STEM Family Learning Programmes
Year Awarded
2022
Amount
€50,000
- Organisation:National College of Ireland (NCI)
- Audience:Primary Students
- Format:Non-formal Education
- Location:Dublin
- Topic:STEAM
Project Summary
Dublin’s inner-city is one of the most disadvantaged communities in all of Ireland with low-income families affected by homelessness, addiction, crime, inter-generational poverty, early school leaving, immigration, a lack of English language and prolonged disruption to education and services during the pandemic.
Juxtaposed to this community is Ireland’s ‘silicon docks,’ the heart of the Big Tech industry in Europe, housing the headquarters of various household names in tech and finance.
The Early Learning Initiative (ELI), at National College of Ireland (NCI, a higher education institute) seeks to bridge this divide and elevate local children to become the employees, leaders and entrepreneurs at the future of Ireland’s tech success.
Beginning with early intervention, ELI facilities STEM learning for children from birth up to 12 years old. Family learning and parent engagement are key to ELI’s successful record of accomplishment in education programmes. Skilled staff, many from the local community, bring a joy of learning into the home, supporting parents as their child’s first and best teacher.
STEM Family Learning programmes include STEM Play & Learn, a six-week home visiting programme focusing on STEM for 4-6-year-olds; A weekly Robotic Coding Club for 7-12-year-olds in local schools, services and online; and STEM Events hosted in NCI where families are welcomed into the higher education environment to engage with and enjoy STEM learning. Participation data is collated and analysed, with the publication of two research papers due in 2023.