On 22^nd November 2012, the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD announced the establishment of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning. The 21 partners of the National Digital Learning Resources (NDLR) service welcome the news.

The NDLR service will be integrated into the Forum, and a new national digital platform established. Users of the service will continue to have access to the NDLR resources to support teaching and learning.

The core service team has been dissolved and so, for the foreseeable future, if you have a query or need support on using the NDLR service: (i) Check the NDLR support area on the website (https://ndlrhelp.zendesk.com/home ) or (ii)  contact your local Institutional Coordinator for assistance.

NDLR have been informed that we cannot proceed with the LInC projects initiative, until it has been considered and agreed by the National Forum for Enhancement of Teaching and Learning Forum.

This situation is terribly disappointing as it means the call for LInC projects 2012 will have to be pulled for the foreseeable future. The situation is regrettable and we fully appreciate the contribution of effort and work that the applicants have made to the process to date. All applications received will be put on file for the National Forum.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused. It's beyond our control at this stage.

All queries to helpdesk@ndlr.ie

The NDLR service is delighted to announce that the annual call for funding has been *reopened*. Funding will be allocated in December 2012 and the project timeframe has been pushed out from January 2012 – June 2013. All applications received to date have been kept on file and will automatically be included in the review process. The deadline for new applications is the 16th November 2012. Click here for more details!

NDLR Supports the National Open Access Policy Statement

The NDLR service is honoured to join over twenty organisations in support of the National Open Access Policy Statement that was launched today by Mr. Sean Sherlock, TD, Minister of State, Department of Enterprise, Jobs & Innovation and Department of Education & Skills with responsibility for Research & Innovation at the Digital Resources Ireland 'Realising the Opportunities of Digital Humanities' event in Croke Park. The NDLR service strongly supports this National Policy Statement and welcome being associated with its launch. Its approach is very much in-line with the NDLR commitment to OER and digital resources within teaching, learning and research. NDLR, with its higher education institutions based network, wishes to continue to contribute to Ireland being at the leading edge of this important field.

The National Open Access Statement was prepared by the National Steering Committee on Open Access Policy. The national principles for an open access policy statement are that open access adds value to research, to the economy and to society and that the outputs from publicly-funded research should be publicly available to researchers, but also to potential users in education, business, charitable and public sectors, and to the general public.

• Click here to download/view the National Open Access Policy Statement
  

The Irish Learning Technology Association (ILTA) invites your participate in a webinar facilitated by Dr Lawrence (Larry) Regan, Director- Instructional Design & Development Continuing and Distance Education/World Campus, Penn State University on Monday October 22 from 3:00 to 4:00 pm on topic of online digital competencies for staff and students.
 
This webinar foregrounds the forthcoming publication launch of a new ILTA Technology-Enhanced Learning online journal towards the end of October which aims to harvest and promote the excellent work done in the TEL area in Ireland. The inaugural first edition of the journal will be themed around Digital Literacies for Life, which follows on from the EdTech2012 conference focus.  We envisage publishing two journal publications per year: Autumn and Spring. More information about the journal will be issued soon.

About the Webinar Topic and our Presenter
Larry’s presentation "COTS Meets QOI: Observations from Online Students and Faculty" will discuss findings and applications arising from the COTS (Competencies for Online Teaching Success) QOI research and will be of relevance to technology-enhanced practitioners and researchers at all levels.
 
Dr. Lawrence C. Ragan directs the design and development of a wide range of faculty development services and systems for Penn State's Academic Outreach. Academic Outreach serves learners via online (the World Campus), Continuing Education, and the video learning network. Dr. Ragan designs and delivers professional development programs, establishes a faculty development learning community, and conducts research including the articulation of strategies to help faculty manage the online workload (SMOW) and the definition of competencies for online teaching success (COTS).  
 
Dr. Ragan has presented internationally on the topics of instructional design, multimedia integration, faculty development programming, and instructional design for distance and blended education. He has served in leadership roles as co-director of the EDUCAUSE Learning Technology Leadership program (2005–06), and is currently co-director of the Penn State/Sloan-C Institute for Emerging Leadership in Online Learning.

How to Participate
The webinar will be facilitated through the IT Sligo Adobe Connect service (with thanks to Brian Mulligan and the NDLR for facilitating). There are 100 places available for live webinar access, which will managed on a first served basis. The webinar will be recorded and archived for future viewing.

Register for this Event here <https://secure-web.cisco.com/auth=11cRmD4whKHqz8kpVlruevKjWrk-3N&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fspreadsheet%2Fviewform%3Fformkey%3DdGlQQTdqU1ZPUG85aV9JOWc1MXFuUlE6MQ>
https://secure-web.cisco.com/auth=11cRmD4whKHqz8kpVlruevKjWrk-3N&url=https%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2Fspreadsheet%2Fviewform%3Fformkey%3DdGlQQTdqU1ZPUG85aV9JOWc1MXFuUlE6MQ
We would appreciate it if you would fill in this Google form for our own records
 
Join the Webinar here <http://secure-web.cisco.com/auth=1105QohjGRHoy4xKxMpdjRq8hUtwub&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsligoit.adobeconnect.com%2Filtawebinars%2F>
http://secure-web.cisco.com/auth=1105QohjGRHoy4xKxMpdjRq8hUtwub&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsligoit.adobeconnect.com%2Filtawebinars%2F <http://secure-web.cisco.com/auth=1105QohjGRHoy4xKxMpdjRq8hUtwub&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsligoit.adobeconnect.com%2Filtawebinars%2F>
 
Login using the Guest option and use your full name (no need for a password). It is recommended that you test your access to that 'meeting room' before the event.   You should have Flash installed on your PC.  Most PCs already have this.  If your PC does not have it installed you will be directed to a page that will help you download Flash.  

Call for 2012 LInC funding projects – ON HOLD PENDING FURTHER NOTICE

As a result of recent contacts with HEA,  there have been new developments regarding fiscal uncertainties and the call has now been placed on hold until a meeting of the NDLR Oversight Committee on 10th October.

We understand that you have put a lot of work into preparation of your proposal and apologise for any inconvenience caused by this uncertainty – at this point it is beyond our control.

Applications submitted to date will be kept on file and we shall be in contact with all applicants after the meeting on 10th October.

NDLR Symposium 2012 The Digital Learning Revolution in Ireland: Case studies in practice from NDLR

The recent symposium, The Digital Learning Revolution in Ireland: Case studies in practice from NDLR, was recently held in the University of Limerick. 

Pictured at the NDLR Fest 2012 were Left to Right Catherine Bruen (NDLR, TCD), Miriam Allen (NDLR, DIT), Professor Eamonn McQuade (NDLR), Yvonne Diggins (NDLR, UL), Aisling Dundon (NDLR, UL), Dr. Ann Marcus-Quinn (NDLR, UL). Picture: Don Moloney / Press 22.

This event presented the research outputs on the development, use and sharing of Digital Resources at third level in Ireland.The event was attended by academics from all 21 higher level institutions across the country. This symposium was timely; given that Open Educational Resources (OERs) are being strongly promoted at all levels of education. This symposium presents a select number of case studies from contributors to the Irish National Digital Learning Resources (NDLR) service. While the degree to which OERs will impact on education is yet unknown, the development of and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Open Repositories is having a profound impact on teaching and learning. In a relatively short period of time the rapid development of ICT has radically changed our methods of accessing and using educational resources. The reflection and discussions about issues of use and integration into classroom practice are thus particularly useful. All of the presentations from this symposium will be published in the forthcoming Cambridge Scholars Press publication.

Press 22 11/12 Nicholas Street, Kings Island, Limerick. Tel: 00353 (0) 61 204222 photos@press22.ie

** Extended Application Deadline 5th October **

Call for 2012 Funding For National NDLR LInCS Projects - September 2012 – May 2013  

Click here for more details

NDLR Symposium 2012

The Digital Learning Revolution in Ireland: Case studies in practice from NDLR

Research outputs on the development, use and sharing of Digital Resources

Wednesday, 26th September 2012, 8.30 am – 16.40 pm, Tierney Building, University of Limerick

Come along to see how the use of digital resources are impacting teaching practice in Irish HE.

• To register for this free event please click here
• Click here to download final programme
  

This symposium is timely; given that Open Educational Resources (OERs) are being strongly promoted at all levels of education. This symposium presents a select number of case studies from contributors to the Irish National Digital Learning Resources (NDLR) service. While the degree to which OERs will impact on education is yet unknown, the development of and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Open Repositories is having a profound impact on teaching and learning. In a relatively short period of time the rapid development of ICT has radically changed our methods of accessing and using educational resources.The reflection and discussions about issues of use and integration into classroom practice are thus particularly useful.

Papers to be presented on the day are titled as follows:

1. The Use of Digital Resources in Civil Engineering Education: Enhancing Student Learning and Achieving Accreditation Criteria
2. “I’m Glad to Know I’m Not Going Mad!”: The Use of Videos of Authentic Classroom Practice to Prompt Collaborative Reflective Practice Among Second Level Modern Foreign Languages Teachers
3. Incorporating Real-Time Student Feedback into the Development of Digital Resources: A Catalyst for Change
4. Community-Engaged Student Research: Online Resources, Real World Impact
5. Digital Resources are Only Part of the Reuse Picture: An Experience Report from the Use of Digital Repositories in Building a New Module
6. Student Attitudes to a Novel Personalised Learning System Teaching Medical Interview Communication Skills
7. Teaching Legal Writing Using the Web: Possibilities and Practicalities
8. Developing Digital Resources for Undergraduate Health Science Students...How Did we Do?
9. Using YouTube in the Classroom: Does it Enhance Learning?
10. Playschool for Postgrads: Facilitating Creativity and Innovation in Doctoral Education using Digital Resources
11. Enhancing the Teaching and Learning of Labortatory Sciences through a Virtual Learning Environment
12. Engaging Students in Technical Modules: The Quest to Promote Student Identification of Problematic Knowledge
13. Engaging Prison Officers in a Blended Learning Programme: An Exploratory Case Study of the Irish Experience.
14. Local Enlightenments: Teaching the Digital Editions of the Magazine of Magazines, an Eighteenth-Century Limerick Periodical.
15. Repurposing the Smartphone in the Classroom: Practitioners’ Perspectives on Integrating Student-Produced Digital Film in Language Learning
16. The Use of Tablet Technology to Enhance Mathematics Learning Support at the University of Limerick