Student success at college is not just achieving high grades The National Forum for Teaching and Learning defines student success as the process by which students fulfil their potential and flourish at college and in society. This is a broader activity than simply achieving high grades. Psychosocial competencies are core to the definition of student success: these are the ‘soft skills’ or ‘non-cognitive skills’ that enable students to cope well with learning challenges, engage deeply in learning, and develop their identities as learners and as active citizens. Transitions are a key issue within this priority area, with transitions such as the move from school to college presenting both challenges and opportunities for students.
Initiative
Learning to be a Teacher in Fully Online Environments: Exploring the Impact on Content Knowledge, Pedagogical Content Knowledge and the Quality of Teaching
About this initiative
A distinctive approach to pedagogy has emerged as a global norm in the opening months of 2020. Distance education, remote teaching and online instruction are now new approaches to pedagogy and/or curriculum design. With this teaching and learning initiative, we aim to explore the impact that fully online pedagogies might have had on pre-service teachers’ content and pedagogical content knowledge. To do so, we will examine the quality of their teaching while they are on school placement. A mixed-methods approach will gather qualitative information regarding their teaching approach through interviews and professional dialogues, but also quantitative regarding teaching in general. We will also explore the online pedagogies to listen to the students’ voice in relation to their online learning experience, with the aim to inform policies related to online teaching and learning. A final goal will be to explore pedagogical strategies to adapt online pedagogies for students with connectivity issues or low socio-economic status.
Lead organisations
Affiliated organisations
Linked open educational resources
Initiative details
Funding programmes SATLE
Themes Student Success
Award year
2020Funding amount (€)
31511Contributors
Related initiatives
Using Acceptance & Commitment Therapy to Reduce Academic Procrastination
Although academic procrastination is a common feature of university life (affecting 50-95% of students), research suggests it is highly problematic (Scent & Boes, 2014). Academic procrastination is associated with diminished well-being, poor quality of life, high stress, poor university performance, and university dropout (Glick & Orsillo, 2015).
Creative Writing Support
The Learning Enhancement Project set out to supplement existing writing services offered by the UCD Writing Centre, by offering support to students in creative writing. Creative Writing is one of the most successful and fastest growing subjects in the College of Arts and Humanities. With a large elective programme, the new BA in English with Creative Writing, and provision at MA, MFA and PhD levels, there is a real demand for support for creative writing students.