NUI Maynooth Eprint Archive
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Hermeneutics. Understanding Educational Experience
No full textFar from something theoretical or abstract, the main concern of hermeneutics is to uncover what actually happens in human experience when understanding, in better or worse forms, occurs. Crucial insights are yielded for educators. Today, the heart of educational experience is routinely bypassed by preoccupations with measurable outcomes and rankings; preoccupations increasingly shared by policy-making in education and by educational research and evaluation. Hermeneutics provides imaginative and practical resources for remedying this loss: for revealing distortions and dogmas and for reclaiming the fullness of educational thought and action. The main ideas of hermeneutics are explored in the book and the more central concerns of educational practice are then reviewed in the light of these ideas
Computationally-efficient nonlinear model predictive control of wave energy converters with imperfect wave excitation previews
No full textEnergy maximising (EM) control of wave energy converters (WECs) is a noncausal problem, where wave
prediction information can be used to increase the energy conversion rate significantly. However, current
approaches do not consider the prediction error evolution in the control formulation process, leading to
potential unpredictable performance degradation. Moreover, most existing real-time WEC control approaches
assume linear dynamics, motivated by their simplicity and mild computational cost and, thus, are not effective
for real-time control for WECs with nonlinear dynamics. Targeting imperfect wave prediction and nonlinear
WEC dynamics, this paper proposes a computationally-efficient nonlinear MPC (NMPC) scheme for WECs with
(typically) imperfect wave excitation preview. This is achieved by introducing an input move blocking scheme
when formulating and solving the online optimisation problem, i.e., defining finer discretisation grids for the
control input and wave prediction at the early stages of the prediction horizon, where the wave prediction is
more accurate, and coarser grids at the latter stages of the horizon, to reflect less inaccurate wave prediction
information. Numerical simulation results are presented, based on a conceptual nonlinear point-absorber WEC,
to verify the efficacy of the proposed NMPC method, in terms of produced energy, computational complexity,
and robustness against wave prediction inaccuracy
Edward Baker Littlehales: The evolution of military governance and the demise of the military under-secretary 1801-1819.
No full textEdward Baker Littlehales arrived in Ireland in 1798, beginning a career which would not see
him depart until 1819. His tenure would see him witness and act in a variety of significant
historical events in Ireland, including the 1798 rebellion, the passing of the Act of Union,
Emmet's rebellion, as well as the recurrent threat of invasion from France. From 1801 to
1819 he worked in Dublin Castle as military under-secretary, one ofthe more senior members
of the administration. Despite this he remains an understudied figure in Irish history.
Drawing from primary sources, including Littlehales' personal papers, military and
governmental records, and contemporary correspondence, this study reconstructs Littlehales'
career trajectory as under-secretary and his contributions to military governance and
administration between 1801 and his retirement in 1819. The research situates Littlehales
within the broader context oflrish military and administrative history, highlighting the
centrality of his role in shaping military policy in post-union Ireland. Littlehales' length of
service offers a unique prism through which to view the attempts to implement and normalise
the Act of Union.
In conclusion, Edward Baker Littlehales emerges from this research as a key architect
of post-union administration in Ireland. This dissertation not only recovers the significance of
his contributions but also provides a framework for analysing the evolution of administrative
practices in the context of broader historical developments. Importantly, the critical role of
personality in these administrative practices is given due consideration
Hybrid Spaces, Healthy Places: Digital Placemaking as a Place Branding Strategy
No full textCities are increasingly disconnecting from nature, with decreased nature spaces while
populations are discovering their surroundings through technological devices. This thesis
aims to understand the dynamics involved in hybrid place experiences that combine
physical and digital layers of meaning in public spaces through digital placemaking as a
place branding strategy in nature for wellbeing. The thesis addressed gaps in current
knowledge on hybrid space effects in community dynamics.
Adopting a critical realism approach, the researcher aims to comprehend how the
relationships between digital placemaking, nature and wellbeing are developed. A mixed
methods study following a modified Delphi method gathered insights from 26 expert
participants in digital placemaking and related fields. Data was collected through three
rounds: qualitative semi-structured interviews, and two consecutive rounds of
questionnaires to achieve consensus.
The findings present and test a conceptual model of digital placemaking as a place
branding strategy in nature for wellbeing. Drawing on place attachment theory, place
branding, Social Identity Theory and nature connectedness, the model elucidates key
dynamics involved in digital placemaking. Four propositions are confirmed: i) Social
Identity Theory act as a binding agent, where online place attachment and community
nature connectedness are interlinked; ii) place branding in digital placemaking is
expanded, where marketing and communications shape place branding and identity; iii)
inclusion and accessibility are essential to ensure the multiple identities of a community
are considered; iv) digital placemaking fosters feelings of belonging with the place, with
others and with nature supporting wellbeing, enhanced through place attachment, social
identity and nature connectedness.
The study advances understanding of digital placemaking’s conceptualisation, maturity
and practical applications in nature for wellbeing. It confirms the role of hybrid spaces in
reconnecting communities with nature and offers actionable insights for scholars and
practitioners, particularly in using digital placemaking as a strategy to promote wellbeing
Deepening dialogue in Silent Spaces: An exploration of pedagogical informed practice in adult and community education spaces within communities in contention.
No full textThe rise of political populism has posed significant challenges for democratic societies and for the academy. Populist movements often emphasise a division between ‘the people’ and ‘the elite’, pushing narratives that thrive on polarisation. In such contexts dialogue between social and community groups and populist movements is crucial for the health of democracy. However, within the academy, and specifically within adult and community education in formal, informal, and non-formal spaces, populism tends to undermine the practice of dialogue by promoting exclusionary practices, rejecting, and indeed silencing the legitimacy of opposing views. This article explores the theoretical foundations of dialogue and silence as critical components of communicative discourse. It posits the theories of Freire (1970, 1996, 1998, 2010), Greene (1973, 1978, 1995), Brookfield (1995, 2009), Lederach (2003), Bar-on (1989, 2007), and Giroux (2005) as a means of scaffolding a collaborative theoretical framework for conducting meaningful dialogue amongst and between communities in contention. In doing so it aims to offer practitioners of adult and community education a conceptual framework to support participatory dialogue that engages with contentious and complex narratives. This article offers the concept of silence as a societal response to conflict, the construct of dialogue as one means to deconstruct the silence, the acknowledgement of truth being multifaceted, and the complexity that arises in dealing with identity in communities in conflict, where the practice of dialogue is challenging, elusive, and subdued. In concluding, it suggests where arts-based methodologies form the backdrop, there is hope for shared understanding to emerge organically
Library IT Development Department Stats, February 2024-February 2025
No full textAn infographic, created for Love Data Week 2025, showcasing some of the work done by the Library IT Development department in Maynooth University Library from February 2024 to February 2025
A Sensitivity Analysis of Wave Energy Converter Model Predictive Control Systems With Wave Excitation Force Estimation and Prediction
No full textUnderstanding the sensitivity of energy-maximizing
control for wave energy converters (WECs), to various model
errors, is crucial for application. Many advanced WEC
controllers, especially model predictive control (MPC)-like controllers, require estimation and prediction of wave excitation
force (WEF). However, previous studies only focus on the
controller in isolation, without considering the error coupling
effects when a complete estimation–prediction loop is involved.
In this study, it is revealed through numerical analysis that
the complete MPC system has sensitivity behavior completely
different from the isolated MPC; under certain model errors,
the system can become particularly unpredictable, exhibiting
potential instability and self-locking phenomena, which cannot
be observed from the examination of control sensitivity alone.
Meanwhile, different tuning options for the WEF estimator and
predictor are examined, where the accuracy–robustness tradeoff
is shown to be critical for performance amelioration under errors.
Based on the analysis, this study challenges the widely assumed
“separation principle” of WEF estimation/prediction and WEC
control, highlights the importance of incorporating a complete
estimation–prediction loop in sensitivity examination, and draws
practical guidelines for WEC control application
Resource List: Projects, Toolkits, and Resources related to Cultural Participation of Persons with Disabilities.
No full textThis Resource List presents projects, organisations and initiatives reviewed during the extensive research conducted across Work Packages 1 and 2 of DANCING. It also includes initiatives and projects presented to us by participants in the qualitative research. This Resource List complements the Toolkit for Cultural Organisations that presents findings and recommendations.
This Resource List aims to highlight projects, initiatives, toolkits and reports that have a focus on cultural participation by and involving persons with disabilities, the accessibility of cultural content, and the overall relation between disability and the Cultural and Creative Sectors (CCS). In doing so, this Resource List includes references to existing tools and resources which may be of interest to organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), cultural organisations, as well as academics, policymakers and civil society organisations.
This Resource List does not provide a systematic quantitative review, but instead includes a list of selected projects and tools carried out/produced in Europe, many of which have been supported by EU funding. It is important to note that this List is not exhaustive and does not provide a comprehensive appraisal.
The idea of this Resource List arises from findings of WP1, which highlighted that there is still a piecemeal approach to cultural participation of persons with disabilities with many obstacles to ensuring their inclusion and the accessibility of cultural content and venues. As argued in other academic outputs of the DANCING project, good practices in relation to accessibility and inclusion are fragmented and often confined within the specific and limited timeframes of projects.[1] A recurring theme among participants in the empirical research of the DANCING project was the ‘loss’ of good practices. This happens either because such good practices are linked to a project, with a specific timeframe and funding, and are discontinued after the end of a given project, or because such good practices rely on the distinct expertise of certain employees, artists or cultural workers, and discontinue following the exit or retirement of such an expert. Interview responses frequently indicated that, despite the publication of numerous guides and checklists promoting good practices across different countries, cultural organisations still face challenges in their proper use and implementation. Moreover, the adoption of a systematic approach to embed accessibility and inclusive practices into the CCS and into mainstream cultural activities seems still very slow. This is engendered by the tendency for cultural funding not to include specific accessibility budget lines, or, even when they do, such funding is allocated for bespoke (often short-term) projects rather than for sustained, long-term actions aimed at integrating accessibility into all cultural goods and services. For example, a participant of the DANCING research observed that although many innovative projects and ideas for increasing accessibility exist, accessibility rarely becomes mainstream.[2] Hence this Resource List aims to support and stimulate mutual learning to avoid fragmentation of efforts and the engendering of existing piecemeal approaches
The effect of task switching on productivity: evidence from major league baseball pitchers
No full textThere are few opportunities, outside of a laboratory setting, to study how workers respond to the demands of task switching. A priori, task switching might either harm or benefit productivity, and thus it becomes an empirical question. Faced with difficulties in the measurement of productivity and task switching, we turn to an industry that produces accurate, detailed, and comparable measures of worker production, namely starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. Our results suggest that task switching, between pitching and batting, can improve subsequent pitching performance, though heterogeneity in this effect is present. We discuss implications for wider labour market settings
The Relationship Between Personality and Employment: Evidence From the Irish Marriage Bar
No full textThis article examines empirically the relationship between personality and employment using individual‐level survey data collected in The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA). The analysis is based on a subsample of Irish women who left their jobs because of the so‐called marriage bar, which was a legal requirement at the time that women must leave employment when they marry. Two groups of women are compared: Those who did, and those who did not, return to work after having to leave because of the marriage bar. The main finding is that personality does impact employment, with less agreeable and more extroverted women being more likely to return to work after a spell of non‐employment. More generally, the analysis highlights the role of non‐cognitive abilities in labor market success