We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our hosts at Maynooth University: Emmanuel Kypraios, Lisa O’Regan, Tetyana Borova, Kathleen Levacher, Orla Hanratty, George Palomino, Jonathan Walsh, Helen Farrell, Alison Farrell, Ailin Ni Conchuir, Aoife Ni Ghloinn’s and Michael Hanley. Their warm hospitality, insightful lectures, and the memories created during our visit will forever be cherished.
During the visit, we had the opportunity to learn the Essentials of course page design in Moodle and practiced adding the Gamification elements. We got inspired to add more short writing assignments to our daily teaching. We explored the principles of Open Educational Resources, discussing the advantages, disadvantages, and ethical considerations of OER. The Centre for Irish Language Research, Teaching, and Testing, shared with us valuable insights on using digital tools to support adult learners, particularly beneficial for the developers of the open course in Ukrainian language and culture. Dr. Aoife Ni Ghloinn’s presentation on utilizing social media to enhance grammar teaching for Gen Z was both inspiring and engaging, showcasing innovative approaches to leveraging social media platforms.
To immerse ourselves in the history, we visited the University Chapel and the Russell Library where we learned about the historical collections of St. Patrick’s College, established in 1795 as a seminary for Irish priests. It was a truly enlightening experience.