UL ENGAGE COMHRÁ launch | University of Limerick

Research

MA in Technical Writing: Graduate Profile - Deirdre Ann Brogan

I worked in the science area and as my career developed I realized that I was doing a lot more writing than I thought. So when I finished up at my job, I looked for a different career path and chose technical writing.

MA in Journalism: Graduate Profile - Tara McCormack

My name is Tara McCormack and I am from County Offaly, I decided last year that I wanted to go back and pursue journalism. I have been in radio for the last eight years, I actually got into radio during my undergraduate degree at UL which was the BA in English and media, as it was known at the time.

MA in Journalism: Graduate Profile - Mostafa Darwish

Mostafa is a graduate of the MA Journalism programme and is originally from Eygpt. Mostafa describes his experience of the programme and his delight at recently winning Student journalist of the Year 2020 at the Student Media Awards (SMEDIAs).

ENGLISH VERSION

COMHRÁ, a series of ten video vignettes featuring community practitioners in conversation with the UL Knowledge for Change (K4C) team was launched by Dr Mary Fitzpatrick, Head, Centre for Transformative Learning at a UL ENGAGE showcase event on February 15, 2022.

The teaching and learning (T&L) open resource, which draws on meaningful episodes from real-life contexts, aims to support students, staff and community partners who engage with communities, in modules, placements, projects and research.

Incorporating storyboarding, curated conversations, and video-production into bespoke thematic topics concerning Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), COMHRÁ promotes a narrative approach to teaching and learning. Focusing on key CBPR themes and skills, the vignettes will be used to prompt discussion and critical reflection in a variety of teaching and learning settings. Each video has a bilingual element, and some of the featured conversations are in Irish with English subtitles.

The development of the resource was funded by AHSS Teaching and Learning Fund (€2000) under the guidance of K4C Mentors and Series Co-Producers: Dr. Deirdre Ní Loingsigh (Academic Lead & Project Manager) and Dr. Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain (Collaborator).

Practice-share activities and opportunities for consultation about the collaborative process of materials design, pedagogical approaches to using vignette methodology, and ways of adapting the resource to various learner needs are envisaged through local and global K4C networks also.

COMHRÁ is part of a larger K4C curriculum development initiative at UL. A user guide for tutors is currently being prepared in collaboration with K4C mentors and stakeholders. This will include a pedagogical framework and some sample activities to support reflective learning and Technology Enhanced Learning.

In commenting on the importance of the resource, Dr Mary Fitzpatrick noted the workload involved in creating such a bespoke resource, and the potential for the project to be one that champions vignette pedagogy and methodology across the Institution.

Prof Rajesh Tandon, co-chair of the UNESCO Chair in Community Based Research and Social Responsibility in Higher Education, remarked on the innovations and leadership in relation to CBPR curriculum and materials design at Limerick. He also commended the K4C Mentors on their support for the strategic priority of the UNESCO initiative that CBPR teaching and learning materials should be created in local languages, in this case Irish.

The contribution of colleagues and partners in community-university relationships across the region to the development of the series is greatly acknowledged. The support of Prof Maura Adshead, Maria Healy, the UL K4C team and CRUDE MEDIA (Production Company) is also most appreciated. The resource can be accessed HERE. All queries to Deirdre.NiLoingsigh@ul.ie / Orfhlaith.NiBhriain@ul.ie (K4C Mentors, Languages and Culture, UL)

LEAGAN GAEILGE

Ar an 15 Feabhra 2022, sheol Dr Mary Fitzpatrick, Ceannasaí, an Lárionad don Fhoghlaim Bhunathraitheach, Ollscoil Luimnigh, COMHRÁ, sraith deich vignette i bhfoirm físeáin ina mbeidh cleachtóirí pobail i mbun comhrá le foireann an Chláir Eolas ar mhaithe le hAthrú (K4C) in OL ag taispeántas de chuid COMHPHÁIRTEACHAS OL.

Tá sé mar aidhm ag an acmhainn oscailte teagaisc agus foghlama, a bhaineann leas as eachtraí tábhachtacha ón bhfíorshaol, tacú le mic léinn, le comhaltaí foirne agus le comhpháirtithe pobail a bhíonn ag plé le pobail, trí mhodúil, socrúcháin, tionscadail agus taighde.

Cuireann COMHRÁ cur chuige insinte maidir le teagasc agus foghlaim chun cinn trí scéalchlárú, comhráite eagraithe, agus físléiriú a ionchorpú in ábhair théamacha shaincheaptha a bhaineann le Taighde Rannpháirtíochta Pobalbhunaithe (CBPR). Trí dhíriú ar phríomhthéamaí agus scileanna CBPR, bainfear úsáid as na físeáin chun plé agus machnamh criticiúil a spreagadh i suíomhanna éagsúla teagaisc agus foghlama. Tá gné dhátheangach ag baint le gach físeán, agus tá cuid de na príomhchomhráite i nGaeilge le fotheidil Bhéarla.

Cuireadh maoiniú ar fáil d’fhorbairt na hacmhainne ó Chiste Teagaisc agus Foghlama AHSS (€2000) faoi threoir Mheantóirí agus Chomhléiritheoirí na Sraithe K4C: An Dr Deirdre Ní Loingsigh (Ceannaire Acadúil & Bainisteoir Tionscadail) agus an Dr Orfhlaith Ní Bhriain (Comhoibrí).

Trí leas a bhaint as líonraí K4C áitiúla agus domhanda, beartaítear gníomhaíochtaí comhroinnte cleachtais agus deiseanna comhairliúcháin faoin bpróiseas comhoibríoch ina ndéantar ábhair a dhearadh, cuir chuige oideolaíocha chun modheolaíocht vignette a úsáid, agus bealaí chun an acmhainn a oiriúnú do riachtanais éagsúla foghlaimeoirí freisin.

Tá COMHRÁ mar chuid de thionscnamh forbartha curaclam K4C ar scála níos mó in OL. Tá treoir úsáideora do theagascóirí á réiteach faoi láthair i gcomhar le meantóirí agus le páirtithe leasmhara K4C. Áireoidh sé seo creat oideolaíoch agus roinnt gníomhaíochtaí samplacha chun tacú le foghlaim mhachnamhach agus le Foghlaim le cuidiú Teicneolaíochta.

Agus í ag trácht ar thábhacht na hacmhainne, luaigh an Dr Mary Fitzpatrick,
an t-ualach oibre a bhaineann le hacmhainn shaincheaptha den sórt sin a chruthú, agus an poitéinseal atá ann go dtacódh an tionscadal le hoideolaíocht agus le modheolaíocht an vignette ar fud na hInstitiúide.

Thagair an tOllamh Rajesh Tandon, comhchathaoirleach Chathaoir UNESCO le Taighde Pobalbhunaithe agus Freagracht Shóisialta san Ardoideachas, do na nuálaíochtaí agus don cheannaireacht maidir le dearadh curaclam agus ábhar CBPR i Luimneach. Mhol sé freisin Meantóirí K4C as a dtacaíocht do thosaíocht straitéiseach thionscnamh UNESCO gur cheart ábhair theagaisc agus foghlama CBPR a chruthú i dteangacha áitiúla, sa chás seo an Ghaeilge.

Tá an-aitheantas ag dul dá mhéad a chuireann comhghleacaithe agus comhpháirtithe i gcaidrimh phobail-ollscoile ar fud an réigiúin le forbairt na sraithe. Is mór againn freisin tacaíocht an Oll Maura Adshead, Maria Healy, foireann K4C OL agus CRUDE MEDIA (an Comhlacht Léiriúcháin). Is féidir teacht ar an acmhainn ANSEO: Gach fiosrúchán chuig Deirdre.NiLoingsigh@ul.ie / Orfhlaith.NiBhriain@ul.ie (Meantóirí K4C, Teangacha agus Cultúr, OL)