Future Leaders Transition Year Programme
(cont from pg 9)
…..is about
GAA and his excitement about
this programme is contagious.
!
Transition Year DNA is evident in
every aspect of this programme. It
was developed;
• by a TY coordinator
• for his TY students
• to capitalise on opportunities
inherent in TY in
• achieving some of the outcomes
of TY while
• considering the range of
interests and abilities in a TY
group.
!
When Eoghan took on the role of
TY Coordinator he was grappling
with the idea of staging a GAA
event in the school, but he didn’t
want to exclude any students on
the base of talent, ability or
passion for the game. He decided
to look at the sport in its broader
context to include aspects that,
though linked to the sport, are
disciplines in their own right.
!
He set about to identify all the
skills and disciplines involved in
staging a sporting event; from
marketing, through coaching and
training to administration,
reporting and broadcasting. He
then encouraged his TY students
to align themselves to these
aspects according to their
individual interests and abilities.
So, while some students
immersed themselves in coaching
and wellness, others focused on
reporting, analysis or marketing.
In fact it was through the
marketing aspect that the
programme caught the attention
of the GAA, through one of the
many students’ tweets.
!
The GAA approached Eoghan and
immediately understood the
potential of the programme and
its fit within their own objectives.
The PDST subsequently came on
board and together they
developed the programme into
the blockbuster it is today.
!
The programme was initially
nursed to life in Gort Community
College. With some fine-tuning it
Eoghan Hanlley (right) pictured with above Edwin and Amanda
Landzaad from TYI
was rolled out to include 50
schools as a pilot in 2017/18 and
this has been expanded to include
some 200 schools in the next
phase starting in September
2018.
!
!
A TRUE GAME CHANGER
What has the authors so excited
about is the sophistication with
which it all fits together. The
longer you look at it and the more
angles you consider, the more
sense it makes.
!
Furthermore, and perhaps more
importantly, it’s easy to image
this programme not only
developing in its own right, but
also serving as a template for
applications that extend well
beyond GAA and sport.
!
The programme caters for
students with a whole range of
abilities and skills and allows
each of them to contribute equally
and meaningfully. Students are
empowered to take ownership of
the project and to engage in real
self-directed learning.
!
More TY ideals are considered
and addressed by this programme
than we could hope to include in
this article, so we’ve added 3 links
(right) for you to see for yourself.
!
In closing, I’d like to reflect some
of the well deserved glory back to
the concept of TY itself; this
programme could only have
developed out of a TY
environment where;
• teachers are empowered to
develop and test new teaching
methods
• real-world scenarios can be
brought into the class room
• learning can be taken out of the
classroom
• interpersonal skills can be
developed
• ties with the community can be
strengthened
• etc., etc., etc.…
In short, learning can be
revolutionised.
!
It’s astonishing what can happen
when an inspired teacher works
in a revolutionary programme
and is give the freedom to think
outside the box and the support
to bring it to fruition.
!
This programme holds the key to
unlocking much of the latent
potential embodied in TY and
we’ll be watching Eoghan and his
team with great interest as they
develop students and the
programme itself.
USEFUL LINKS
• Eoghan Hanley’s presentation:
https://youtu.be/_KUQ7xqzGSo
• A shorter (3min) overview:
https://youtu.be/50YvfXFYYek
• Website;
www.learning.gaa.ie/
transitionyearprogramme
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