Outreach! we would like to make a connection with your school

Post-primary school

We designed a programme in consultation with a Post-Primary teacher who taught Science at this level. We took into account the specific aims of the Junior Certificate which are;

• To further develop the students in terms of knowledge, understanding, attitudes, skills and competences.
• To deepen and extend their educational experience.
• To develop their personal and social skills and prepare them for either further study or employment.

The main aim of this programme was that at the end of a three week module the students would be able to undertake their Junior Certificate State exam with confidence in relation to the physics curriculum section on light. At the same time they would develop their scientific skills and knowledge in science.

Programme: The programme was presented over a three week period with a breakdown of topics into three sections each week. There were three researchers present each week with an overlap of one of the researchers from week to week so as to maintain continuity of the presentations.

Outcome: An evaluation was carried out at the end of the programme and it was evident that the students learning had been enhanced by the programme. The programme was well received by both the teacher and the students.

Programme Type 2 - Transition year Programme collaboration

The Applied Optics Group visit the schools and in collaboration with the Teachers design a programme in conjunction with the curriculum which is then delivered over a four week period. This programme is used in their Transition Year Portfolio as an example of a Project they have participated in.

Programme Type 3 - Access Programme collaboration

The NUI, Galway Access programme activities are devised to advance the social, economic, educational and cultural needs of the Western Region. The University is fully committed to developing and promoting initiatives which seek to counter disadvantage. The Applied Optics Group has worked in collaboration with the Access Programme for several years promoting science in schools. Thirteen schools were visited by the Access Programme co-ordinator together with researchers from the AO Group who presented details of the educational route they had pursued and discussed the variety of careers available to these students. The students were from the Transition and Leaving Certificate classes Age range 16 to 18 years old.

Programme Type 4 -TOURS to the Applied Optics Group by Schools

These programmes are usually run on four consecutive days twice a year where schools arrange to visit the University. We arrange a collaborative programme with four other research centres. The students are given a presentation from each group outlining the types of research activities that are carried out in the individual research centres; they are then taken on tours of working laboratories.

Programme Type 5 - Science Workshops

We have also carried out some Science experience workshops over a 2 day period where students get to interact with the research themselves under the guidance of the researchers.