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20 Institute of Technology Blanchardstown Annual Report 1999–2002: Volume 2 21 Access and Community Initiatives The following educational programmes run at ITB have come about because of the enthusiasm and commitment shown by the Access Officer and all staff to encourage school children in the region to participate in educational activities in a fun and non-threatening environment. Initiatives at Primary Level Robotics Summer School: As part of a Third Level Access Initiative, ITB provides a summer school for children from the four local primary schools and Blanchardstown YouthService. The Robotics School was expanded in 2002 to allow the children who were participating in the Soccer 4 Success initiative to avail of the programme. Over a three-week period in June each year over 120 5th and 6th class children have the opportunity to spend up to one week at ITB. The goal of the summer school is to introduce children to the exciting and challenging worlds of information technology. The 2001 programme was expanded to allow the children to work together on building robots as well as learning how to create a web page and to use multimedia game building. The summer school culminates in a ‘Robot Show’ and ‘Graduation’ on the final day where the children are joined by their parents and friends. Discover IT: 2002 saw the development of a programme called ‘Discover IT’ which was a collaboration between the four Dublin Institutes of Technology at Blanchardstown, Tallaght, Dun Laoghaire and DIT. This programme saw 5th Year/Transition Year students spending one day in each of the participating Institutes and then completing a project with their class in relation to their experiences. The theme of the first ‘Discover IT’ programme was Careers. A video of the project was completed and forwarded to the participating schools to use as a resource with regard to Career Guidance. Exploring Electronics: In 2001 we hosted a Transition Year Workshop in ‘Exploring Electronics’ which was collaboration between ITB, the Transition Year Curriculum Support Service and Cork IT. The purpose of the module was to make engineering and electronics available to students in an exciting and innovative way. Soccer 4 Success: This programme is run in collaboration with the Early School Leaving Initiative in Navan and Warrenstown Horticultural College. For this programme, 12 primary school children considered to be at risk of leaving school early were identified. They spend one evening per week in Warrenstown Horticultural College where they do assisted homework as well as a special curriculum designed to support their schoolwork using sports related material to stimulate interest. The programme finishes with sports activities designed to improve self-esteem and team building. This programme commenced in February 2002 on a pilot basis. Language Support – Primary Schools: A languages initiative which commenced in 2001 allows sixth class primary school children to attend ITB for French language tuition. The programme was devised to link with, and support, existing programmes in the schools concerned. Initiatives at Second Level Language Support – Second Level: A languages support programme commenced in 2001 to provide oral and aural French and German language support to Leaving Certificate classes. The programme was initially offered to Riversdale Community College and Blakestown Community School and was expanded in 2002 to offer these supports to another two schools in the Dublin 15 area. Teachers Days: The first Teachers Seminar was held in May 2001. This programme allows teachers to spend a day at ITB. They participated in modules including; the use of teaching aids at ITB, national and international trends in computing, the use of assistive technology, and the use of the robotics programme as an educational tool. IT Module for Transition/5th Year Students: An advanced IT/Engineering module was offered in January 2002 to 5th Year/Transition Year students from four local second-level schools. Students from these schools were offered the opportunity to learn the basics of computer hardware, operating systems, networking, programming, the internet and building circuit boards amongst others. The programme was designed to stimulate interest in Computing and Electronics.
22 Institute of Technology Blanchardstown Annual Report 1999–2002: Volume 2 23 External Links International Socrates Programme We encourage mobility of students during their third level educational programmes under the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). International exchange opportunities are available across discipline areas at ITB. During 2001/2002, ITB completed the first year of student exchange with various Institutes throughout Europe under the Socrates/Erasmus programme. This programme gives students the opportunity to study at a university or higher education establishment in another participating country for a period of three months to a year. In the era of the internet and the ‘new economy’ in which the globalisation of trade is communicationsdriven, knowledge of European languages and cultures is more valuable than ever for a good career. Companies see people with experience abroad as bringing qualifications and knowledge which benefit competitiveness. Studies conducted at European level confirm that young people who have studied abroad are often the quickest to find employment and an international career involving greater responsibility. Links have been developed with the following educational institutes abroad: France Universite de Toulon et du Var Universite de la Mediteranee Links with the Region In order for ITB to establish itself in the region providing new educational opportunities and meeting the skills needs of the local economy, ITB staff are active on local development groups. The following are just some examples of the development groups: • Greater Blanchardstown Chamber of Commerce • Blanchardstown Area Small Enterprise Committee • Fingal Development Board • Diversity At Work Network • Dublin 15 Adult Education Network • Education Group for Dublin 15 • Riversdale Local Education Committee • Coolmine Community School Board of Management • Blanchardstown Area Partnership Equal Board • Blanchardstown Area Partnership Economic Planning Implementation Board • Blanchardstown Area Partnership Millenium Fund Committee • Women with Disability Network • Intel Computer Club House Germany Fachhochschule Oldenburg/Ostfriesland/Wilhelmshaven Technische Fachhochschule Wildau Spain Escola Universitaria D’Estudis Empresarials Del Maresme Nineteen students from ITB travelled to these institutes during the academic session 2001/2002 and eleven students from these institutes spent time at ITB. On their return, the students all agreed that it had been a very rewarding experience. They learned how to adapt to a foreign country, improve their language skills and benefit from the different approaches taken to their studies by a different intellectual culture. It is anticipated that in 2002/2003 students will travel to each of the above listed destinations and also to new links which are being established in Spain, Switzerland and France.
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