Are you a college fresher Or are you sitting the Leaving Cert in 2018, 19 or 20 If so, we have some news for you…
Pegasus, in collaboration with Ireland’s libraries, is rolling out a new educational tour, just for students, called Ready For College.
Our academic consultants, who have taught at second and third level in colleges across Ireland, the UK and the USA, have developed a set of modules aimed at introducing Leaving Cert students, new college entrants and mature students to the key writing, research and study skills that they will need to be successful in college. These US-style modules cover key aspects including structuring an essay, taking notes, researching and referencing.
Cavan and Leitrim have already hosted these events, drawing a wide range of Transition Year and Leaving Cert students. More events are planned in the coming months in Louth and Dublin. Students, teachers and parents are all invited to attend any one, or all, of the day s presentations, which feature guest lecturers from the worlds of media, broadcasting and publishing, on topics such as
- Winning The Points Race Choosing Colleges & Courses
- Writing for life letters, emails, reports, CVs
- Writing for College
- Crash Course: Grammar, Syntax, and Usage
- Planning Part I (Reading and Research)
- Planning Part II (Brainstorming)
- Thesis Statements: Crafting a Clear Argument
- Outlining
- Drafting
- Conclusions
- Editing and Revising
- Citation, Attribution & Avoiding Plagiarism
CAVAN – Cavan Institute, Saturday, November 18, 11am
By Dr. Jonathan Creasy, editor, publisher, teacher, author The Black Mountain Letters (2016) 12.15pm: Branding For Life The Wide World Of Further Education
By John O Keeffe, criminologist, lecturer in forensic psychology & criminal law, broadcaster 1.30pm: Writing For Life ( letters, emails, reports, CVs & social media)
By Niall O Flynn, journalist, TV producer/director, author Ireland s Olympians
Contact: Johnston Central Library, Farnham St Cavan
Phone: +353 (0)49 4378500
By Dr. Jonathan Creasy, editor, publisher, teacher, author The Black Mountain Letters (2016) 11am: Writing For Life (letters, emails, reports, CVs & social media)
By Niall O Flynn, journalist, TV producer/director, author Ireland s Olympians 12noon: Branding For Life The Wide World Of Further Education
By John O Keeffe, criminologist, lecturer in forensic psychology & criminal law, broadcaster
Contact: Leitrim County Library, Main St., Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim
Phone: + 353 (0)71 9645582
Email: leitrimlibrary@leitrimcoco.ie or info@pegasusconsulting.ie
National College Awareness Week (www.collegeaware.ie) takes place this year from November 20-26.
Aimed at promoting a college-going culture, and increasing the numbers who progress to third level, particularly in areas where that s not usually the case, College Awareness Week is an important tool in spreading the word that having a post-secondary school education plan is both important and achievable .
The campaign goals, supported by national agencies including the NAPD, HEA, Department of Education and Skills, Vincent de Paul, IGC and IBEC, include
- Celebrate the importance of going to college
- Showcase local role models who have gone to college
- Helping students to become college-ready
Third level education is about learning at a higher level – developing skills relating to critical thinking, building supported, substantive arguments, analysing information and the critical use of data and multiple sources. These are university-level skills – but new and aspiring college entrants will benefit hugely from working on the foundations. Such skills will also help Leaving Cert students, and are key attributes that employers value.
Recent UK research suggests that courses designed to teach sixth form students essential university-level study skills also significantly improve their A-level results (University of East Anglia). These presentations by education and media professionals are aimed at preparing Transition Year, Leaving Cert and Third Level students to target the most appropriate courses for their various abilities, and to succeed when they get there.