Education Department Research Seminars 2008

St Patrick’s College Education Department Research Seminars 2008 were launched with great aplomb with an address by Professor Bertram (Chip) Bruce from the University of Illinois on the topic: “Learning at the Border: How Young People Use New Media for Community Action and Personal Growth”.  Professor Bertram (Chip) Bruce is a Professor in Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he has been a member of the faculty since 1990. He is currently a Fulbright Scholar at the National College of Ireland.

The theme of Professor Bruce’s talk was "Learning at the border". This refers to learning that occurs in the border settings between the highly-structured realm of schools and the more diffuse realms of life in neighbourhoods, such as after-school programs, boys and girls clubs, libraries, museums, and community centres. A second meaning relates to participants who have been placed on the border because of their language, cultural background, race, or social class, hence denied full participation in the public sphere. In his talk, Professor Bruce described projects in which university students and faculty work with community members to create spaces in which young people learn about new technologies and develop academic potential through self expression. A common thread is that the young people learn how to use ICTs for community building, thus becoming active sustainers of their own communities.

The event was well attended by members of the education department and the paper generated lively debate and discussion. Professor Bruce is also scheduled to present at the forthcoming International Professional Development Association – Ireland conference April 26th. For further information, see the IPDA Ireland website. The Education Department Research Seminars 2008 are organised by Deirdre Butler, Joe Dunne and Regina Murphy.

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: Friday April 18 2008