This article is from page 32 of the 2008-09-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
A NEW project allows students at Ennis Community College to pursue a more practical approach to learn- ing.
ORBIT (Outdoor Research Brought Into Teaching) provides first year students at Ennis Community Col- lege with an experimental approach to learning the curriculum.
ORBIT essentially offers students an opportunity to leave the classroom environment for one day a week and visit sites of natural and _ historical significance to aid the learning ex- eae nleer
All junior certificate subjects are
dealt with under the ORBIT um- brella in an effort designed to make learning a more practical, hands-on experience.
The lessons taken outside the class- room are then channeled back into the mainstream learning environ- ment.
Since Ennis Community College took up the programme last Septem- ber, students have visited numerous local sites including Kilmacduduagh Round Tower, Corcomore Abbey, Bunratty Castle, Cliffs of Moher, Scariff Seed Savers and the Kilfeno- ra Heritage Centre.
Students also took part in a live ar- chaeological dig at Caherconnell.
Students have benefited hugely from the wide variety of activities. The highlight for many was meeting the Munster rugby team while on a visit to the University of Limerick. Others enjoyed making their own brew of apple juice at Scariff Seed- SE Noi
All of these experiences will be recorded in the ‘Make A_ Book’ scheme. This involves students pre- paring a compendium of short stories based on their trips around Clare.
The book will also feature a col- lection of photographs and a digital storyboard. It is hoped that Ennis Community College can continue to provide the programme for many
years to come.
Co-coordinator Catherine O’Donnell thanked everyone who contributed to making ORBIT such a valuable learning experience for students.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank Ger Cullen from the Bur- ren Outdoor Activity Centre, our school’s completion programme for all their support and to the many teachers who are participating on a weekly basis. This programme is a testament to the great efforts that have taken place between the main- stream and resource at Ennis Com- munity College. We look forward to similar initiatives in the future”’.