Connect, Create, Integrate: Practitioner-researchers as knowledge creators
Our presentation will explain how practitioner-researchers on a Masters degree programme in eLearning are connecting with each other through emerging technologies in order to create a more dialogic-collaborative approach to learning. We intend to show our commitment to learning through reflection upon and research into our teaching and through integration of technology to enhance its efficacy in terms of enhancing students' learning. This presentation will also stress the importance of the standards of judgement used in a validation forum for testing the validity of claims to educational knowledge, by drawing on the feedback of participants in the research. The presentation will stress the importance of practitioner-researchers as knowledge-creators and of integrating the ideas of others into the accounts of learning.
Margaret Farren coordinates and teaches on the M.Sc. Education and Training Management (e-learning) at Dublin City University. She has completed her PhD research at University of Bath, UK. In her work, she supports practitioners in bringing their embodied knowledge and values into the public domain as they design, develop and evaluate multimedia and web based artefacts for use in their own practice contexts. This also involved the supervision of Master degree action research enquiries.
Teresa Hennessy, teaches a range of business subjects and IT in Tallaght Community School where she has acted as ICT co-ordinator since the mid-90s. She is tutor with NCTE on their Teaching Skills Initiative.
Joanne Keane is a primary teacher and assistant principal in Holy Rosary Primary School, Firhouse, Tallaght. She works as a Learning Support Resource Teacher and is the ICT coordinator.
Donal O’Mahoney is a secondary school teacher and assistant principal in Portmarnock Community School. He has a particular interest in the revised Leaving Certificate History Programme especially where it aims to teach critical thinking.