Sponsored Feature
Ahead of Donegal Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training (FET) Fair on 4 and 5 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny, we’re showcasing the learning and progression experiences of current and former FET students.
A Bundoran farmer who was once wary of smartphones now loves nothing more than his daily texting!
Pensioner Kevin Campbell from Drumacrin went from a brick phone to a stylish Android in just a few months. It’s all thanks to a Social IT for Farmers course delivered by Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).
Kevin, aged 74, attends a class one evening per week to master his mobile, from WhatsApp to checking the weather and browsing online.
“It was the best thing I ever did,” Kevin says.
Kevin started the Level 2 course at his local Further Education and Training (FET) centre in September last year.
Since then, he and his five classmates have been guided by tutor Renata Ert through the fundamentals of smartphone use.
“Renata brought us out of the darkness into the sunshine with the phones in a short time and gave us courage to go further,” Kevin says.
“I myself have come a long way. Renata’s time and patience with us all is amazing.
“The texting was the best thing ever I learned, I never could get it on the old phone, now this is just like a daily routine to me, I love it.”
Other tasks taught in the class include sending photos and adding and deleting phone numbers from a contact book.
Kevin has gone one step further and now researches the weather on three different apps – noting that usually two of them are accurate!
While Kevin has scaled back farming activities beyond his own land, he remains active in running his home farm.
“The smartphone has been very helpful for my farm,” he says. “If you need to contact someone and you can’t get through, you can text them. The weather is a great guideline in the summertime because if you are doing silage, you can see when it’s going to rain.”
Kevin only bought his smartphone – an OPPO – when he enrolled on the course. His first challenge was to retire his first phone and take the leap.
“I thought I would never get onto the new phone, but I stuck at it,” he said.
Now, he can confidently take and send photos, read the obituaries, and browse machinery on DoneDeal.
“Only for the classes I would be able to do nothing,” he said.
Kevin Campbell from Bundoran
Kevin’s advice for other learners? Keep a notebook of all the steps involved in various tasks for easy reference.
The course is not all about studying. It’s an enjoyable experience, says Kevin, where there’s no such thing as criticism.
“Nothing is ever a hassle, Renata is helping you all the time,” he says.
There’s also the social side to the class, with farmers learning the ropes together.
Kevin says: “You enjoy meeting people, we are all learning, and I will be learning always in my life, on the phone and on my farm. You are learning every day you get up. No one knows everything!”
When the evenings grow longer, Kevin plans to take a break from the IT training and focus on the farm, but he’s eager to learn more in September.
“I have no hesitation in keeping at the course because I am only starting to learn, I want to learn more,” he states.
“If I hadn’t gone to that course, I would not have a smartphone today.”
Kevin says that Renata and Enterprise Engagement Officer Donna McDade deserve a round of applause for their work.
For anyone who may be struggling with their phones, his recommendation is “get there and do it!”
“The course has put me over the moon,” he adds.
Kevin’s course* is just one of the many full and part-time courses offered by Donegal ETB’s FET Service – you’ll find their full range of courses across the county on their website, where you can also apply online at any time: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
*Adult Literacy is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.
Come along to Donegal ETB’s 2025 FET Fair on 04 and 05 March in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Letterkenny to find out more:
- Tuesday 04 March, 7.00-9.00pm: School leavers, their parents/guardians, Guidance Counsellors and school Principals and Deputies are invited to attend to hear about FET options across the county. Those currently in employment and seeking to upskill are also invited to hear about upskilling opportunities offered by the FET Service.
A panel discussion on FET options (PLCs, traineeships and tertiary degrees), apprenticeships and employee training supports begins at 7.00pm.
- Wednesday 05 March, 10.00am-2.00pm: Those who would like information on the wide range of full and part-time education and training opportunities provided by the ETB’s FET Service are invited to come along to speak to staff to find out more. There will be interactive skills demonstrations throughout the day.
Keep an eye on their social media accounts (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads and LinkedIn) for updates and further details or contact the ETB’s Adult Guidance and Information Service – call 074 91 78088, email adultguidance@donegaletb.ie or complete this web form and they’ll get back to you: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
‘Gabh ann agus déan é!!’ – Conallach feirmeora ag baint leas as oiliúint fón cliste ag 74 bliana d’aois
Roimh Aonach Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall an 4 agus an 5 Márta in Óstán an Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn, tá aird á tarraingt againn ar thaithí foghlama agus dul chun cinn na mac léinn reatha agus na n-iar-mhac léinn de chuid FET.
Feirmeoir de chuid Bhun Dobhráin a bhíodh faichilleach maidir le fóin chliste tráth, nach bhfuil aon ní is fearr leis anois ná a théacsáil laethúil!
Chuaigh Kevin Campbell, pinsinéir ó Dhroim an Chrainn, ó fhón ar nós bríce go Android galánta faoi cheann cúpla mí. Agus a bhuíochas sin le cúrsa TF Sóisialta d’Fheirmeoirí a chuir Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB) ar fáil.
Freastalaíonn Kevin, atá 74 bliana d’aois, ar rang aon tráthnóna amháin sa tseachtain chun máistreacht a fháil ar a fhón póca, ó WhatsApp go dtí an aimsir a sheiceáil agus brabhsáil ar líne.
“Ba é an rud ab fhearr a rinne mé riamh é,” arsa Kevin.
Kevin Campbell from Bundoran
Thosaigh Kevin an cúrsa Leibhéal 2 ina ionad Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) áitiúil i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo caite.
Ó shin i leith, tá sé féin agus a chúigear comhghleacaithe ranga á dtreorú ag an teagascóir Renata Ert trí bhunphrionsabail úsáid an fhóin cliste.
“Thug Renata amach as an dorchadas muid chuig solas na gréine leis na fóin i dtréimhse ghairid agus thug sí misneach dúinn dul níos faide,” a deir Kevin.
“Tá dul chun cinn iontach déanta agam féin. Is iontach an t-am agus an fhoighne atá ag Renata dúinn uilig.
“Ba é an téacsáil an rud ab fhearr a d’fhoghlaim mé riamh, ní raibh mé ábalta é a thuigbheáil ar an seanfhón, anois tá sé seo díreach cosúil le gnáthamh laethúil domsa, is breá liom é.”
I measc na dtascanna eile a mhúintear sa rang tá grianghraif a sheoladh agus uimhreacha fóin a chur le leabhar teagmhála agus iad a scriosadh.
Tá Kevin i ndiaidh a dhul céim amháin níos faide agus taighde á dhéanamh aige anois ar an aimsir ar thrí aip éagsúla — ag tabhairt faoi deara go mbíonn dhá cheann acu cruinn de ghnáth!
Cé go bhfuil Kevin tar éis gníomhaíochtaí feirmeoireachta a ghearradh siar thar a thalamh féin, tá sé gníomhach go fóill maidir lena fheirm bhaile a reáchtáil.
“Bhí an fón cliste ina chuidiú mór do m’fheirm,” a deir sé. “Más gá duit teagmháil a dhéanamh le duine agus mura féidir leat teacht orthu, is féidir leat téacs a chur chucu. Is treoir iontach í an aimsir i rith an tsamhraidh sa dóigh is más ag plé le sadhlas atá tú, bíonn tú in ann a fheiceáil cá huair a mbeidh sé ag cur fearthainne.”
Níor cheannaigh Kevin a fhón cliste — OPPO — go dtí gur chláraigh sé ar an chúrsa. Ba é an chéad dúshlán a bhí roimhe a chéad fhón a scor agus tabhairt faoin athrú mór.
“Shíl mé nach ngabhfainn riamh ar an fhón nua, ach chloígh mé leis,” a deir sé.
Anois, is féidir leis grianghraif a ghlacadh agus a sheoladh go muiníneach, na tuairiscí báis a léamh, agus innealra a bhrabhsáil ar DoneDeal.
“Murach na ranganna ní bheinn ábalta a dhath ar bith a dhéanamh,” a deir sé.
Comhairle Kevin d’fhoghlaimeoirí eile? Coinnigh leabhar nótaí de na céimeanna uilig a bhaineann le tascanna éagsúla ar mhaithe le tagairt fhurasta.
Ní bhaineann an cúrsa le staidéar amháin. Is eispéireas taitneamhach é, a deir Kevin, áit nach bhfuil ann don cháineadh.
“Ní bhaineann trioblóid le haon rud, bíonn Renata ag cuidiú leat i rith an ama,” a deir sé.
Tá an taobh sóisialta den rang ann fosta, agus an cheird a fhoghlaim ag na feirmeoirí i gcuideachta a chéile.
Deir Kevin: “Baineann tú sult as bualadh le daoine, tá muid uilig ag foghlaim, agus beidh mé ag foghlaim ar feadh mo shaoil, ar an fhón agus ar m’fheirm. Achan lá a mhúsclaíonn tú bíonn tú ag foghlaim. Níl gach rud ar eolas ag duine ar bith!”
Agus na tráthnónta ag éirí níos faide, tá sé beartaithe ag Kevin sos a ghlacadh ón oiliúint TF agus díriú ar an fheirm, ach tá fonn air níos mó a fhoghlaim i mí Mheán Fómhair.
“Níl aon doicheall orm coinneáil liom leis an chúrsa mar níl mo chuid foghlama ach ina tús, ba mhaith liom tuilleadh a fhoghlaim,” a deir sé.
“Mura fhreastail mé ar an chúrsa sin, ní bheadh fón cliste agam inniu.”
Deir Kevin go bhfuil bualadh bos tuillte ag Renata agus Oifigeach Rannpháirtíochta Fiontraíochta Donna McDade as a gcuid oibre.
Do dhuine ar bith a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag streachailt lena bhfóin, is é an moladh atá aige “gabh ann agus déan é!”
“Tá mé iontach sásta leis an chúrsa,” a deir sé.
Níl i gcúrsa Kevin* ach ceann amháin den iliomad cúrsaí tacaíochta cúraim sláinte lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha a thairgtear trí Sheirbhís FET ETB Dhún na nGall – gheobhaidh tú an raon cúrsaí iomlán atá acu ar fud an chontae ar a suíomh gréasáin, áit ar féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne am ar bith: www.donegaletb.ie/fetcoursefinder.
*Tá an Litearthacht d’Aosaigh á cómhaoiniú ag Rialtas na hÉireann agus ag an Aontas Eorpach.
Chun tuilleadh eolais a fháil, bígí linn ag Aonach FET ETB Dhún na nGall 2025 ar an 4 agus an 5 Márta san Óstán Radisson Blu i Leitir Ceanainn:
- Dé Máirt, an 4 Márta, 7.00-9.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh do lucht fágála scoile, a gcuid tuismitheoirí/caomhnóirí, Comhairleoirí Gairmthreorach agus Príomhoidí agus Leas-Phríomhoidí scoile freastal chun cluinstin faoi roghanna FET ar fud an chontae. Tugtar cuireadh fosta dóibh siúd atá fostaithe faoi láthair agus atá ag iarraidh uasoiliúint cluinstin faoi na deiseanna uasoiliúna a thairgtear tríd an tSeirbhís FET.
Cuirfear tús le plé painéil ar roghanna FET (cúrsaí iar-Ardteistiméireachta, cúrsaí oiliúna agus céimeanna tríú leibhéal), printíseachtaí agus tacaíochtaí oiliúna fostaithe ag 7.00pm.
- Dé Céadaoin, an 5 Márta, 10.00am-2.00pm: Tugtar cuireadh dóibh siúd ar mhaith leo eolas a fháil faoin raon leathan deiseanna oideachais agus oiliúna lánaimseartha agus páirtaimseartha atá á gcur ar fáil ag Seirbhís FET ETB teacht chun labhairt leis an fhoireann chun tuilleadh a fháil amach. Beidh taispeántais scileanna idirghníomhacha ar siúl i rith an lae.
Coinnigh súil ar a gcuntais meán sóisialta (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram agus LinkedIn) faoi choinne nuashonruithe agus sonraí breise, nó téigh i dteagmháil le Seirbhís Treorach agus Eolais d’Aosaigh ETB ar 074 91 78088, ríomhphost adultguidance@donegaletb.ie, nó comhlánaigh an fhoirm ghréasáin seo, agus rachaidh siad i dteagmháil leat: www.donegaletb.ie/adultguidance.
