A transition year class in Loreto College, Cavan, investigated the environmental impact of the proposed Cavan bypass road. Their production includes a memorable interview with a farmer whose farm could be split in two.

Kathleen Buckley, who co-ordinates the Transition Year programme, is in no doubt about the educational value of this activity. "Video production was completely new to us so we started with some apprehension," she says. "The students, however, were full of enthusiasm and as it turned out their enthusiasm was well rewarded.

"As time progresses our traditional three Rs are be complemented by the three Ts - thinking, teamwork, technology. These new ideas are sometimes difficult to include in our academic-based curriculum. Transition Year is one response and our video-production module turned out to be one of our most successful venture. The girls had to think out what project they were going to undertake . Lots of different ideas were examined and eventually we settled on one. Then we had to think through each stage. "Working as a team proved a little more difficult; each student wanted to learn the new skills and to work at a practical hands-on level. There had to be `give-and-take' for the project to run smoothly and this proved a great learning experience for all."