NUI Maynooth Summer School 'Making the Built Environment Work'

This event commenced on June 27th until July 2nd 2011 at NUI Maynooth. It is recognised by the RIAI (35 CPD credits) and by the ISSP (5 ECTS)

The aim of the Summer School is to facilitate learning across the following disciplines, architects, urban designers, planners and social scientists.

This acquired an inter-disciplinary approach to some of the current challenges within the 'broken environment'. It was an experiment to collaborate in an Interdisplinary way through Workshops and Fieldtrips.

Workshops facilitated this 'thinking outside the box' approach in the form of a new template, from reading the environment, one group analysed the town by observing dog walkers in Maynooth town.
One of the speakers acknowledged, that there is more cross-disciplinary working. I would recommend an interdisciplinary group working in practice perhaps even meeting the residents.

I was part of the Learning Landscape group which involved working with architects, social scientists, and planners in a unique way to read and present the landscape to our audience. I am a recent graduate and was open-minded to reading the Landscape. Some professionals couldn't decide whether 'their hats should be on or off' and in the end it was concluded best practice to 'take their hats off'.

Maynooth Summer School challenged us to think about 'localism' in a new way, as professionals we have a duty to know ourselves. Only then can we understand what other people need in relation to infrastructure provision.

The new template our group pushed home was the idea of subversive practice in the planning profession.
This follows the inate idea that the  'grass is always greener on the other side'.

Green Flag launch on the 23rd of June to Rahara National School, County Roscommon

Rahara National School launched their fourth Green Flag since taking the initative in 2008

The Green Flag towers over the glorious green village, as the air consumes fresh cuttings of luscious grass

It is a remarkable achievement to be finishing the school year with such a positive foot forward

This is their fourth Green Flag since being involved with An Taisces programme.

The schools commitment, work-ethic and great care for the environment encouraged mentors and students to achieve their first ever Green Schools flag for Sustainable Travel. 

Since the school is in a rural setting and safety reasons prevented students from travelling in a sustainable fashion to school, the students were innnovative in their thinking and took safety lessons from experienced Garda Siochana members.

They also looked at carbon emissions and realised their fruit salad travel 72,00km alone to reach their tables.

The evening was concluded by speeches and a loud applause for all the hard-working children and their mentors involved in achieving again another Green Flag for Rahara community.

May the Greenery continue.........

15 th of June 2011: The Perspectives on Nama and the Planning System Forum

I was a volunteer during this event held in the Dublin Institute of Technology. I have Graduated in Spatial Planning in DIT.

I have expressed just some of the intriguing debates and discussions expressed during this Forum.

• Over-reliance on Taxation
• Unfinished commercial development (no census)
• Analyse the Planning and Development system why did x not work?
• Lack of regulation and control
• Debate: 'have regard'     Material contravention of Development Plans
• No corporate strategy and in what way can it relate to the protection of heritage
• No broad Planning strategy
• Recommendation: Need a strategic development corporation
• Realise national , regional and local goals
• Complete places we left during the boom times
• All strategic/place-making transferred to this entity
• Make sure public sector won't cause this crises
• Prioritisation build those houses in the most need
• Land based solution however, land has no value 'property bubble'
• Get strategies right and then find the land
• Plan for prosperity and then only then provide accomodation requirements
• Irish culture obsessed with housing and settlement instead of place based strategies.

These were just some of the views and debates discussed by the speakers who gave a multi-dimensional array of perspectives on the issue of NAMA.

The Forum was well attended and was followed by some light refreshments sponsored by CAAS in DIT.

An enjoyable evening was had by all. I look forward to this forum which will continue to progress the NAMA debate in the near future.

A President's Blog by PJ Rudden: NAMA and the Planning System

A President's Blog by PJ Rudden: NAMA and the Planning System: "Last night there was a most interesting discussion at the DIT Spatial Planning Graduate Network Annual Forum 2011 to which I was invited. Th..."

10th of June: Final LEAD Workshop

Today was the final Pilot Workshop of the LEAD module in Cathal Brugha. The day began with an ice breaker session with Brian Gormley. This exercise observed whether people could multi-task and it was an opportunity for last minute questions about the final LEAD report due on the following Friday the 20th of June.

Bob talked us through how students can evidence their events or volunteering activities in the form of a Blog. Those students who engaged and reflected on their activities in their blog can now draw their skills, events and evidence of those experiences from the blog and this makes the completion of the report less daunting. The majority of students found blogging did not work for them. Word press and Twitter were suggested because asking questions found that some people reflect differently on their experiences.

Reflecting on personal achievements in writting was explained and discussed by taking an event and linking it to a chosen skill. Communicationa and Problem Solving were discussed with the thread being Social media, team work and promotion. The report must focus on I in the first person and an explanation about other peoples involvement maybe how they felt during the task. I am learning what I can do differently next time. It is fundamental to the success of the planning society to solve issues that arise and to find out what does or does not work for the society. I think it is essential to have the time to think back on past events and to move on and to learn from those experiences. This will provide the student with knowledge which can be adapted to their future Careers.

Mind maps were created and provided a clearer insight into the reflective process. Reflection is evidenced in the personal development plan or journey I have begun and continue to pursue because of the LEAD module. I learnt I can handle stressful situations, I am a quick thinker and I have a positive attitude to challenges. Feedback on this pilot module was gathered because DIT are applying for this module to be accredited for this coming September.

The Mentors were helpful and greatly assisted the students answering many questions and giving us all positive guidance to complete our 2,000 word report and evidence based assignment for the LEAD module. This is due on the 20th of June and the written element is more important than the evidence. It is an academic exercise which requires considerable reading and study which is demonstrated in the draft schedule for 2012. I wish the Mentors every success in the future, best of luck to all the participating students and those upcoming students who succeed in taking this worthwhile LEAD module. There are numerous possibilities whether you have developed a new career path, decided to apply for a Masters, changed degree courses or can apply for a job. The list is endless....

                            'Reflection on yourself, you have just tilted the lid'.

2nd of June 2011

LEAD

 

Communication

 

The skill of communication is developing and continues to be broadened along with advancing my skills in technology.  

 

I have set up a Animoto video available on the link below (http://www.animoto.ie/).

 

http://animoto.com/play/urKSRKX8iSjATu8t...

Planning Society, Socs Awards, Erasmus, Amsterdam

31st of May E-Portfolio in DIT, Bolton Street.

This is an introductory lesson on how to upload student course work online in a portfolio format.

This can facilitate students in uploading their Course work online for potential employers or Master Courses or just a general safety net in case the reliable USB or Computer may crash.

This is the link which can aid those students who were unable to attend the Tutorial: 

http://ditportfolios.learnonline.ie/ 

Username
Password    (Note this is the same as when you first log onto the Computer system in DIT).


It is a very easy system to use and there were no major mishaps

I found groups can be formed and I searched for the 'LEAD' group but this has not been created yet.

I would recommend we create a LEAD group when all our Portfolios have been completed on the 10th of June.

This is a great system for networking and observing what other Societies have achieved during their last year.

The tutorial lasted an hour and I feel I have a thorough understanding of E-Portfolios.

Thanks to Kevin O' Rourke-Tutor, Dave O' Connor and Chris Reid for organising this tutorial on E-Portfolios.

I would recommend this system to be used from first year onwards in all courses in DIT.