Papers by Darina Slattery
This paper explores how information and communication technologies (ICTs) were used to support de... more This paper explores how information and communication technologies (ICTs) were used to support deep learning in some of the modules on the Master of Arts in E-Learning Design and Development at the University of Limerick. This paper describes how the author used ICTs, as well as online teaching and learning theories, to improve the learning experience for on-campus students undertaking
2022 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (ProComm)
2021 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (ProComm)
Comprend des références bibliographiques
peer-reviewedMuch of the content produced by technical communicators and content developers will ... more peer-reviewedMuch of the content produced by technical communicators and content developers will later be translated for users from other cultures. For example, instruction manuals, web sites, e-learning courses, software tools and their components (e.g. messages, menus, and dialog boxes) frequently need to be available in many languages and for many locales. However, good translation is only possible when the source text (the text to be translated) is written clearly and with translation in mind.peer-reviewe
This article describes the mission, history, development, structure, and curriculum of the MA in ... more This article describes the mission, history, development, structure, and curriculum of the MA in Technical Communication and E-Learning, which is offered by the University of Limerick. The program started as a Graduate Diploma/ MA in Technical Communication but merged with the MA in E-Learning Design and Development in 2010. While the curriculum has evolved over the years, the overriding skill set of graduates remains constant; graduates are able to write clear, concise content for a range of media. In addition to discussing the curricular changes and structure, this article describes the typical roles filled by graduates, the faculty involved in the program, and the challenges they face administering the program.
Conference and Labs of the Evaluation Forum, 2006
C ommunication & Language at Work Issue no. 2
Some issues of current concern in engineering education are described. The theory, rationale and ... more Some issues of current concern in engineering education are described. The theory, rationale and implementation of reflective practice in educational settings are briefly reviewed. The use of reflective writing in the University of Limerick’s (UL) Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Civil Engineering programme is described. The habit of ‘reflection’ is embedded in the context of a full scale design-and-construct problem in year two of the programme. Student reflections were captured in learning logs over two successive years. Aids to prepare students for reflective writing are described. Outcomes before and after implementation of the more recent aids are examined. Analyses of these data are presented and discussed. The paper concludes with some proposals for further development. Using Reflective Writing in Civil Engineering Education - ResearchGate. Available from: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/266908978_Using_Reflective_Writing_in_Civil_Engineering_Education [accessed May 8, 20...
2018 IEEE International Professional Communication Conference (ProComm), 2018
Learning analytics (LA) refers to the collection and analysis of learners’ interactions with virt... more Learning analytics (LA) refers to the collection and analysis of learners’ interactions with virtual learning environments (VLEs) and other information systems, with the aim of improving the overall teaching and learning experience. Most VLEs, including Blackboard, Moodle, and Sakai, collect data about how students interact with VLE resources and with one another. In terms of forum-based interaction on VLEs, LA can measure which students posted, when they posted, how many words they posted, and which resources they accessed around that time. This paper uses a case study to demonstrate how LA data can be used to evaluate engagement in technical communication discussion forums. The paper also outlines some techniques for measuring participation in forum-based activities, using LA data available in most VLEs.
Languages for Special Purposes, 2018
On-campus institutions are increasingly moving towards blended modes of delivery. In some cases, ... more On-campus institutions are increasingly moving towards blended modes of delivery. In some cases, these blended programmes supplement existing offerings; in other cases, they replace them entirely. Regardless of the reasons for introducing blended programmes, teachers should engage in suitable professional development activities so they can successfully navigate the pedagogical and technical challenges they will encounter as they move courses online. The aim of this paper is to present a case study of a workshop, which equips on-campus teachers with the knowledge and skills they need to design and develop online courses. The paper first outlines the typical challenges faced by online teachers and some recent professional development initiatives that aim to facilitate the transition to online delivery. The paper then describes the initial structure of our workshop, the rationale for the initial workshop content, feedback received from workshop participants, and how the workshop conten...
Much of the content produced by technical communicators and content developers will later be tran... more Much of the content produced by technical communicators and content developers will later be translated for users from other cultures. For example, instruction manuals, web sites, elearning courses, software tools and their components (e.g. messages, menus, and dialog boxes) frequently need to be available in many languages and for many locales. However, good translation is only possible when the source text (the text to be translated) is written clearly and with translation in mind.
As virtual teams become more common in the workplace, a growing body of research has examined the... more As virtual teams become more common in the workplace, a growing body of research has examined the factors critical to their success. Many studies have focused on practitioners or on students in business programs. This paper examines virtual team collaboration among technical communication students at the University of Limerick (UL) and at the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando, Florida, USA. The paper describes the projects we have run, the technologies we have used, and the challenges and rewards of the experience for both students and teachers. 1.0 Introduction Over the past two decades, advances in technology and the rise of technology-driven work practices have led to changes in traditional corporate structures. Many corporations now organise work “virtually”, independent of time, space, and organisational boundary constraints (Robey, Khoo, and Powers, 2000). In global virtual teams, members work on temporary projects with a shared purpose using communication technol...
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Papers by Darina Slattery