Visit to BFEI and Lexicon Library Wednesday 15th November - Afternoon

The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. 

After saying our goodbyes to the lovely staff at Greenhills, I drove Kirsty, Kyrsty and Maria over to Blackrock to my own college.

There we were joined by the other Norwegians,  Tonje, Analina and Heidi.

Enjoying lunch at BFEI from left is Hans Ole Møkkelgård and Maria from Norway with on RHS Tina Reddin, Eucopp Committee,Deirdre Hanamy BFEI Principal and Breda Lillis BFEI Deputy Principal   

We had a lovely chat and sharing of information over lunch and then we began a tour of the facilities at BFEI.  I had been involved in putting this element together to present to the Erasmus Group. 

DDLETB staff members Giovanni and ? meet with Heidi from Norway. 

One of our first stops was to Karen Daly class in CPR.  The students were learning how to use a Defibrillator.  This training is part of the Level 5 QQI. Pre-paramedic-fire-and-ambulance at BFEI.Blackrock Further Education Institute.  

Nicoleta hreapca demonstrates the use of a Defibrillator

Observing the demonstration

We popped into a class in Listening skills with Helen Hopkins as part of a module in Communications and then toured the design classrooms and the learning centre.  We visited a class in photoshop with Joan Gallagher as part of the game-design-development course.

One of the final stops was the Theatre makeup course , we met Rachel Houraghan who had created at look on her brother Ryan Houraghan.

There was a great atmosphere in the room for the class led by Teacher Debbie McDonnell. 

Then there was a chance to have a Debrief from the visit to Grange. Tonje had visted there that morning. There wasa discussion on the different colleges on the campus there.  Tonje enjoyed the classes with Giovanni 

Discussion on empowerment 

Hans visited Dundrum and very much enjoyed that too. 

The issue of attendance at Irish FE courses was discussed.  Some centres have issues with drop outs and only 50% don't attend 

Attendance is not a mandatory requirement Tina noted. 

In some courses there are extra modules to the core subject that Students don't always want to attend eg communications 

Maria talked about visit to Greenhills 6/7 students very talkative and motivated, very engaged students.  Maria reported on her attendance at  the nursing class on COPD and nursing assessment - she noted the use of smart board. 

Krista informed the group of the presentation to the students by the Norwegian teachers at Greenhills. There was a mention of rule that you must attend the local school, in Norway, in general you have an equal system.  There isn't the same class divide in Norway Maria felt. 

One of the schools from the Norwegian Group is classed as private - this is allowed if you offer a Steiner or eg Christian ethos - 85% public funded, students pay  €100 month - a lot less than Irish Private fees. 

Geraldine and Tina discussed the Private school education system. 

Walter asked question eg Religious values in Norwegian schools. 

Muslim children attend state or Christian school but don't have to attend the religious classes. An understanding of religion this is seen as necessary for plural society this is required for primary school. 

I had arranged for the group to have a tour of the innovative Lexicon Library in Dun Laoghaire which has a remarkable new Building.  

The group then made plans for the dinner event that evening after the tour of the library. 

Featured here with Staff from the Norweguan group and DDLETB are from left Hans Ole Møkkelgård, Marian Keyes Head Librarian DDLRcoco Lexicon Library, Walter Erasmus, Heidi Norway, Analina Norway, and Enda Kenny of the Erasmus Eucopp programme and Geraldine Condren Development Officer DDLETB, Tina Reddin Erasmus Eucopp programme, Deirdre Hanamy Principal of Blackrock Further Education Institute (BFEI), Gary Griffin teaching staff at BFEI. 

Some of the group opted to take some time out after a very busy day and to meet up at the restaurant.