Electrical Services Engineering Professional Development Projects with Dublin inner city schools.

Lecturer: Leslie Shoemaker

As part of the Bachelor of Technology (Ordinary) Degree (DT010, Department of  Electrical Services Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, DIT), 2nd year students taking the Professional Development module work in groups to give presentations to pupils in local schools.

Their thirty-five minute power point presentation focuses on ‘What is engineering and what is student life?' (Click here for an example of the students' work). The focus of the projects is to dispel stereotypes about engineering and its related careers, and of college life as being only about academics.

There are also opportunities for second year students to do similar work with first year engineering students (teaching study skills, giving seminars in stress management etc).

What do students get from it?

The students gain skills in computer literacy, communication (written and oral), presentation techniques, project management theories, team skills, research techniques, self-reflection, goal setting, time management, problem solving and critical evaluation.  They also learn to provide accurate and updated information about Engineering, future employment opportunities, salary potential and DIT engineering courses, as well as details about the fun part of college life. 

What does the community get from it?

The presentations give the local second level students an opportunity to see the ‘non-academic’ and fun side of college as well as to gain an understanding of what engineering really is and what it isn’t, since there are many myths about this area. The purpose is to encourage these students to continue their education after second level and to look at engineering from the perspective of current engineering students, and to consider it as an attractive career option.

 

Community Partners:

pictures_of_engineers_before_the_students__talk.pdf

Pictures of engineers drawn by pupils before (above) and after (below) the DIT students' talk

pictures_of_engineers_after_the_students__talk.pdf