Dublin's Digital Hub
by Paul Miller
The site is in an area called the Liberties just on the edge of Dublin city centre on what was once part of the vast Guinness brewery. Over the past couple of decades the Liberties have fallen on hard times as employment in the area has dropped, buildings have become derelict and literacy rates have stagnated. Schools are struggling with enrolment as people have moved out to the suburbs over time.
Through their DLLI scheme, the Hub has created some great examples of technology as a tool for engagement and community building, particularly working with local schools. Take for example the way they've helped kids make films about local history or how they've designed new virtual versions of the streets they live in. Or the way they've taught kids how to use technology to record rap. Or how they've used Lego control technologies in classrooms and given new confidence to children who hadn't excelled before in school. Our favourite though was probably the project to help 5 year olds make claymations in the Irish language. Absolutely brilliant.
Local teachers say they have seen new relationships with parents develop as although they wouldn't come along to parents' evenings they would come along to the shows of the kids' work that take place in a warehouse at the Hub (it actually used to be a cash and carry).
Fascinating stuff. Have a good look around their site.