Breda McTaggart, Orla Walsh IT Sligo

1. Ms Orla Walsh, Dr Breda Mc Taggart

2. Presentation outline
 Overview of relevant policies
 Brief profile of the adult learner
 Barriers to participation in education
 Gender specific barriers to participation
 Original programme BA Honours Early Childhood
Care Education (ECCE)
 New structure

3. Lifelong Learner
Learning for life: White Paper on Adult Education
(2000)
Workforce development (2010)
Hunt Report (2011)
Australian and Scottish Early Years Strategies
Pending Irish Early Years Strategy

4. Profile of the adult learner
Non-traditional entrant (Quinn, 2006)
Motivated to learn (Knowles, 1984)
Personal Growth (Rodgers, 1983)

5. Associated barriers to participation
Geographical inconvenience
Time constraints
Timetable difficulties
Monetary issues
Gender difference (McTaggart, 2012; McCulloch
and Stokes, 2008; Lieb, 1991)

6. Barriers to female participation
Psychological demands associated with multiple
role responsibilities inclusive of:
 carer and employee (Patterson and Dowd, 2010;
Aontas, 2002; Howell, 2002; Department of
Education and Science 2000; Sperling, 1991)

7. The BA Hons Early Childhood Care and
Education (ECCE) part-time programme
September 2006
Complex programme
Cohort eleven students
Two evenings per week (7-10pm)
12 Saturdays over year
Cost approx €2,500 year
Over 6 years
Early exit
No viable cohort since 2006 on original structure

8. Reflection and change
Reflection on practice (Schön, 1983)
New programme emerged
 A greater understanding of consumers
 Two full days face to face contact (Friday & Saturday)
 Alternate weekends for 12 weekends over the academic
year
 Flexible learning and delivery
 Completion 4.5 years
 Identical to full-time BA Hons ECCE programme
 Placements can be completed over summer
 Two placements, option to RPL one placement if
appropriate

9. Current student cohort
 Viable intake in 2011
 20 adult learners
 One withdrawal due to significant family
commitments
 4 new babies born to students during the year and all
mothers returned to programme
 Positive feedback from students

10. Future plans
Template for other programmes in the department
Disseminate programme to wider audience
Outreach

11. Thank you for your time
Any questions?