DCU Institute of Education
DCU Institute of Education
Digital Learning Specialism Students highlight for Engineers Week

Digital Learning Specialism Students’ highlight for Engineers Week

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Combilift VisitLego was the common factor for preservice primary school teachers from Dublin City University (DCU), boys and girls from Scoil Mhuire, Clontibret and Combilift engineers as part of Engineers Week.

The event was planned by DCU, LearnIT and Combilift to demonstrate how the problem solving approach developed by the preservice teachers and the children through the use of Lego Robotics can be translated to the work undertaken in Combilift.

“We wanted to bring together students from primary and third level with the engineers to highlight, in a practical way, that the approach they adopt to developing solutions to problems are very similar. Having a special guided tour of Combilift enabled the children and preservice teachers see at firsthand  how the design and problem-solving skills they are developing are used by the staff at Combilift  in very innovative  ways to solve real problems for people round the world”.
Professor Deirdre Butler

Scoil Mhuire, is one of a number of schools that are involved in the Peace by Piece - Peace IV project which has brought together primary and post-primary schools in Monaghan and Armagh. Throughout January and February, led by Ross Maguire of LearnIT, the 5th and 6th class students took part in a series of after-school workshops, focusing on robotics and coding centred round the theme of space exploration. 

Combilift VisitThe project will continue in April with a visit by the Scoil Mhuire students to the LEGO Education Innovation Studio at DCU’s St Patrick’s Campus for a robotics workshop facilitated by the Digital Learning preservice teachers. The children will also learn from reviewing the projects that these preservice teachers are working on.

Pictured in the feature photo is Martin McVicar, Managing Director of Combilift, with the Digital Learning Specialism 3rd year B.Ed Students, children from Scoil Mhuire, Clontibret, Co. Monaghan, Deirdre Butler (DCU IoE), Margaret Leahy (DCU IoE), Ross Maguire (LearnIt) and Elizabieth Moorehead (principal of Scoil Mhuire).