E-Learning in Ireland- calling Irish Learning Professionals
I’m developing an e-learning blog specifically for learning professionals based in Ireland.
I aim to use it as a platform to discuss Learning & Development Technology-related topics specific to practitioners based here, in the Emerald Isle. 
The recession notwithstanding, Ireland has a vibrant technology and knowledge-based industrial economy, and one of the domains we excel in, is in e-learning – most people in the training and education industry are familiar with industry-leading, highly successful Irish e-learning companies like SkillSoft, ThirdForce and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, for example.
Equally, academic institutions like Trinity College, Dublin, University College, Dublin, the National College of Ireland, and the University of Limerick run very innovative e-learning programs, particularly at post-graduate level; I myself am associated with the NCI’s Centre for Research and Innovation in Learning and Teaching, for example.
These organizations and academic institutions aside, there are over fifty ‘other’ e-learning development houses in the country – not bad for a country with a population of less than 5 million people. By any measure, we can say that Ireland punches above its weight in this domain.
Despite this, there seems to be very few Learning & Development Technology professionals contributing to the blogosphere. Off the top of my head I can think of Brian Mulligan, Michelle Gallen, Patricia Donaghy, Leo Casey, Eamon Costello, and some guy called Michael Hanley.
I’d like to include the views of Ireland-based Learning & Development Technology professionals in my new blog, and to create a space for us to discuss the challenges and opportunities that we all encounter in our activities with learners.
If you’re interested in contributing, just e-mail me here: elearningcurve[at]gmail[dot]com and I’ll get in touch with you to discuss my ideas.
Lá Fhéile Pádraig Sona Daoibh! (Happy St. Patrick’s Day, my friends)
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March 17 2010 11:18 am | e-learning
14 Responses to “E-Learning in Ireland- calling Irish Learning Professionals”
James Corbett on 18 Mar 2010 at 9:17 am #
I’m really looking forward to this Michael. I’m also a fan of all the blogs you mention and one you haven’t included – Simon Lewis’ Anseo.net blog.
Michael Hanley on 18 Mar 2010 at 10:03 am #
Thanks James – this is precisely why I put out the call. I note that I should add your site daynuv.com to the list too!
Best regards,
Michael
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Paul Simbeck-Hampson on 18 Mar 2010 at 11:12 am #
Have forward this to one of my clients here in Germany, they are from Ireland.
Michael Hanley on 18 Mar 2010 at 11:33 am #
Thanks Paul – much appreciated. I also look forward to contributing to your Ning community.
Michael
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Paul Lee on 18 Mar 2010 at 7:24 pm #
Hi Michael. We’d be very interested in following your activities. Like you, we are pushing for new technology adoption, training people in Sketchup and google earth.
Good luck with this. Check out our blog. Cheers
Michael Hanley on 19 Mar 2010 at 8:51 am #
Thanks for getting in touch Paul – I will certainly check out your blog. I hadn’t heard of Sketchup before – it look like a fantastic application.
Best regards,
Michael
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Connie Malamed on 19 Mar 2010 at 6:03 pm #
Hi Michael,
I love to learn about eLearning issues and trends around the world, so I’ll be stopping by to see what’s going on in the Emerald Isle. Good luck with it all.
Connie Malamed
Donal O' Mahony on 19 Mar 2010 at 9:27 pm #
Hi Micheal – thats an interesting approach you are taking to developing your blog. I have had my own eLearning blog for the past year – its out of Dublin City University and Portmarnock Community School and is a reflection (at times!) on policy and practice in Irish education, particularly at second level.
Good luck!
Donal
raymond short on 26 Mar 2010 at 1:39 am #
I am doing my masters in Learning Technology at the National College of Ireland.
eLearning and blended learning is a thing for the future.
I want to see if an eLearning programme can help people reduce their reactions to distress giving these challenging times. distress leads to mental health issues. I am looking for participants for my study. I attach a poster a consent form and an introduction to the study for your consideration.
If you give me an email address I can send you these attachments.
If you know of any group that would like to participate let them know.
Perhaps some of your people would like to participate? coping with stress in our live has a beneficial effect on our physical
and mental well being
If you could distribute this information among your staff it would be helpful.
raymond short on 26 Mar 2010 at 1:59 am #
This is additional information if you want me to send
the pdf attachments mentioned previously.
my email address is raymondshort324@yahoo.co.uk
google stress prevention clinic elearning
to look at the web site.
There is a special site for the study
vtlau on 09 Sep 2010 at 3:40 am #
Ha, I don’t know Skillsoft is a Irish company! Nice to meet you, I will keep looking into the blog and give my feedback too.
Cheers,
Lau
Michael Hanley on 13 Sep 2010 at 9:57 am #
Thanks Lau
Tony Grant on 21 Sep 2010 at 3:13 pm #
I have developed a new website in Ireland for electrical training and find that students are reluctant to train online on its own. So it is time to embrace blended learning in an effort to make the site more successful. I am only learning how to use the Moodle site and would like to join others who are grappelling with the same problems.
Gus Prestera on 24 Dec 2010 at 6:55 pm #
I’m not Irish, but in my youth, I did have a driver’s license that said I was Ciaran McCardle and I had many a beer at the Harbor Tavern in Wildwood, New Jersey with my Irish friends. I now own a performance consulting firm in the US–Performance Development Group–and we often have need for talented e-learning designers and developers. If any of you would be interested in doing some work for us, please email me (gprestera@performdev.com). Merry Christmas!