Project
Lough Gur Development is a nonprofit community organization that was founded in 1969 and officially inaugurated in 1993 to promote, preserve and protect the history, archaeology, folklore and environment of the surrounding area.
We want to promote and improve Lough Gur Heritage centre using its natural, archaeological and historical resources to create a better environment for residents and visitors. Although Lough Gur is one of Ireland鈥檚 most important archaeological sites, the area remains relatively unknown locally and nationally. As a nonprofit community with limited resources, we are looking for people to creatively market and awareness of Lough Gur to allow this social enterprise to reach its true potential.
The company structure includes a voluntary Chairperson and board members. They are supported by a manager and a team of staff. The group operates the Lough Gur Heritage Centre, Honey Fitz Theatre, festivals & events. Sub committees including the Science Group include a number of voluntary community members and associated organizations.
Lough Gur is submitting a final application to receive Dark Sky Park accreditation in July 2016. Once accredited Lough Gur will be required to monitor dark sky data and deliver a number of astronomical and environmental workshops to schools and public. Lough Gur Development is also currently in the process of applying for funding to upgrade the Honey Fitz Theatre.
Learning
We will engage in marketing and brand development activities to promote Lough Gur locally, nationally and internationally. Activities will include, exploring workshop ideas in line with primary school and secondary school curricula relating to a wide range of topics e.g. science, environment, music and environment, creating video content relating to Lough Gur, building brand and site profile awareness, compiling and monitoring dark sky park data, website upgrade and improvement works and applying imaginative and creative ideas to attract visitors to the area of Lough Gur.
This practical experience enables students to learn a range of technical and practical skills including the ability to layout information in a sequential and interesting manner, provide an artistically minded display to format and edit video and brochure content. You will engage in both independent as well as collaborative learning. You will learn from one another to reach creative solutions to practical problems. The module is designed to enable students to develop the capacity to apply curriculum-based knowledge in a real-world setting and self-assess and develop graduate attributes to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team in collaboration with external community stake-holders. Students will also be supported to articulate their ideas to a range of audiences within different cultural frameworks and setting and be provided with opportunities to make substantial and positive contributions to society
Practicum students undertaking this project will work with staff in Lough Gur heritage centre and peers from other international universities.
Both formative and summative assessment methods will be used. Assessments will be designed to complement the interactive teaching and learning approaches. In particular, methods conducive to workplace assessment will be employed. These will include weekly reflection diaries, a group presentation, a reflective assignment and self-assessment activity. Students will be expected to produce a community briefing report and present their project outputs and outcomes to their community partner.