Lecturers discussed challenges in pedagogy based on a conference exploring their perspectives. Through appreciative inquiry and grounded theory, they shared views on: 1) Motivating student engagement through debate, personal experiences, Socratic methods, and technology when used appropriately. 2) Main challenges as losing students, dumbing down content, balancing retention with quality learning, and pressures from administration/resources. 3) Guiding values like making learning fun and engaging over assessments, meeting students' needs, and improving education for its own sake and potential to change lives.

1. Lecturers have their say:
what informs pedagogy?
Fiona O’Riordan
Dr Kevin Casey
Dr Larry McNutt
Dr Sue Bergin

2. Background
• ICEP 2010
• Conference Committee
• Armchair Sessions
• Capture voices of lecturers
• Objective:
– Forum to collectively discuss challenges facing
lecturers today

3. Methodology
Appreciative
Inquiry
Grounded
Theory

4. Appreciative Inquiry

5. Grounded Theory
Preliminary Findings of Collective Voice
Views on student engagement
Main challenges faced
Motivating values and beliefs

6. Views on student
engagement
“bring students into the “no gadgetry, no
debate…and to bring technology, just
their [the students] own really good
personal experiences discussion’
into it [the debate] Flexible and responsive
Socratic approach with small groups
Encourage dialogue…debate…exploration
and critique of knowledge
“The perception of everybody
Collaborative teaching and learning to be that we are
here seems
relationship teachers, not lecturers…that
Technology to enhance sound pedagogy creates a kind of
“...it [technology] is a
being a lecturer
a barrier between you and the
tool like your pencil students, whereas a teacher is
was years ago and much more kind of egalitarian
your book”. and I much prefer that word
teacher to lecturer”

7. Main Challenges Faced
“I mean it is made quite
Because we’re losing students we clear that one of the
tended to dumb it down to a priorities is the retention
certain extent I think in order to of students. As that
get them there [graduate]. would be a marker for
What we give them is notChanging landscape
as of HE resources in the
even
engaging as it used to be or it future”.
can be” Student retention and recruitment
Resources allocation
““…post-grad becomes just the norm,
Greater diversity of learners the norm, but you
and we know it is
“I suppose if we are QA and Admin dutieshave certain levels to
do have to
successful in engaging
students, hopefully
Technological advancements learning and that
access that sort of
isn’t always taken into any sort of
fewer should drop out, consideration when the institution is
if they feel like they are promoting higher learning without
involved”. ‘Irish government looking at the qualifications and
actively looking for trying to have the base learning in
international students place as well”.

8. Values and Beliefs
“I mean it is made quite
clear that one of the
priorities is the retention
“You want to make it more
of students. As that
fun…and more engaging…you
would be a marker for
don’t want to bore them to
even resources in the
tears”.
future”.
Fun learning environments
Move away from assessment driven learning
““completely change a person’s
Meet student in their comfort zone their
life….to completely change
Be guided by own moral compassand to be
generations lifestyle”
“You want to make “even a small part of it [lifestyle
things better and change]” is very rewarding”.
improve things all the
time” “…just enjoy learning –
to move away from ‘I
need a grade’”

9. In conclusion
Huge
Despite the To engage
commitment
challenges learners
and passion