Science Teaching Centre, Education Department
Item
Format
Jpg
Title
Science Teaching Centre, Education Department
Identifier
VHS0001
Depiction
Two sets of work benches with equipment and a set of shelves in a room with a set of lighting fixtures overhead
Description
The Science Teaching Centre of the Education Department in Block M, about 1994.
As recalled by Oliver Ryan, Lecturer in the Department, An tOllamh Eustás Ó Héideáin, Professor of Education, had made serious efforts since the early 1970s to improve the standard of training for the Science teacher in the West of Ireland, and in 1973 acquired a large pre-fabricated building (the old Chemistry laboratory*). At his request, Oliver drew up plans for a Science Teaching Centre, and, after a frantic search for funding, a small grant was obtained and in 1974 the Centre. As of 1982, the Centre provided facilities training for some 70 Science graduates enrolled in the Higher Diploma in Education programme, was host to an active branch of the Irish Science Teachers Association, and gave assistance to Science teachers in the Galway catchment area.
The Centre comprised a large laboratory, a workshop, a store room, a darkroom and three offices. The laboratory was designed to serve as a demonstration/lecture/practical laboratory, roughly divided into five main areas: physics, chemistry, biology, a lecture area, and a library/audiovisual area. The laboratory aimed to provide a model for student teachers on how best to store, organise and index the normal school laboratory. It was well endowed with audiovisual equipment such as slide projectors, overhead projectors, videorecording apparatus, micro-projectors etc, all of which were in constant demand and use. The workshop, which was intended for us in both the improvisation and repair of apparatus, contained a number of work-benches and a supply of both power and manual tools. The store was used principally for the storage of chemicals. This photograph shows the .....
* (Note: This former Chemistry laboratory presumably became available on its move to the new Arts/Science Building on its opening in 1973. )
As recalled by Oliver Ryan, Lecturer in the Department, An tOllamh Eustás Ó Héideáin, Professor of Education, had made serious efforts since the early 1970s to improve the standard of training for the Science teacher in the West of Ireland, and in 1973 acquired a large pre-fabricated building (the old Chemistry laboratory*). At his request, Oliver drew up plans for a Science Teaching Centre, and, after a frantic search for funding, a small grant was obtained and in 1974 the Centre. As of 1982, the Centre provided facilities training for some 70 Science graduates enrolled in the Higher Diploma in Education programme, was host to an active branch of the Irish Science Teachers Association, and gave assistance to Science teachers in the Galway catchment area.
The Centre comprised a large laboratory, a workshop, a store room, a darkroom and three offices. The laboratory was designed to serve as a demonstration/lecture/practical laboratory, roughly divided into five main areas: physics, chemistry, biology, a lecture area, and a library/audiovisual area. The laboratory aimed to provide a model for student teachers on how best to store, organise and index the normal school laboratory. It was well endowed with audiovisual equipment such as slide projectors, overhead projectors, videorecording apparatus, micro-projectors etc, all of which were in constant demand and use. The workshop, which was intended for us in both the improvisation and repair of apparatus, contained a number of work-benches and a supply of both power and manual tools. The store was used principally for the storage of chemicals. This photograph shows the .....
* (Note: This former Chemistry laboratory presumably became available on its move to the new Arts/Science Building on its opening in 1973. )
People
None
References
Oliver Ryan, 'The Science Teaching Centre at University College, Galway, Eire', European Journal of Science Education, Volume 4, 1982 -Issue 3, pp. 351-4, accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/0140528820040315.
Contributor
Spatial Coverage
Temporal Coverage
Category
Colour; informal; on-campus; indoors
Language
English
Creator
Clare Walsh
Publisher
University of Galway Library
Rights
This image may be used for non-commercial purposes under CC BY-NC-SA see https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Provenance
Image provided by Clare Walsh to Séamus Mac Mathúna for the Visual History Retired Staff Collection in 2023 and scanned by Jackie Uí Chionna