching will be announced at a ceremony in the Clock Tower, Marlborough Street on Monday 7th November 2011. Full biographical details of the Award winners are available here.

• Dr Thomas Farrell, Anatomy Department, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
• Dr Kathleen Horgan, Lecturer and Coordinator of Microteaching, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick
• Dr Frances McCormack, Lecturer and Vice-Dean (Learning & Assessment), National University of Ireland, Galway
• Dr Marion Palmer, Head of Department of Learning Sciences, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology
• Jennifer Schweppe, School of Law, University of Limerick
  
  

International Events

e-InfraNet Workshop-The Open Agenda

e-InfraNet held an Information Exchange Workshop on the Open Agenda on the 27th and 28th of October 2011 in Noordwijk aan Zee in the Netherlands. The broad objective of the workshop was to stimulate a lively and engaging debate around the benefits and challenges that the concept of Open Research and Higher education in its broadest sense (encompassing Open Access, data, source, borders ) poses for the communities involved. The workshop addressed questions such as "Why is it of benefit to the research and higher education communities to adopt a more 'Open approach' in research and education?"; "What are the implications (e.g. political, organizational, legal) of a more open approach for a (sustainable) e-Infrastructure?"; and "How can academics from different disciplinary backgrounds learn from each other in developing a coherent vision for (the progress of) the Open agenda?"

Ten EU countries (including the HEA from Ireland) were represented at this event. Catherine Bruen (TCD) and Niamh Brennan (TCD) presented a workshop entitled "Transforming Cultures: Open Access and the Research-Teaching Nexus".

Learning Lab - Early Researcher Symposium
Wednesday, 2 Nov 2011, Telford campus, Wolverhampton, UK.

Learning Lab in association with ALT will be hosting an annual 'Early Researcher Symposium' in November 2011 at the University of Wolverhampton's Telford campus, in the heart of rural Shropshire. This event is aimed at early researchers in e-learning and learning technology and aims to raise the number and quality of submissions to the ALT-C (ALT's annual conference) and Research in Learning Technology (the ALT journal). The event format aims to create an environment that brings together the early research e-learning and learning technologies community with methodological contributions from eminent academics in the field who will offer support to participants through structured opportunities to discuss their research.

10th European Conference on e-Learning (ECEL)
10-11 Nov, Brighton, UK
ECEL 2011 will take place in Brighton, UK and will profit from the excellent relations the UK enjoys with Latin America and Africa to create the conditions to cross the European experience in e-learning with the research and practice that has been growing very fast in those continents. Therefore offers an opportunity for those involved in the study, implementation and delivery of e-learning to meet and exchange ideas and experiences.
V-Lang Conference - "'Future Language Learning Now: Innovative Applications and Methods for Language Training
17th November Warsaw, Poland

The V-Lang Project 2011 Conference on "'Future Language Learning Now: Innovative Applications and Methods for Language Training" aims to examine the practical and theoretical issues surrounding the topic and addresses a wide range of issues concerning ICT, language learning and virtual worlds.

The scope of the conference, in particular, encompasses both practical and theoretical concepts that are related to e-learning and the use of innovative technologies in language training.

CONFERENCE: 17th Annual Sloan-C International Conference on Online Learning
16-18 Nov Florida USA
The conference program will offer a full complement of presentations that reflect the implications for the field of specific e-learning experience and practices.

Media & Learning 2011
24-25 November, Brussels
Media & Learning 2011 is the place to be if you are interested in the latest developments, services and uses of media in education and training. Aimed at both policy makers and practitioners, the purpose of this event is to identify policies and initiatives that promote digital and media competence at all levels of education and training as well as to promote best-practice in the take-up and application of media in education and training.