Dr Derek Barter
Adult and Community Education, ALL Institute
Biography
In his post as Academic Co-ordinator of Continuing Education in the Department of Adult and Community Education in Maynooth University his main aim is to facilitate the entry into higher education of mature students who may or may not be first time entrants to university and foster a culture of lifelong learning for personal, community and professional development. This includes the night-time/part-time degree for adults the BA Local Studies/BA Community Studies. Dr Barter works with different statutory, voluntary and especially community organisations in order fulfil the university’s strategic goal for Community Engagement and Widening Participation. Initiatives, such as the Communiversity, which brings higher education out of the campus in a partnership arrangement between MU, Leader Partnership Companies and Local Public Libraries, is a good example of this work in action. He is also collaborating with the Education Dept. in MU in piloting a version of this programme for Transition Year students in a Secondary School in North Dublin called the CommuniversiTY.
He concieved of a series of Life Skills modules for First Year students which where later developed in the Maynooth University new curriculum for undergraduate students as Critical Skills. He delivers the modules A Social Analysis of Everyday Life: Reflective Practice and A Social Analysis of Everyday Life: Experiential Learning as part of this programme. He was a member of the steering committee for the HEA PATH 1 Turn to Teaching. Through dialogue with community partners he proposed the Think About Teaching module of the programme 2017 designed to attract adults from marginalised communities into Initial Teacher Education. These links to the community partners proved invaluable in securing the highest tranche of funding for MU from any of the submitting HEIs.
In 2021 he secured funding through the Europe for Citizens programme under the Democratic engagement and civic participation strand where he has led a consortium of six partners, three universities and three civil society organisations, from across the European continent to engage both students and members of the general public in the conversation on social Europe. The Foundations for Futures Europe project provided space for people to consider issues concerning poverty, disability, migration, identity, employment, education and climate etc. This project is now being considered by the EU Commission as a 'model of best practice' for social inclusion and citizen engagement.
Research Interests
As a late entrant into Higher Education my research interests stem from my own life experience as a mature student with a working class background entering into a world that was alien and unfamiliar and because of that, difficult to navigate. It has been my previlige to find myself in a position whereby this experience has been useful in working with people who have similar 'outsider' or 'imposter' feelings. These can be the biggest and most intractable obstacles to adults returning to education.
Teaching in Addiction Recovery services, or community based inter cultural groups on certificate programmes has allowed me to witness the real transformational power of education in 'non traditional' settings. This has prompted me to bring the work of the university out to the wider community to create space for civic engagement and widening participation through programmes like the Communiversity and the Foundations for Futures Europe.
Education as tool for personal development, emancipation and liberation and for the wider public good as a democratising and a consciousness raising process have become the focus of my research interest recently. Trying to understand the social nature of learning, the knowledge and wisdom that is held within groups and how this gets communicated or not have become central to my current thinking on the nature of experiential learning across the lifespan.
Peer Reviewed Journal
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2020 | Derek Barter, Bernie Grummell (2020) 'Learning to live with it: reflections on surviving critical times from Irish adult education'. eucen Studies: eJournal of University Lifelong Learning, Vol 4 (01):31-35. [Link] https://doi.org/10.53807/0401mrfq [Full-Text] | |
2010 | Derek Barter (2010) 'Return to education for recovering drug addicts: the Soilse Project'. The Adult Learner, :132-149. [Link] | |
2023 | Barter D and Hyland S (2023) 'The Communiversity: A partnership approach to community engaged adult education'. eucen Studies: eJournal of University Lifelong Learning, Vol 7 . [Link] https://doi.org/10.53807/0701f8fs | |
2023 | Barter, D (2023) 'The Slow Learner: Feeling our way to Thinking about Lifelong learning'. PRISM: Casting New Light on Learning Theory & Practice, 5 (2). https://doi.org/10.24377/prism.article722 [Full-Text] |
Conference Contribution
Blog
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2021 | Derek Barter (2021) Change One Thing: The Leaving Cert. needs a rethink. Assisting Living and Learning (ALL) Institute Maynooth University: [Blog] [Link] | |
2023 | Derek Barter (2023) The Older Learner (and Teacher). [Blog] [Link] https://dacemaynooth.com/2023/09/22/lifelong-learning-and-the-older-learner-and-teacher/ |
Policy Contribution
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2021 | Derek Barter, Anne Cassidy, Freeda Garman, Aofie Kerrigan, Antoinette Patton (2021) The Communiversity Network: Access All Areas. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: [Policy Contribution] [Link] [Full-Text] | |
2020 | Barter, Derek, Bernie Grummell and Michael Kenny, (2020) Submission to Consultation for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: Statement of Strategy 2021 – 2023. Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science: [Policy Contribution] [Link] | |
2021 | Nugent, Margaret, Derek Barter, Bernie Grummell, Jerry O’Neill, Gareth Byrne, Camilla Fitzsimons, Michael Kenny (2021) Equity of Access to Higher Education. Submission to the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Higher Education Authority (HEA) National Access Plan. Dublin, Ireland: [Policy Contribution] [Link] | |
2021 | Barter, Derek, Gareth Burns, Bernie Grummell, Michael Kenny, Jerry O’Neill (2021) Submission to the independent review of the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI) by The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. Maynooth University, Ireland: [Policy Contribution] [Link] [Full-Text] |
Online Multimedia
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2018 | Derek Barter (2018) Brainstorm : The Communiversity. Dublin 4: [Online Multimedia] [Link] |
Report
Year | Publication | |
---|---|---|
2020 | Derek Barter/Sinead Hyland (2020) The ComMUniversity A review of the Communiversity: The university for All. [Report] [Link] [Full-Text] |
Honors and Awards
Committees
Outreach Activities
Organisation | Type | Description | |
---|---|---|---|
Communiversity | Civic Society | The Communiversity is a first point of contact pre-access programme where people can attend higher education courses in the familiar surroundings of their local libraries. To date Maynooth University has set up Communiversities in Dublin, Kildare, Louth and Monaghan. Each course begins with a taster session at which the tutors outline their planned programme also explaining to the student that they can ask for specific topics or other subjects to be explored. The tutors use short hand-outs on different subjects to stimulate discussion but they are directed by the interests of the group and are encouraged to follow their lead by being flexible with the modules they teach. The use of the public libraries as venues mean that university education can be brought out and delivered to people in their own communities. One of the aims of the project is to de-mystify the idea of higher education in the minds of people who might feel alienated from universities and academics and to date the feedback from students has been overwhelmingly positive. When asked what they liked most about the course people spoke about the variety of subjects that were covered. They also commented on the fact that, they were not patronised but were being '... taught to think and not being told what to do.' This aspect of critical thinking and self directed learning is of enormous importance for adult learners. The social aspect and the intergenerational make up of the groups play a very significant part towards community development. This project is a good example of what can be achieved through partnership between different sections of the public service in implementing policy for the benefit of wider society. The Communiversity is partnering with the Dept. of History in Maynooth University and SPCM to deliver a series of Local History modules in the JPII Library that is planned to become an annual endeavour. [Link] | |
Dept. of Adult and Community Education | Civic Society | Outreach is a core activity in my role of Continuine Education Co-ordinator. I maintain links to Community based organisations, Colleges of Further Education, Drugs Task Forces, HSE and NGOs. [Link] |
Teaching Interests
I teach the study skills on both the night-time degree for Adult Students BA Local Studies/Community Studies and the Retun to Learning programme. Teaching adults returning to education or entering university for the first time is immensely rewarding and to witness the journey that people undertake within their first semester let alone the from beginning study to graduation and beyond is an incredible privilege.
Besides giving people the expected mechanical skills of reading academic texts, note taking, research and writing skills I strive to create a learning environment wherein the student can, through dialogue with their peers and the course material, develop their ability to think critically about the social, political and economic forces that impact upon their lives and reflect upon their own position in relation to these phenomena. Critical reflection in this sense being the impetus for action.
I am also currently teaching first year undergraduate Critical Skills Reflective Practice and Experiential Learning. The new curriculum has given me the opportunity to engage with a younger aged cohort and use pedagogical methods that I have built up over the years to encourage these students to explore their life world as emerging adults with a critical eye.The Critical Skills modules that I deliver are very much process driven. They are designed to not so much de-programme Leaving Certificate students as so many critics of the second level exam based system suggest is necessary but to allow space for decompression and personal development.
Modules I teach:
NUI Cert. in Return to Learning.
Sk114 Critical Skills: A Social Analysis of Everyday Life, Reflective Practice
SK115 Critical Skills: A Social Analysis of Everyday Life, Experiential Learning.
CM1 Study Skills and Student Support. CM40 The Reflective Learner
Modules I co-ordinate as Co-ordinator of Continuing Eudcation are:
The National University of Ireland Level 7 Certificates (20 ECTS) in:
Addiction Studies
Community Education and Equality Studies
Community Development and Leadership
Creative Writing for Publicaiton
Disability Studies
Directing for Theatre
Equality Studies
Local History
Psychology
Training and Continuing Education.
Level 8 Cert. in Adult and Community Education (20 ECTS)
Level 8 Dip. in Addiction Studies (40 ECTS)
I also co-ordinate the following modules as manager of the MH803 BA Local Studies / Community Studies:
CM28
CRITICAL
THINKING (LEVEL 1)
CM6
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
& LEARNING
CS02
MODELS OF COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT
CS3
INTRO.TO ADULT
DEVELOPMENT & LEARNING
LS2
INTRODUCTION TO MAPS
& LANDSCAPES
LS01C INTRODUCTION TO LOCAL HISTORY FOR LOCAL STUDIES
CM9
RECOGNITION OF
LEARNING GAINED FROM EXPERIENCE
CS1A
SOCIAL ANALYSIS
1:THEORISING SOCIETY
CS1B
SOCIAL ANALYSIS
2:LOCATING MOD.IRELAND
CS1C
SOCIAL ANALYSIS
3:SOCIAL CHANGE & EVERYDAY LIFE
CM5
INTRO.TO LOCAL
STUDIES & COMMUNITY STUDIES
CM14
PROJECT PLANNING
& MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT
CM20
USING ICT FOR
RESEARCH & LEARNING
CM22A
INTRODUCTION TO RADIO
PRODUCTION
CM22B
TELEVISION PRODUCTION
CM39
THEOR.& PRACTICE
OF WORKING WITH GROUPS
CM40
THE REFLECTIVE
LEARNER
CM41
DEVELOPMENT THEORIES
CM42
DESIGNING &
IMPLEMENTING COMM.ED.PROGS.
CM43
PHILOSOPHY OF ADULT
& COMMUNITY EDUCATION
CM44
DRAMA FACILITATION
CM45
THEATRE OF THE
OPPRESSED:THEORY & METHODS
CM46
DRAMA IN EDUCATION
CM47
DEVISING ISSUE BASED
THEATRE
CM48
GROUPWORK &
FACILITATION SKILLS
CS/SS1
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CASE STUDY
CS/SS2
RURAL ENTERPRISE
DEVELOPMENT
CS018
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
AS PRAXIS
CS024
CREATIVITY &
PERFORMING ARTS
CS12
COUNSELLING THEORIES
CS21B
ADULT
COMM.EDUC.:POLICY & PRACTICE
CS27
SUBSTANCE MISUSE
& DEPENDENCE
CS33
GUIDANCE &
COUNSELLING IN ADULT LEARNING
CS39
EXPLORING ETHNIC
IRELAND
CM17
THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF
SPORT & LEISURE
CM18
NATIONALITY &
LANGUAGE
CM19
ANTHROPOLOGY OF LOCAL
COMMUNITIES
CM32
ETHNOGRAPHIC THEORY
& PRACTICE
CM34
INTRODUCTION TO
ANTHROPOLOGY
CM35
ANTROPOLOGY OF
DEVELOPMENT
CM36
ANTROPOLOGY OF EUROPE
CS07B
MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
CS34
ANTHROPOLOGY,IDENTITY
& REPRESENTATION
CS35
THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF
ETHNICITY
CS36
CULTURE & SUICIDE
CS37
INTRODUCTION TO QUEER
THEORY
CS38
'POST-SOCIALIST
TRANSITION'EAST.EUROPE
CS43
CULTURE & RISK
CS48
YOUTH CULTURE:THE
MEANING OF STYLE & RITES OF PASSAGE
CS49
MATERIAL CULTURE
CS017
CONTEMPORARY YOUTH
WORK ISSUES
CS023
COMMUNITY
WORK:POLICIES & ISSUES
CS05
COMMUNITY WORK:
PRINCIPLES & APPROACHES
CS07A
INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIAL POLICY
CS11
COMMUNITY WORK &
SOCIAL EXCLUSION
CS14
DEVELOPMENT OF IRISH
YOUTH WORK
CS50
YOUTH & COMMUNITY
STUDIES
CS51
YOUTH WORK IN IRELAND
CS8
THE ROLE OF THE
COMMUNITY WORKER
CM30
FIGURES IN A
LANDSCAPE
CM10
URBAN SOCIETY:GLOBAL
PROCESSES LOCALLY
CM12
CONTINUITY &
CHANGE IN RURAL IRELAND
CM13
EVOLUTION OF THE
IRISH LANDSCAPE
CM16
LOCAL & REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
CM26
SPATIAL ASPECTS OF
IRISH ELECTIONS
CM27
THE MANAGEMENT &
USE OF IRISH HERITAGE
CM8
PLACE-ING IRISH
ELECTORAL BEHAVIOUR
LS10
THE LOCAL PHYSICAL
ENVIRONMENT
CM15
IRELAND 1800-PRESENT
CM23
THE ORIGINS OF MODERN
NATIONALISM
CM24
GENDER STUDIES IN
LOCAL CONTEXT
CM37
GENDER IN TWENTIETH
CENTURY IRELAND
CM7
TOWN MAPPING
LS11
IRELAND 1014-1400
LS12
LANDSCAPE ARCHAEOLOGY
LS15
IRELAND 1400 - 1603
LS16
IRISH ART &
ARCHITECTURE BEFORE 1600
LS19
IRISH HISTORY
1603-1800
LS20
IRISH ART &
ARCHITECTURE 1600-1900
LS24
CASE STUDY IN URBAN
HISTORY
LS3
SOURCES FOR LOCAL
HISTORY
LS32
EUROPE 1770-1870
LS32H
EUROPE 1770-1870
LS33
20TH CENTURY EUROPEAN
HISTORY:INTRO.SURVEY
LS33H
20TH CENTURY EUROPEAN
HISTORY:INTRO.SURVEY
LS34
PRACTICAL ARCHAEOLOGY
LS35
IRISH CULTURAL
NATIONALISM
LS37
THE BIG HOUSES &
LANDED ESTATES OF IRELAND
LS39
THE IRISH COUNTRY
HOUSE IN THE 20TH CENTURY
LS4
INTRODUCTION TO IRISH
ARCHAEOLOGY 1
LS42
HISTORICAL SKILLS FOR
LOCAL HISTORY
LS43
INTRODUCTION TO
ECONOMIC & LOCAL HISTORY
LS44
THE IMPACT OF
ELECTRICITY ON LIFE IN IRELAND
LS45
LOCAL TREASURE
HOUSES:INTRO TO DECORATIVE ART
LS46
IRISH ART 1746 - 1922
LS5
RESEARCH METHODS FOR
HISTORIANS
LS53
HISTORY OF DUBLIN (A)
LS7
IRELAND 431-1014
LS8
INTRODUCTION TO IRISH
ARCHAEOLOGY 2
LS14
IRISH
LANGUAGE,LITERATURE & FOLK TRADITION
LS21
IRISH PLACE NAMES
LS29
ASPECTS OF IRISH
LITERATURE 1
LS40
THE SINGING COMMUNITY
LS6
IRISH FOR LOCAL
HISTORY1
LS9
IRISH FOR LOCAL
HISTORY 2
CM25
CULTURE,IDENTITY
& THE MEDIA
CM33
VISUAL RESEARCH
CM49
POLITICAL
INSTITUTIONS:THEORY & PRACTICE
CM50
DEMOCRACY &
ACTIVE CITIZENSHIP
CS/SS7
CHANGING FACETS OF
CONTEMPORARY IRELAND
CS019
EQUALITY &
IDENTITY
CS030
COMMUNITIES IN A
GLOBAL WORLD
CS28
SOCIAL RESEARCH
CS29
LIVING IN A CONSUMER
SOCIETY
CS30
TRANSNATIONAL
COMMUNITIES
CS31
STATE,GOVERNANCE
& COMMUNITY
CS40
CLASS & COMMUNITY
CS42
FOOD,KNOWLEDGE &
POWER
CS52
SOCIOLOGY OF THE BODY
& SEXUALITY
CS53
CONTEMPORARY SOCIAL
THEORY