Engaging Minds: Active learning, participation and collaboration in Higher Education

The 9th Annual Galway Symposium and NAIRTL 5th Annual Conference on Higher Education

Location: National University of Ireland Galway

Dates: 9th -11th of June, 2011

Venue: Arás Moyola

About the event:

The 2011 Galway Symposium and NAIRTL Conference on Higher Education took place on June 9th and 10th, 2011. The theme of the conference was broad and encompassed submissions spanning a range of topics including:

• students as co-creators of knowledge
• civic engagement and social responsibility
• the first year experience
• engaging large classes
• technology enhanced learning

Higher Education institutions are increasingly focusing on the importance of active student engagement in the learning process, moving away from the traditional stereotype of passive lectures and examination towards processes that involve participation, challenging intellectual problems, imaginative use of technologies and new approaches to large classes. Learners who take responsibility for their own development and who feel a sense of purpose and ownership are more likely to meet the aims of a graduate population that has high levels of critical thinking, flexibility and creativity. This conference addressed these general themes and included parallel sessions based on submissions on these themes.

Speakers:

Amongst our speakers (in a combination of keynotes and panel discussion sessions):

• Prof. Mike Neary, University of Lincoln (previously founding Director of the Reinvention Centre at the University of Warwick)
• Dr. Derek Bruff, Vanderbilt University (well known ’clicker advocate’ and prominent HE tweeter!)
• Dr. Lesley Gourlay, Institute of Education, University of London – specialist on academic literacies and identities
• Dr. Elisabeth Dunne, University of Exeter, who has facilitated a fascinating series of student-led curricular innovation and research projects
• Usman Ali – Engagement Officer of the NUS (UK)
• Dr. Paul Kleiman -  HE Academy and Lancaster University
• Prof Guy Claxton – specialist in creativity in education

Download the Conference Book of Abstracts and Programme.

Blogs:

Blog posts on the conference:

• The Celt Higher Education Blog
• Learning Technologies, Galway
• Dr Derek Bruff ( Part 1, Part 2, Part3)

Keynote Recordings:

• Disclaimer
• Privacy
• Copyright
• Accessibility