An enriching and enjoyable professional experience

Hello friends! 

Today has been a very academic yet fun filled day. We met with people from the Cork Institute of Technology. This Institute has a variety of degrees you can receive, some that are specifically related to education would be degrees in Montessori education, early childhood, and even what we would call at the University of Louisville, a degree in health and human performance. The Montessori education model is not something I have had a lot of experience with but I was able to see the methods and two schools in Ireland that use this model. It's a very hands on, student discovery approach and originally was created to help special education students, which was very interesting for me. In the U.S. we take the approach for teaching special education students, or instructionally naive students, by being very explicit while using direct instruction methods as I learned from Dr. Hirn in her teaching reading in special education course this past semester. Ireland and the methods I have learned in this area are very different in his aspect. Below is a picture of how students divide numbers using the Montessori method 

I would suggest looking this up on YouTube if you are interested in seeing the thought process behind it. 

Today I also gave a presentation along with one of my colleagues, Kelsey Thomas, to members of the Department of Education in Ireland, and representatives of the National Council of Special Education. The presentation went extremely well because we were all able to discuss differences and similarities that we have in special education practices. Something that I found very interesting was there reevaluation system for students receiving services. In the U.S. we review each IEP annually, and also a full reevaluation every three years unless it needs to be done prior to the three years. Whereas in Ireland they could do a full evaluation on a student at 4 ( which was the example they gave us) and they don't reevaluate them until they leave the "special school" at age 18. They gave us a recent example about a student who was evaluated at the age of 4 and was told he had a disability, was placed in a special school and when he got reevaluated at age 18 before he left they found no disability in the child. The child could have possibly left the special school and been a part of mainstream school had he been reevaluated within a few years of initially being told he had a disability. The members from the department of education found the system we used for this fascinating. This is what was so great about this presentation and discussion that happened after because we were all able to learn from this and we were both able to see where our education systems could improve. I look forward to learning more on the trip as we head to Limerick tomorrow and head to Mary Immaculate College. 

To end our day we went to Curran's restaurant where we had a German waiter and watched Danielle do the moonwalk to a Michael Jackson song. They played a lot of his music like Thriller, Smooth Criminal, Billy Jean, and Beat it. It kept us entertained. 

After dinner Dr. Estes, Dr. Aliaga, and I took our last walk back through Cork to the accommodations. The city of Cork at night is very lively, yet peaceful environment. I will be very sad when we have to leave Cork tomorrow morning. It just means the trip is getting closer to an end, but I think I'll skip the plane and stay here; I'll fit right in. Hopefully Dr. Aliaga doesn't realize I'm not on the plane :)

Goodbye for now! 

Slán leat (goodbye in Irish Gaelic)

          May the road rise to meet you, 
          May the wind be always at your back. 
          -The Irish Blessing

--Bridget Donoghue

Using the Montessori method-Cork Institute of Technology

Another Day of Learning at UCC

Here's to another day of informative lectures on the gorgeous UCC campus! Today, we had two lectures after our group broke into two smaller groups for the first half of the morning. The Comparative Education (Special Ed) group visited a local mainstream school with classes for pupils with disabilities, which I heard was a really awesome experience! I stayed on the UCC campus with the rest of the Comparative Education group students and listened to a wonderful lecture by Dr. Declan Kennedy about science education in Ireland. Dr. Kennedy spoke about how the Junior and Leaving Certificate operates in Ireland, along with the breakdown of how science is taught in Irish schools. We also learned that like the United States, Ireland is having difficulties with getting students interested in science. Dr. Kennedy presented a great lecture and I enjoyed seeing the setup of science classrooms of UCC.

After the first lectures, our groups came back together for a lecture from local special education school principals, Donal Deasy and Siobhan Allen. These lectures opened my eyes to the potential difference of the importance of education in Ireland compared to the United States. The majority of Irish parents put education first and foremost and seem to be an active part in their child's schooling. Principal Allen shared with us how their special education schools work with their students. I thought it was great how she explained to always use simple, broke down steps with children such as learning to tie your shoe actually has 24 steps. With a child, you would need to go through each step and check it off as the child completed it rather than rushing the child through the whole process. This was just one example of the many great teaching methods she discussed. She also shared that on Fridays (if able) kids with special needs spend the day at a mainstream school, which I thought was a great opportunity for these students.

After a morning full of  lectures, we grabbed lunch and enjoyed a bit of free time. I, along with a few other students in the group spent our time exploring and shopping in the Cork city centre. Our whole group met today to discuss topics for each of our final papers. I really enjoyed this time as it gave us all an opportunity to reflect on the lectures we had heard so far. We all discussed various topics about comparative education between United and Ireland from diversity in schools, teacher autonomy, importance of education, and preschool intervention. We all then enjoyed a delicious dinner at Strasbourg Goose. Then it was off to bed to get a good night sleep for our last day in Cork tomorrow! 

--Taylor Hanna 

Lectures, the Quadrangle, and art

Today in Cork the entire group met together for our first official class with Dr. Kitching. His lecture focused on the diversity of Ireland in education as it pertained to the development of the country and the relationship it's had on the economy.

Later at lunch a few members of the group including myself dined inside the school cafeteria.  

Our group split up for the 2nd set of today's lectures. The education majors were lucky having the opportunity to meet two very clever professionals as our teachers. Dan O'Sullivan and Dennis Burns jokingly explained to us how they are not considered to be professors in Ireland, as that term is reserved for the head of the college. While they enjoyed being called professors, they asked that they be called "Lecturers." They were very well versed in Special Education in Ireland and knowledgeable about the differences and similarities between the U.S as it relates to Special Education. 

This afternoon we were lucky to have beautiful weather without any rain. We are hoping it lasts for the rest of our trip. After our class this afternoon we took the opportunity to explore what the University College Cork campus had to offer.  This included breathtaking buildings with history.  At the center of campus the main hall even has a legend associated to it.  "It's said that any student to step on the grass at the main hall will be sure to fail all their exams."  According to a few professors this legend is certainly true.   

The beautiful sunny day inspired us to visit the art gallery.   The Glucksman Gallery, had a theme of "Stitches in Time," the museum focused on the interpretations of yarn.  Many of the displays were pretty clever.  Our group even participated in a communal art piece in the museum inspired by the museums focused piece, "The Knitting Project." 

We've had a beautiful time throughout this trip and I can only imagine what we will see next. 

--Danielle Dolack 

LBD with concentration in Secondary English

At the Glucksman Gallery, UCC

Quadrangle, UCC

Glucksman Gallery

Kaitlyn Rattermand and Danielle Dolack

The Glucksman Gallery

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Céad Míle Fáilte (One Hundred Thousand Welcomes)

After recovering from a delayed jet lag, I woke up today feeling refreshed and ready to listen to lectures at UCC. Dr. Kitching spoke about Critical Issues in Ireland's Education System. I found it interesting that most of the major educational changes began in the mid-1960's, including the implementation of free secondary schooling and regional technological colleges. Although Ireland is a largely agricultural country, the Irish Education System began attending to the educational needs of students in rural areas by then. I also found the relatively new attention to addressing institutionalized racism an interesting topic of conversation, considering it's such a prominent issue in the U.S. 

Later on, after separating into two groups, doctors O'Sullivan and Burns spoke with the Comparative Education group about Special Education in Ireland. The progress made in special education in Ireland over the last 20 years is exponential, considering the amount of participation between the parents, community, school systems, and government needed to occur to ensure positive change. From what Sullivan and Burns discussed, Ireland is experiencing many of the same issues in special education as the U.S., including taking steps towards proactively assisting students with disabilities as opposed to waiting until after the student has demonstrated considerable struggle in school. 

After the lectures, our group toured the UCC campus and enjoyed dinner at the Bodega. The remainder of the group headed off to attend a student gathering organized by the UFHRD Conference, in which the other U of L College of Education group is participating. I headed to bed to finish sleeping off this jet lag. Here's to more lectures tomorrow!

- Laura Fleig-Carta

Laura Fleig-Carta with BFF Kayla Hall

Laura Fleig-Carta's selfie with the University College Cork Quadrangle in the background 

Cardinals in the Ring of Kerry

Today in Ireland was a holiday that celebrates the beginning of June, which is the first day of summer.

We started off our tour with a traditional Irish breakfast consisting of eggs, black pudding, sausage, and baked beans. 

After that, we spent the day on a bus tour of the Ring of Kerry. This tour showed us many wonderful sights of the beautiful countryside of Ireland. We braced the rain for some amazing views of the ocean and other landscapes. After seeing all the sheep wandering around, we visited the craft stores that specialized in Irish wool. After the tour we ended the night all eating a big meal together and prepared for our lectures tomorrow.

---Kelly Wheeler

Irish breakfast

Legend of the Blarney Stone

On Sunday, we visited Blarney Castle which holds the Blarney Stone. As legend has it, those who kiss the stone will receive the gift of eloquence. For centuries, visitors from across the world would (and still do) travel miles and miles to kiss the Blarney Stone. The famous Stone was not always housed at the top of Blarney Castle. In fact, as the story goes, a poor, kind Irishman with a terrible stutter asked a witch to grant him the gift of eloquence. She, therefore, directed him to a bog and in that bog held the precious Stone. The Irishman was to get the stone, kiss the stone, and, then, carry it back to his homeland. Upon returning to his home, the Irishman met some of his fellow townsmen. As soon as they heard him speak, the people of the town were in awe of his beautiful, eloquent speech. Today, hundreds, perhaps even thousands, travel daily to kiss the Blarney Stone and obtain the gift of eloquence. 

Since excellent writing and communication skills are a major component of the education program at the University of Louisville, all students and faculty were eager to kiss the Stone. However, the Stone is quite cumbersome to reach. In order to kiss the Stone, we have to trek through the castle and up a long tight, spiral stone staircase to the very top. Once at the top, we must walk around the edge of the castle to the spot of the sacred Stone. Once there, an Irish guide instructs each person (one at a time) to lay down on their back, lean into the guide's hand, reach their hands above their head to grab the metal bars, and, finally, stretch their head back to kiss the Blarney Stone upside down. 

The Stone is not the only attraction at the Castle. The grounds are a marvelous spectacular with a breathtaking waterfall, rock gardens, and a poison garden that contains plants well-known to Harry Potter aficionados. 

--Melissa Michael

Our first ventures in Cork

Good Evening!

Today was full of all kinds of new experiences! We started out by having a traditional Irish breakfast at The Flying Enterprise and it was delicious! 

Later today we ventured out to see the famous Blarney Castle. It was absolutely breath taking! All the pictures I took did not give this wonderful castle any justice! We went to the top of the castle to kiss the Blarney Stone in order for us to receive the gift of eloquence! Also we were able to see the beautiful waterfall and poison garden! Then we ate at a Bed & Breakfast in Blarney that had lots of yummy Irish meals. 

Later we took a train to the town Cobh which was the last stop for Titanic in Ireland, and although the museum was closed when we arrived we were still able to absorb all the surroundings that Cobh had to offer. We walked around and took pictures of traditional Catholic Church and listened to live music at The Rob Roy. For dinner, we ate at the beautiful Trade Winds restaurant and had some fish and chips! It was a beautiful day and we all had lots of fun!

--Kaitlyn Ratterman