Engineers Ireland maths grinds - Dublin based volunteer/s required urgently

EngIreland

Hey everyone,

Since 2009 we have been providing free higher level maths grinds to leaving cert and junior cert students in our HQ in Dublin every Saturday during the academic year.

We are currently seeking one or more engineers who can give higher level maths grinds to Leaving Cert and Junior Cert students as cover for our current lecturer who will be on sick leave for a number of weeks.

Can you help?

Please DM

Thanks

godtabh

When do you need them to start? Will training be provided?

EngIreland

Alas due to tight timescale, we will be unable to provide training.

At present start is looking like 14th/21st Jan.

Ideally would need someone who is familiar with one or both courses, is currently providing grinds and up to speed with the new project maths syllabus.

Also lecturing in front of large group of students an advantage.

godtabh

Is there a schedule? I'd be interested in helping out but it would be all new to me. If there is a schedule I could revise each lecture in advance.

EngIreland

I really appreciate your speedy response.

Yes - the Leaving Cert course is currently online (minus project maths) so it could be a case of following on a number of the lectures in Tim's absence. He is about to start Trignometry 1
http://www.steps.ie/maths/maths-video/videos.aspx

Whereas the Junior Cert is its first year and we are halfway through the recording process.

I am currently trying to build up a bank of engineers to cover so it could be a case of maybe covering a one or two leaving cert topics so everyone dips their toe in.

Can you DM your contact number so we could have a chat offline?

Red Alert

I'm not familiar with the leaving cert course as a whole any more, but would be delighted to help out on any suitable topics.

PM sent.

EngIreland

@godtabh - spoke with Tim yesterday and he will hold training in the summer for engineers interested in coming on board for the Dublin sessions for 2012/13.

I am meeting him on Monday and he will give me the schedule/topics for the next seven weeks so it could be a case of reviewing each video lecture before the Saturday to get a gist of what needs to be covered.

Turbulent Bill

EngIreland, are there any plans to widely publicise these grinds or hold engineering-specific ones outside Clyde Road? I thought about providing something similar for schools in my local community in D15 (pretty poor area) to support budding engineers. At a guess there are plenty of local kids with the aptitude and enthusiasm, but the schools are patchy and there's little history of 3rd-level achievement.

I don't have the time to help out at the moment but it's a great initiative if available to all.

EngIreland

Yes, we publicise our free grinds every August and they are open to everyone - alas the media does not seem to give it much coverage.

Majority of interest comes from word of mouth from previous students who did the grinds or their parents.

We have a number of students from all over Dublin attending in both our Leaving & Junior cert courses so please feel free to spread the word & encourage them to attend.

Next Sept we hope to announce free grinds in three new regions in Ireland - linking with our Regions network but it is early days yet.

But I would love to talk to you about direct contact with schools - this is a fantastic idea - and maybe rolling out the service to schools in disadvantaged areas through our volunteer network.

DM?

Turbulent Bill

EngIreland wrote: »

Yes, we publicise our free grinds every August and they are open to everyone - alas the media does not seem to give it much coverage.

Majority of interest comes from word of mouth from previous students who did the grinds or their parents.

We have a number of students from all over Dublin attending in both our Leaving & Junior cert courses so please feel free to spread the word & encourage them to attend.

Next Sept we hope to announce free grinds in three new regions in Ireland - linking with our Regions network but it is early days yet.

But I would love to talk to you about direct contact with schools - this is a fantastic idea - and maybe rolling out the service to schools in disadvantaged areas through our volunteer network.

DM?

Some sort of outreach service would probably be very useful, because few (if any) of these students would be aware of the grinds and even fewer would know past pupils to get positive feedback on them.

Unfortunately I've no contact with the schools, but I'm sure someone in EI has. My idea was that there is probably a group of students who want to do engineering (like me and my friends were) but lack the study support to get the maths/science marks. They're already motivated so it's just a case of helping them rather than selling engineering as a career. Whether this is true or not I've no idea!

Do you have any details on the EI volunteer programme in case I get time later in the year?

godtabh

Sorry I got distracted with work.

Unfortunately I'm not sure if I can still do it (and probably cant commit to anything short term at the moment due to work)

But i Have emailed this thread to a friend who maybe interested. He actually works in clyde road so I'm sure he will speak to you

EngIreland

Thanks to everyone who read this post & may have passed it on someone who can help.

We have since sourced two engineers who will provider cover for our lecturer.

If anyone wishes to get involved in the future please don't hesitate to contact me here.

We are looking to roll the scheme out in selected Regions next Sept but we are still at the planning stage.

@godtabh - thanks for your support. If you fancy getting involved next Sept let me know.

@Turbulant Bill - apologies for my enthuasiasm. Yes, we have contacts with all secondary schools across Ireland but the issue from our end would be interested engineers. It is something I will put forward to the volunteer section in here. Here is the link to our volunteer section - http://www.engineersireland.ie/community/volunteers/

godtabh

Maybe take down the email address unless you want it spammed to hell