Category / Research Blog

by shannonchance

Graduating with the Saints at DIT (and Getting Fergus’ Take on it All)

DIT President Brian Norton with Shannon Chance.

DIT President Brian Norton with Fulbright Scholar Shannon Chance.

DIT’s graduation ceremony is an event to behold!

Today’s occurred at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (which is the largest church building in Ireland).  You may recall that Kitty Lee, Patty, and I visited it last week.

At DIT exams for the fall semester occur in January, and winter graduation falls shortly after.

During the ceremony, each graduate’s name, degree title, and thesis topic is announced. Today’s list of topics highlighted valuable contributions DIT is making to society in areas such as physics, health and nutrition, energy, and computing.

For me, a true highlight of the ceremony was a performance by two students: a signer and a harpist.  The talented duo really brought this grand space to life.  (Kitty, Patty, and I missed Evensong in this church last night — by just a few sad minutes — and so I tried to live today’s event vicariously on their behalf while they soared above the Atlantic on their journey home.)

Today also presented my first opportunity to meet DIT’s president, Prof. Brian Norton in person.  When the opportunity appeared, I stepped forward without hesitation, extended my hand, and introduced myself.  I was truly dumbfounded when Dr. Norton said he knew who I was and that he had read my blog.  Wow!  I look forward to meeting him again soon.

Fergus Wheelan's insightful book on Irish/Dublin history of the 1600 and 1700s.

Fergus Wheelan’s insightful book on Irish/Dublin history of the 1600 and 1700s.

At the reception, I also met a few members the electrical engineering faculty I haven’t yet gotten to know.  I hope to have more to tell about their work soon.

I’ve included some photos of the day, including a snapshot of the English and Protestant flags hanging in St. Patrick’s (Protestant) Cathedral.

Upon returning to my apartment, I curled up with Fergus Whelan‘s book Dissent into Treason. In the first chapter, Fergus does a remarkable job of explaining the formative roots of various Western denominations. I’ve learned so much in just 20 pages… including distinctions between Unitarians, Presbyterians and Congregationalists, Quakers, Levelers, Catholics, and the like. I believe Dissenters were people whose supported the creation the Irish nation despite pressure from their larger brethren and/or religious underpinnings to support the English crown.  I’ll gain clarity on that soon, I’m sure.

Have you ver wondered why more Protestants read the Bible today than Catholics (in the US at least)?  I certainly have.

Fergus’ book explains that in Ireland in the 1600s, Catholics were only permitted to read scriptures in Latin or Greek.  Protestants were given freedom to read in English. Hummmm.

In Ireland there’s so very much to discover.  I’m trying to make the most of every moment, but there’s not nearly enough of time to do, see, and learn all I’d like….

The fabulous dean Mike Murphy with Shannon Chance.
The procession felt a bit like being a (Protestant) monk!?!!
DIT’s Graduation Ceremony was beautiful at St. Patrick’s Cathedral (February 2013).
Look closely at the flags and you’ll notice Union Jacks hanging in St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Our (US American) first names are their (Irish) last names, as you can see in the gradation program (including my family’s favorites, Heather, Shannon, and Meredith).
After the formalities, we headed back to Aungier Street for a reception.
by shannonchance

Shipping Out from Cobh

My cousin Roland Ouellette and his spouse Rebecca Allen located the ship log for our great grandmother’s 1911 voyage from Cobh, Ireland to Ellis Island.  Roland and Rebecca have been doing a lot of research on ancestry.com and growing our family tree.  Great sleuth work, cuz — I’m thrilled to have this document!

ship log

1911 ship log

by shannonchance

Learning, Teaching and Technology at DIT

Just down the street from Notre Dame’s O’Connell House, the DIT has its Learning, Teaching and Technology Centre (LTTC). The LTTC is housed in a building to the left in the photo below:

Upper Mount Street, home of DIT's Leaning, Teaching and Technology Centre (LTTC).

Upper Mount Street, home of DIT’s Leaning, Teaching and Technology Centre (LTTC).

The DIT has a fabulous and unique policy that every newly hired faculty member must complete a certificate program in Learning and Teaching in the first two years of employment at DIT.  Their teachers actually study how to teach. Part of what I’ve been doing here is researching outcomes of this policy and of the LTTC’s work.

The LTTC has contributed in incredibly valuable ways to the learning that goes on at DIT as well as in Institutes of Technology all across Ireland (there are 14 in all, and DIT is the flagship among them). You can read about professional development programs in these Institutes in a (free) book by Fitzpatrick and Harvey called Designing Together.

In fact, I’ll be teaching a course in May at the LTTC. It’s about using PBL (as in hands-on, group-based, project-driven approaches to teaching) and it’s for people who teach at the college level.  I’ll post more information about the course content soon.

I’ve included some photos from my recent visit to the LTTC to work on planning the class.

I visited the LTTC Friday, to prepare for a course I’ll teach in May.
The LTTC does a top notch job with professional development.
I’m also researching outcomes of its programs and policies.
by shannonchance

Birthday Bash Mix and Match

Tonight you get the answer key… but see if you can’t match at least some of them first!

Or, if you’re really good… go to the bottom images, cover the names, and guess the name looking at the map.  Bet you don’t get many right that way this round!

Screen Shot 2013-02-07 at 10.15.17 PM

Screen Shot 2013-02-07 at 10.15.17 PM

Aland Islands
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Bangladesh
Poland
Serbia
Brazil
Moldova
Ireland
Canada
India
United States
by shannonchance

Birthday Surprises

Who ordered the rain?

Who ordered this weather?

Wow!  What a day!

It’s my birthday; the 43rd one of my life.  Besides the weather, great things happened!

#1) I awoke to great news: I’d been invited to review a manuscript for a special edition of JEE (a different edition than the one we’ve written for).  I’m hoping this is a good sign.  Apparently the editors though I was sufficiently competent to be part of their rigorous peer-review process.

#2) My aunt Kitty Lee and her friend Patty Asplund arrived fresh off the plane. This is the first day Kitty has ever spent outside North America!!!

Shannon, Kitty Lee, and Patty.

Shannon, Kitty Lee, and Patty.

#3) Mom woke up in the middle of the night (Pennsylvania time) to call and wish me a happy day.

#4) I put Kitty Lee and Patty on the hop-on hop-off bus and headed for sushi with my colleagues. Little did I know they’d planned a birthday lunch. Sima *baked* a gluten-free cake using truffles, chestnut flour, butter, and cream. Amazing!!!!  The sushi was awesome too.

#5) My replacement bank card finally arrived. YAY!!!!

#6) I visited the former House of Parliament (now owned by the Bank of Ireland, a long story that I’ll save for another day).

Sima, Brian, Gavin, and Shannon.
Birthday cake alla Sima!
Blowing out my (4)3 candles!

I got a fabulous tour of the most historic room by Phillip and Jeremy.  I’ll return again to learn more from John and Sean. And Jeremy will copy some information for me to pick up. While I was there, I met a group from Northern Ireland. They’d all been police (some representing loyalists and some representing nationalists — in other words, on both sides). In any case, they’d have been the ones “keeping the peace” while the men I met in the Cobblestone were out in the past *not* “keeping the peace.”

William of Orange

William of Orange

Phillip told me the stories depicted on the tapestries hanging in the hall.  The victor of the story was William of Orange. Three years after the event depicted, King William and his wife (Queen Mary) chartered the College of William and Mary in Virginia. Where I earned my PhD!  Philip said that Mary was much more important in all that than William. I said that’s why we have t-shirts that say, “Mary and William.”

#7) The bus was right there when I stepped out of the Bank, ready to whisk me back to my apartment.

#8) The post had safely delivered birthday cards and a package from each of parents (my Mom, and my Dad and Step-Mom).  It’s wonderful to be remembered.

#9) I got word that our photo show is on!  The title is

Inter-changes: Interpretations of Ireland by Three Virginians
Photographs by US Fulbright Scholar Shannon Chance, Dave Chance & Glen McClure

#10) Kitty and Patty have sweet-talked the hop-on bus driver into delivering them to my doorstep.  I am telling you: Patty is a charmer!!!!  She’s a seasoned traveller — and a former missionary — who has a way of touching people’s souls.  I’m glad she’s here to help Kitty Lee learn the traveling ropes!

We’ll be out for #11 soon!  I’ll let you know how it goes (they are likely to crash soon…).

A model of the Bank of Ireland building.
Shannon Chance in the Bank of Ireland.
Bank of Ireland’s former Parliament chamber.
by shannonchance

Upcoming Photo Exhibition in Dublin

I’ve got an exhibition of reflection photographs in the works for spring. It’s to occur during May at Notre Dame’s O’Connell House on St. Stephen’s Green.  Tuesday, I met to plan with Notre Dame’s Lisa Caulfield and Joseph Stranix as well as Fulbright’s Joanne Davidson.  I showed them some examples of my work and, thankfully,  got enthusiastic response. 🙂

It’s a big, beautiful space and I look forward to filling it with images.  It’s so much space, in fact, that I am hoping to include my two favorite photographers in the show. (I’m seeking final approval for that.)  I’ll keep you posted as plans progress.

It’s a gorgeous space, and I though you might enjoy seeing it pre-show:

Lisa and Joanne reviewing my photos from a past exhibition.
The view toward O’Connell House (it’s on the right, Marrion Square is to the left.)
Plaque inside the O’Connell House.
The fabulous and welcoming O’Connelll House.
I can hang photos in the entry hall…
…and the two large rooms on the first floor (that’s the second floor in American terminology).
A view of the two rooms.
View from the back room.
I’m not using this room, but I wanted to show it to you. So beautiful. The back wall is hung in “salon style.”
by shannonchance

Observations from a Walk with Amanda

Thought I’d share some random images from a walk I took in Dublin (from Smithfield to Kildare Street) with Amanda Bernhard.

Wow! UGS for sale…
…hum, seems a bit dodgy…
…”perhaps” they’re not authentic!
This is the stately Sy. Paul’s Church of Smithfield.
Like many churches here, this one caters to a specific ethnic group as well as the Irish-born population.
Its sign had caught my eye once upon a time…
…I’d forgotten until Amanda remarked how strange it is to have at @ on the name plaque of a church.
I’ve been meaning for so long to show you the mail boxes here. You’ve got old and new styles beside one another here on Arran Quay (pronounced “key”).
This is the medieval St. Audeon’s Church. I’ve not been inside because it is closed in winter.
The medieval wall of St. Audeon’s Church is still intact. The area was once known as Hell, Esther and I learned when we took the Dublin Ghost Bus tour.
This is the West Gate of the city, attached to Christchurch Cathedral (protestant, Church of Ireland).
Like me, Amanda also spends too much time at the computer (brainy Fulbrights!?!). We decided to step into the Back Shop on Exchequer Street.
The black chair was beautiful and very comfortable.
Some others were a bit over the top!
Of course, you can choose your own fabrics. They build the chair to fit your own back!
by shannonchance

Envisioning the Future of Education with Brian MacCraith

The president of Dublin City University (DCU), Prof. Brian MacCraith, delivered  a lively and informative lecture Monday night at St. Patrick’s College. His topic was Envisioning the Future of Education. And what a visionary President MacCriath is — I learned so much from his talk! I’ve not got time enough to explain all I learned; I’ll include snapshots of some interesting slides at the end of this post. I’ll explain a little in each caption.

I did look up one of the sources he used, as it ties to my map-tracking.

Internet usage by continent.

Internet usage by continent (downloaded from Internet World Statistics).

One chart he showed (above) helped explain why my blog gets fewer visitors from Africa than Europe and North America. In Africa, just 15.6% of people have Internet access. In Asia, though, there are more people with Internet than on any other continent, so why is my Asia map so blank? Still no one from China…. and of the world population of Internet users, most are in Asia.

Internet distribution

Internet distribution

The population of North America  (shown in blue on the pie chart) is tiny. As you can see above, not that many people live in North America, even though 78.6% of them use the Internet.

Brian’s title slide. I also heard him speak for the introduction of Hillary Clinton, held at DCU in December.
Brian’s talk covered these topics.
This quote is a hoot! How ironic.
Singapore has been rated as the world’s most globalized country. Ireland is #2. Brian notes that’s #1 in the Western world.
Brian thinks online education (MOOCs,, like the one I was part of last fall for SCUP) are going to be very important in the future. He thinks 2013 was a turning point in this. The New York Times agreed.
The size of each word shows how much involvement Internet-education provider Courseara has from various countries.
This slide describes the type of research I do.
These are cool projects going on in Ireland today that foster innovation. To the right is Coderdojo, which Dr. Ted Burke told me about and I described in a prior post. (See coderdojo.com/ for mor info.)
Good ole Abe!
A model of the beautiful campus of St. Patrick’s College.
This walkway surrounds an outdorr courtyard just like in the cloister of an abbey or monastery. (You can see the courtyard to the top right of the campus model picture.)
DIT and St. Patrick’s have these signs hanging everywhere. Students can easily get a visa to come work int eh USA for a summer. It’s called a J1 visa. Irish students are well educated and they speak English — making them prime candidates to work in the US.
by shannonchance

Celebrating 19,000 Visits

This morning we’re also celebrating 19,000 visits to Ireland by Chance.  Thanks South Korea, Pakistan, and India for waking up earlier than everyone else (due to the earth’s rotation) and checking the blog. 🙂

19000 visits to the blog

19,000 visits to the blog