Secondary Schools | Access
The Outreach team offers a range of initiatives to 24 schools linked to DCU and other community groups. Most of the schools supported by the outreach programme are DEIS schools (Delivering Equality of Opportunity to Schools).
Our U & University programme aims to raise awareness of higher education opportunities through interactive activities on campus such as:
- Campus tours
- Multi-sport activities
- Maths quizzes
- Introductory workshops on life in college.
Campus Tour
Activities usually include interactive and fun activities such as sports blizzes, quizzes, campus tours and workshops which take place on campus.
Some of our activities & talks can also take place online, including:
- Motivational talks
- Virtual campus tour & Q&A
All our activities are supported by DCU Access Ambassadors whose experiences are invaluable for their younger peers.
Students take part in coding
DCU TY is a skills based programme specifically aimed at Transition Year students, aged 15 to 16 years old. The programme has been designed to increase student engagement in education and raise motivation and career aspirations and broaden students' world view.
Curriculum
The programme centers on curriculum which is largely technology based. It consists of 4 Modules which are delivered in schools by teachers who receive training and support by DCU.
20 hours of curriculum on Multimedia & Social Innovation
The Multimedia module enables the students to become digital creators. It empowers them by giving them a voice to create awareness and drive change in their communities through the development of a video. This module develops important 21st Century Skills, such as collaboration, problem solving and becoming a self directed learner.
20 hours of curriculum on Smart Skills
Smart Skills focuses on Coding and App design. Students learn how to design, code and test Android apps and develop necessary skills for successful software development. Critical skills developed through this module include project management, problem solving, teamwork and communication skills.
U First is a two-year outreach programme which aims to prepare students from our linked schools to be college-ready and not just college aware.
U First students
Each year, our U First programme supports about 120 students through monthly workshops, shadowing, mentoring and academic support, aimed at building their capacity and confidence to access third level education.
U First Students
U First students participate in monthly workshops on our Glasnevin campus on the following topics:
- Applying for college
- Getting organised
- Study skills
- Career preparation
Shadowing registration
U First students are matched with another DCU Access student based on the subject they are interested in studying in College. On shadowing day, they spend the day together attending lectures , having lunch and living the student life for one day!
In March 2022, 39 students participated in our shadowing day on our Glasnevin and St. Patrick’s campuses.
DCU Open Day
In their second year, U First students can opt for mentoring sessions with an ambassador who can then address any questions about the HEAR/DARE application process, CAO points and share their own experience transitioning to DCU.
On campus team photo
With the support of private donors and in partnership with the O’Reilly library, the Access service offered both online and on campus tuition to Leaving Certificate students in 2021-22. in total, 41 students from our linked schools benefited from this academic support.
School resources
Organisational skills
- Manage your workload - goal setting
- Organise your study space
- Time management - planners
- Beat procrastination
Study skills
- Taking notes
- Effective reading
- Group work
- Communication & Presentation skills
Exam preparation
- Exam myths
- Revision techniques
- Exam practice
- Finding your learning styles
- Series of revision webinars - collaboration with the Post-Primary Teacher programme
Coping skills
- Motivation
- Dealing with Stress and Pressure
- Self-care
- Mindfulness
Learning Skills Online
- Introduction - study tips & techniques
12 steps to improve your study habits
13 Study Tips: The Science of Better Learning - https://youtu.be/eVlvxHJdql8
Powerful concentration leads to great results
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/LearningSkills.pdf
- Organisational skills
- Manage your workload - goal setting
Setting Goals (How to study.com)
Setting goals (Irish Times)
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/Study_skills_2.pdf
- Organise your study space
Preparing to Study: A Good Study Place
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/Study_skills_1.pdf
- Time management - planners
The key to being a successful student
Make use of wasted time - https://youtu.be/yhUgEuVw3_Y
Schedule your time - https://youtu.be/IDIdhmzEv9Q
- Beat procrastination
- Preparing to study
- How to Study (with Pictures)
- https://youtu.be/LIJ1x1BllzQ
- The latest and greatest study tips from How-To-Study
The Ten Study Habits of Successful Students
Find systems to store information - https://youtu.be/8H0fO5uBits
- Study skills
- Taking notes
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/Study_skills_5.pdf
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/LearningSkills.pdf
Using Abbreviations To Write Notes Quickly
Listen and take good notes - https://youtu.be/khkbGA7Dc44
- Effective reading
SQ3R: A Reading Strategy: https://youtu.be/2r9LtJ4B22c
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/Study_skills_4.pdf
Not everything needs to be read - https://youtu.be/zpCtz0br9hg
- Writing
Assignment writing - https://youtu.be/yW6S_crDGF4
Critical writing - https://youtu.be/gNTBah9r5PU
- Remembering
Using Acronymic Sentences to Remember Information
Using Acronyms to Remember Information
Using Pegwords to Remember Information
Learning and memory techniques
Using Flash Cards to Remember Information
- Critical thinking
Critical thinking - https://youtu.be/v1Q1W5q9OE4
Kialo Edu - The tool to teach critical thinking and rational debate
- Improving concentration
- Group work
- Communication skills
Farmers Communication Exercise
Feedback and reflection in group work
- Presentation skills
Presentations Resources (University of Bedfordshire)
Presentations - lrweb.beds.ac.uk
Delivering a bad presentation - https://youtu.be/ATfY8dvbuFg
Delivering a good presentation - https://youtu.be/5utoLhjUuAI
Workshop details: Try it - Giving a presentation - lrweb.beds.ac.uk
- Exam preparation
- Exam myths
- Revision techniques
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/Study_skills_6.pdf
- Exam practice
The DETER Strategy for Taking Tests
- Finding your learning styles
Activating Your Eight Multiple Intelligences
- Exam preparation
Indispensable resource: examinations.ie
Series of revision webinars - collaboration with the Post-Primary Teacher programme
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/Study_skills_7.pdf
- Coping skills
- Motivation
Self-motivation: the missing ingredient?
https://cc.careersportal.ie/downloads/Study_skills_3.pdf
- Dealing with Stress and Pressure
Dealing with stress: panic is the enemy
Health, resilience and well-being
- Mindfulness
- Subjects and points
Ten deep breaths, seven good choices, one clear direction
- Learning technology
There are many apps and extensions for Google Chrome that can help with studying and writing. DCU can recommend the following tools, which you can search on google to add to your chrome browser:
- Grammarly: An advanced spelling and grammar check
- Blocksite: A web blocker to beat procrastination
- Diigo: A quick and simple web researching tool
- Simple Pomodoro: A timer to help get you working
- Quizlet: An aid to help create amazing flashcards
You can also access free software that reads text aloud from the screen called Claroread and free mind-mapping software called Mindjet Mindmanager from the DCU Assistive Technology website.
See also Digital help with your homework?
List of educational websites and apps -see word document
- Other useful resources
Effective Study: A Resource for Guidance Counsellors
Spunout - Find out more about education, studying and exams - Education
Study in Europe - www.eunicas.ie
World access to HE - https://worldaccesshe.com
STUDYING FROM HOME
Top tips for studying from home - https://youtu.be/nPW7snIyTjs
Students as scientists
In spite of the challenges posed by the pandemic, we have further developed collaboration and partnership within DCU and with other education stakeholders and community organisations to jointly address equity of access to third level education in North Dublin.
- Internally, we work closely with the Educational Trust, DCU research centres, SS&D and
various faculties to extend existing supports in DCU to students from our link schools.
- Externally, our collaboration with local area partnerships enable us to offer information sessions outside of schools settings to parents and students on CAO, HEAR & DARE and Teaching as a Career.
In 2020-21, thanks to the support from the Educational Trust, we were able to secure funding to expand on our projects and develop new ones.
JumpAGrade Collaboration
In 2020-21, we have continued to support students who enrolled in our online tuition programme delivered by Jumpagrade and supported by the Dublin Diocese for the 2nd consecutive year. A few students explain what they found most beneficial about the programme:
“I applied to Jumpagrade to improve my grades in maths as it has never been my strongest subject. From the tips I learned from the wellbeing videos and the on demand maths classes I have noticed a rise in my grades in maths and an improvement on my overall wellbeing.” (Lara, 6th year U First student, April’21)
AI in my Life Collaboration with ADAPT Research Center
The ‘AI in My Life’ project will engage 500 Dublin teenagers from disadvantaged backgrounds in an interactive workshop series encouraging them to reflect on their experiences in a world shaped by artificial intelligence, personal data processing and digital transformation.
Through the workshops, students will be empowered to evaluate the ethical and privacy implications of AI in their lives, to protect their digital privacy and to activate STEM career and university awareness. AI in My Life extends the ‘DCU TY’ programme for innovative educational opportunities for Transition Year students from underrepresented communities in higher education.