What Students Say

We have received positive feedback from students from a range of modules, in a range of media. 

This powerpoint presentation was given to the Students Learning With Communities Practice Group in March 2012 by Brendan Greene, analysing his experiences of a group-based project with the Aisling Project, and an individual final year project with the Camphill Community, over the course of his studies for his B Eng Hons in Electrical/Electronic Engineering. 

This audio testimonial was recorded at the 2010 conferring of the DIT President's Community Fellowships. Pearl O'Rourke, PhD student in Product Design, who is working collaboratively with Siobhan Long from Enable Ireland and Bernard Timmins, lecturer in Applied Technology, describes how the collaboration with Siobhan and Enable Ireland has invigorated her learning. (This audio clip includes a testimonials from Mary Coyne, of Wells for Zoe, another recipient of the DIT President's Community Fellowships, about their collaboration with DIT). 

Elaine Bolger, a business student who completed her work placement module doing community-based learning with Wells for Zoe in Malawi, gave the following audio testimonial at the same 2010 event.

 

These quotes are taken from confidential evaluation forms given out by DIT lecturers at the end of these projects, so the names of the students are not available:

“Working with a community partner as part of my learning experience was excellent – more focused now on how to deal with business e.g. arrange meetings, cover letters, confirmation letters etc. I learnt that if you put in the work and know what you are talking about, making it as interesting as possible you will get the appreciation of the audience.”

“It gave me a great opportunity to practice skills which would be necessary in my professional career… to improve my team working skills and also to get to know my fellow class mates as this was our first year together.”

“Gave myself more confidence in public speaking and good experience working with a team."

"I learnt to be more adaptable in different situations and that I can talk to all different people from various walks of life."

"No matter how well organised you are it might not always work out....you have to think on your feet and go with the flow."

"I learnt that if you put in the work and know what you're talking about, making it as interesting as possible, you will get the appreciation of the audience."

“It was very beneficial communicating with professional people and organising things”.

"It was a fun, nerve-racking experience."

"I learned that friends don’t always make the best team-mates."

"It taught me to present information in a more hands-on way."

"I learned how to deal with potential work colleagues or bosses."

"Our class worked very well as a team and as individuals as and when required."

"The assessment also allowed me to develop my communication and social skills."

"I personally learn by action and participating. Therefore I found this assignment of great benefit as I could relate theory to practice and fully understand it."

"This method has helped me to retain the information much better."

"I think that the community learning project is a great component to have in any course. It gives the students a chance to work as part of a team independently away from lecturers."

"I gained experience in talking in front of people." 

"I got to see issues and conditions that I may confront in practice."

"I got to see...firsthand what otherwise I could have only been able to look up in books"

"Clinical skills and knowledge of optometry and diabetic retinopathy increased."