300 Transition Year Students Graduate From TCD Technology Programme ‘Bridge2College’
Posted on: 21 May 2009
Transition Year Students Attend Bridge2College Graduation Ceremony and Showcase their Technology Projects at the Science Gallery in TCD. <pclass=msonormal 15 from students year transition hundred
Three hundred transition year students from 15 Dublin secondary schools graduated from the technology project, Bridge2College Programme on May 20th last. The event celebrates the achievements of the students who participated on the programme and the students’ technology was showcased with Minister for Communications, Eamon Ryan in attendance. The programme is a joint initiative of Suas Educational Development and Trinity College Dublin’s Centre for Research in IT in Education * and the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP) linked schools in areas of social disadvantage.
Bridge2College is an innovative flagship initiative in teaching and learning in Ireland, offering an important educational experience for young people from under resourced schools in the Dublin area. It seeks to positively engage and encourage them to improve their attitudes towards personal learning and education and increase their access to third level education.
Students Shauna Fitzpatrick, Coláiste Bríd Secondary School, and Keith Saul, Old Bawn Community School, at the Bridge2College event.
The Bridge2College (B2C) programme, now completing its second year of operation, explores the potential of technology to mediate a dynamic, creative, cross-curricular values-based learning experience for second level students from designated disadvantaged schools in the Dublin area. To date 1000 young people from 25 disadvantaged schools have benefited. The programme is mentored by volunteer undergraduate and postgraduate students and makes strong use of a team-based approach. This is influenced by the learning model of the World Scout Movement. The programme is based at Oriel House on Westland Row in a specially designed and decorated premises provided by Trinity College.
On the occasion of the graduation ceremony, key industry stakeholders in ICT education in Ireland gathered for a panel discussion chaired by Co-founder of Iona Technologies, Chris Horn, to discuss Bridge2College as a learning model in ICT and in widening access to third level.
Commenting at the graduation Bryan Patten of Suas said: “Suas is proud to be associated with the transition year students who are graduating today. During their time in the Bridge2College they have led their own learning experience, with the support of volunteer mentors from Trinity College, producing projects of university standard. Their work highlights that, given the right support, they have the potential to become leaders in our society. If we are to succeed as a nation, we must give all of our students the opportunity to realise their potential – socially, culturally and economically. We believe that the educational approach taken in the Bridge2College could help us meet that challenge. Focusing on teamwork, personal leadership and values based learning we are developing the supportive and creative environment that allows students to thrive.”
Brendan Tangney of TCD’s Centre for Research in IT in Education added: “Initial attempts at integrating any technology into learning fall into the trap of focusing too much on the technology and not enough on learning. The B2C model tries to bring together best modern practice in the field of Technology Enhanced Learning but also adds some other ingredients which together make it a powerful exemplar of what can be achieved to help unlock the latent potential of a wide variety of students, especially those who do not normally excel in school. The partnership between SUAS and TCD has been crucial in addressing this problem from a novel perspective and it is hoped that the links developed with the partner schools through the Trinity Access Programmes will encourage other schools to take a fresh and radical look at the way in which teaching and learning can be carried out.”
About Suas Educational Development:
Suas Educational Development is a movement dedicated to supporting quality education in targeted under-resourced communities with programmes in Ireland, India and Kenya. In 2008, Suas improved the education of over 20,000 children from under resourced and marginalised communities through peer to peer mentoring and extracurricular learning initiatives, by improving resources and facilities, supporting teachers and building the management and learning capacity of our partners. The Bridge2College is Suas’ flagship programme in Ireland, offering an innovative learning experience for young people from under resourced schools in the Dublin area.
About TAP:
The Trinity Access Programmes are a key part of Trinity’s social mission and their central goal is to make Trinity’s student body more inclusive and diverse and to reach out to the wider community. The B2C is one of a number of programmes involving primary and secondary school students. These programmes focus on working in partnership, through a network of School Liaison Officers, with 20 primary and 20 secondary schools in the Dublin area, designated disadvantaged by the Department of Education & Science.
About CRITE:
The Centre for Research in IT and Education (CRITE) at Trinity College is a multi-disciplinary research centre whose focus is on creating and evaluating innovative learning experiences, inspired by educational principles and technical progress. Students and researchers from CRITE will provide technically-mediated learning tools and material for the B2C programme, built on the findings of current research. These learning activities will be based on a constructionist approach to learning, with the students supported in developing their own interests and experiencing a novel use of technology.