Courses Archive

LEARNING INTENTIONS FOR THE SESSION

Participants will:
• Be familiar with the legislative, policy and curriculum underpinnings of student voice
• Learn about the potential of student voice for improved engagement in learning
• Identify steps towards using SV for increased engagement in learning
• Reflect on their motivation regarding student voice and have potential concerns about student voice addressed

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Introduction to Google for Education and Google Classroom: Supporting Schools with Very High Risk Learners

In this webinar participants will learn about the range of apps within  G Suite for Education. The main differences between G Suite for Education and a personal G Suite account will be explored. The suite of apps available within Google for Education will be explained and how they can support distance learning for pupils in the Very High Risk Category. How to set up a Google for Education account within the school will be discussed along with what apps should be enabled/disabled. Google Classroom will be introduced. Participants will be shown how digital work can be sent to pupils, how pupils can submit completed tasks and how a teacher can comment/correct tasks/assignments digitally. This webinar is suitable for Principals, Mainstream Class Teachers, Special Education Team and SNAs who are supporting very high risk learners. 

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With over 200 languages spoken in Ireland (NCCA, 2015), there is an urgent need to accommodate the diverse language and literacy needs of children with English as an additional language (EAL) in primary school classrooms. Research-based evidence is reported in this presentation which will examine curricular and policy reform in Irish primary education, espousing inclusive integrated bilingual immersion teaching for children with English as an additional language in mainstream classes. It will subsequently outline the authentic experiences and issues currently facing Irish primary mainstream class teachers in dealing with learners with English as an additional language (EAL), particularly at the beginning stage of their language learning. It will highlight four main issues identified from research: teachers’ perceived levels of confidence and knowledge in supporting EAL learners; the issue of collaboration and professional development; the need for inclusive practices and resources and accommodating and embracing diversity challenges. The presentation will conclude by highlighting supports needed at school and national levels to further promote the development of language and literacy for EAL learners in Irish primary schools.  
                
By the end of the presentation it is envisaged that participants will identify with and understand the complexities of the role of the primary school teacher in supporting EAL learners in Irish schools, at a time of significant curricular and policy reform in Irish primary education; become aware of the limitations of current national and local supports for teaching EAL learners in an Irish context and recognise the importance of continuing professional development for teachers of EAL learners in order to develop linguistically responsive teaching approaches for meaningful, contextualized language and literacy development.

Presenter Biography

Dr. Fiodhna Gardiner-Hyland

Dr. Fiodhna Gardiner-Hyland is a lecturer in language and literacy education at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. For the year 2019-2020, Fíodhna is being seconded to the Curriculum Development Unit/Transforming Education through Dialogue Project, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick as Project Leader of TED/EAL across the ‘Oscailt’ schools network in Limerick city.

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This webinar will focus on best practice in individual pupil planning, with reference to the student support plan and the wider continuum of support. The webinar will focus on assessment strategies, target-setting, creating pupil-friendly IEPS, and including the voice of the child etc. This webinar would be best suited for teachers new to, or working in the SET position.

Biography

Dr.Claire Griffin is an Educational Psychologist and lecturer in Educational and Developmental Psychology at Mary Immaculate College (MIC), Limerick. Claire originally worked within primary and special education settings and in residential care centres for persons with intellectual disabilities. Claire completed her PhD in 2018 through University College London. This research explored the preparedness and deployment of Special Needs Assistance when supporting the behavioural care needs and independence development of children in primary schools. Claire’s research interests include inclusive education, psychological and educational assessment, positive behaviour support and the voice of the child in education.

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This webinar aims to provide parents with a comprehensive understanding of Seesaw, an online learning platform that many schools use to share resources and activities with their pupils.

The topics covered in this webinar include:

• Getting Seesaw and adding a child/children using information provided by the school
• An explanation of Seesaw, how it can be used by teachers and how children respond
• A demonstration of the Creative Tools used in Seesaw
• Using the Seesaw Messages feature (if enabled by schools)

Parent will see how Seesaw works from both a Teacher’s viewpoint and a pupil’s viewpoint.

There will be plenty of opportunities to ask questions during the webinar.

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This webinar will explore strategies to support students with special educational needs in the event that Distance Learning is required.

Bibliography

Geraldine O Loughlin 
Geraldine O Loughlin is a teaching Principal of Scoil Mhuire Náisiunta, Corofin, Co Clare. She has a graduate Diploma and a Masters of Education in the area of Special Education. She is currently on secondment with the National Council for Special Education, working as a member of the Primary Inclusion Team.

Marie Ryan

Marie Ryan, Principal of Birdhill National School, in County Tipperary.  Strong background in Special Education, including a Masters Degree in Special Education, and 12 years experience in St Vincents Special School, Lisnagry. Currently on secondment with the NCSE.

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Information Evenings on Epilepsy Awareness for Teachers and School staff.  

Epilepsy Ireland will host an Information Evening for teachers and Special needs assistants through zoom on Wednesday 21st October from 4.30pm to 6pm. Community Resource Officer, Kathryn Foley will speak about epilepsy related issues in school, including types of seizures, first aid, triggers, activities and how to manage seizures in the school environment.

This event is suitable for all staff dealing with students with epilepsy in both primary and post primary schools.

There is no fee for this webinar.

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This webinar will explore the use of your Gaeilge workbook/programme as a tool in your teaching. While recognising central role these resources in the modern classroom, it is worth exploring how they can be adapted to provide more meaningful and child centred learning opportunities. This webinar will look at one unit of work from a junior class and give you simple and practical ways to adapt the unit to make it more beneficial, more fun and more interactive for your pupils.

Biography

Aislinn Nic Pháidín is a primary school teacher, teaching in Gaelscoil Átha Í, Co. Kildare for the past six years. Aislinn is very enthusiastic about the Irish language, but has recognised the lack of resources and supports for both parents and teachers when it comes to ‘múineadh na Gaeilge’. As schools began to close earlier this year, Aislinn immediately identified the challenge of supporting Irish at home. Her love for the language, and enthusiasm to provide children with fun, attractive and purposeful learning opportunities as Gaeilge, led to the creation of Scéalta le Spraoi. She runs this social media initiative across Facebook, Instagram and Youtube in an attempt to bridge the gap and make the language more accessible and child-friendly. 

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As communication is at the heart of the work of school leaders, this seminar is designed to enhance school leaders’ communication within the domains of both verbal and non-verbal communication. With ‘the emotional geographies’ of a school setting the backdrop, the seminar examines how principals communicate in schools from a number of angles which includes ‘active listening’, giving presentations and nonverbal communication. It provides practical ideas and suggestions on how a principal can develop his / her day-to-day practices within the intense and often diverse context of school communication. As such, the seminar endeavours to ‘audit’ and ‘equip’ each participant with ‘communication awareness’ in order to increase their efficacy as communicators.

Biography

Dr John White works in the School of Policy and Practice on the St Patrick’s Campus of DCU. He works on both undergraduate and post-graduate education programmes. He has worked as a primary teacher, primary school principal and primary school inspector. His research interests include human communication (with a specific focus on nonverbal communication), classroom communication, arts-based research, Mathematics education, narrative inquiry, embodied cognition and primary school leadership. He is the co-author of ‘The Classroom X –Factor: The Power of Body Language and Nonverbal Communication in Teaching’ (Rutledge, 2011) and with Professor David Givens (Gonzaga University and Centre for Nonverbal Studies) is currently co-authoring ‘The Rutledge Dictionary of Nonverbal Communication’ (due to be published in 2020 by Rutledge).

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This webinar is designed for school personnel with the responsibility for the administration side of Google for Education. Learn how to add new users, set up groups for users, assign different access rights to apps for different groups within the school (eg. school staff have access to GMail but pupils will not) ,how to access Google 24-365 support services for schools and more.

Bibliography

Martin Hanly graduated from St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra in 2001. He has taught in a variety of settings from urban to rural, private to public and advantaged to disadvantaged. Martin graduated with a Masters of Education in 2010. He has facilitated PDST Technology in Education summer courses for the past 4 years. Martin is a teaching principal in a four teacher school in Co. Westmeath. The school has embedded the use of Google for Education in all classrooms from 1st to 6th class in the past three years. At present Martin is a Support Teacher in Edmonton NS, Killucan. Martin is presently facilitating webinars for numerous Education Centres on the use of Google for Education to support face-to-face teaching and remote learning.

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Digital Inking; writing on your SMART Board with pens and fingers

This webinar will explore:
- How to launch SMART pens/Ink
- The different features of the Ink
- How to configure favourite settings
- How to Ink (write) within SMART Notebook from a class teacher's perspective
- How to Ink over web pages, PDFs, PowerPoint and Microsoft Word from a teacher's perspective
- Common trouble shooting issues
- A "cheat sheet"of some frequently used features

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ESCI and PDST are delighted to collaborate for a series of eight webinars for Code Week Ireland 2020. The webinars are being held from 12th-22nd October. Places are limited so early booking is advisable.

Monday 19^th October 7:30pm

Building a mobile app with Natasha Kiely

Tuesday 20^th October 7:30pm

Making fun with code with Lorraine Underwood

Wednesday 21^st October 7:30pm

Your future & robots: autonomous vehicles are coming with Martin Mullins & Martin Cunneen

Thursday 22^nd October 7:30pm

Design Thinking with David Pollard & Dr Colin Keogh – Sapien Innovation

Registration for all webinars is available at the following link:

https://www.esci.ie/news/163-eu-code-week-in-ireland.html

This course will outline creative ways of using the ocean to engage and motivate students with literacy in the classroom. This will include using oral language to reflect on emotions and feelings connected to the ocean, exploring the use of scientific writing and reading for information, and using storytelling to develop emotion and imaginative development . This course will provide participants with creative ideas and teaching methodologies and provide updates on online content from www.explorers.ie 

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Let’s explore Aistear with ‘Nibbler’s Aistear Adventures’

Please note: www.cleverkids.ie are delighted to offer a €100 discount on Julieanne’s ‘Nibbler’s Aistear Adventures’ to all participants on this webinar. A code will be given to you during the webinar. This offer will be valid until 31^st October.

Nibbler’s Aistear Adventures is a comprehensive resource for the delivery of the Aistear programme for junior and senior infants in Irish primary schools. It is the only full programme for Aistear developed, thus far, in Ireland.

Aistear emphasises holistic and integrated learning, and like Aistear, the Curriculum is founded on the principle of the integration of learning.

“Children learn many different things at the same time. What they learn is connected to where, how and with whom they learn.” (NCCA, 2009, p.10).

It is encouraged that Aistear is taught across the curriculum, but is this integration happening? It can be difficult for teachers to source and provide ideas for integrating Aistear in this way.

Nibbler’s Aistear Adventures is a resource that seamlessly and simultaneously integrates all elements of the infant programme right across the curriculum.

Each theme is integrated across Language (English and Gaeilge), mathematics, Aistear stations (playdough, sand, water, sensory, construction, junk art, small world) and cross curricular with history, geography, science, SPHE, art, physical education, music etc.

An opportunity to integrate the basics of coding and problem solving with the resource is also available, as is the provision of oral language and vocabulary development (with as little as 10 minutes each day) linked into each theme.

“For the young child, the distinctions between subjects are not relevant: what is more important is that he or she experiences a coherent learning process that accommodates a variety of elements.” (Primary school Curriculum p.16)

My aim with Nibbler’s Aistear Adventures resource is to seamlessly and simultaneously integrate all elements of the infant programme in a wholistic way through play.

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Training for BOM Chairpersons and Principals - The Education Centre Tralee in co-operation with St. Senan's Education Office

This 2 hour webinar will look at all aspects of the appointment process in Primary schools with an emphasis on Circular 44/2019 and 51/ 2019 and how these circulars are applied. It will look at effective interview techniques, support materials and common challenges faced by schools during and after the process has been completed. The webinar is designed specifically for Chairpersons and Principals of Primary schools and is presented in co-operation with St. Senan's Education Office.

To book a place please click on this link

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This one-hour webinar will introduce participants to the practical implications for schools of parents’ legal rights. In addition to outlining key legislation related to parents’ rights in education, this course will consider the difference between guardianship, custody, and access. In reviewing relevant case law, this course will consider what schools need to know in order to comply with legislation on a day-to-day basis. This course is particularly suited to those in school management such as principals, deputy principals, and assistant principals; however, the content is also relevant to class teachers and support teachers.

Biography

Dr Mia Treacy is a primary school teacher, a former Principal, and a lecturer in educational policy in Mary Immaculate College, Limerick. She was seconded on a full-time basis to the Department of Education support services for 11 years, the latter 3 years as Deputy Director with the Professional Development Service for Teachers. Prior to working in the support services, she taught in a DEIS Band 1 urban school, a rural multi-class school, and also worked as a shared learning support teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from Frobel College of Education; a Master of Education degree from Mary immaculate College, Limerick; a Doctorate of Education degree from St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra; and an Advanced Diploma in Education and the Law from King’s Inns, Dublin. She has been a member of many national education boards and committees including the Board for Early Childhood and Primary Education with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, the National Advisory Group for the Development of Revised Standardised Tests and the National Advisory Committee for National and International Assessments at Primary Level with the Education Research Centre, and. Mia has published in national and international peer-reviewed journals, was awarded an INTO research bursary for her doctoral research, and won a national T-REX teaching innovation award.

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PDST Wellbeing Webinar Series in partnership with Tralee, Clare, Monaghan and Navan Education Support Centres.

This series of webinars aims to assist primary schools in supporting and enhancing pupil wellbeing, by showcasing the wide range of resources that PDST have developed for PE, SPHE and Wellbeing across the whole school community.

This webinar will highlight the practical resources that are available to support wellbeing promotion and development through the Primary SPHE curriculum, such as the Breathe resource for developing self-regulation and relaxation techniques, the Children’s Books for Wellbeing resource, our SPHE Advice for Parents document, the SPHE e-learning programme, new Restorative Practice resources and the Primary Wellbeing Portal on www.pdst.ie. The webinar will also promote and explore the provision of wellbeing in-school support, and advise participants on how to apply for support in the areas of SPHE, RSE, Child Protection (Stay Safe), Restorative Practice, Anti-bullying (including cyber-bullying and online safety) and Teacher Wellbeing.

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Are you considering introducing Coding into your classroom? Learn how you can use Swift Playgrounds to engage students in Coding in the classroom.

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Children require a huge number of essential skills (and time) before they are ready to engage with conventional literacy learning. Clara and Sinéad advocate for a balance in approaches and believe in affording children time to develop a range of critical pre-literacy skills before rushing to formal reading and writing instruction. Following their hugely popular summer CPD course, Clara and  Sinéad will present a webinar outlining a variety of developmentally appropriate strategies required to best prepare your infants for literacy learning.

 Take time to rethink your approaches and give your learners the best possible start in literacy learning!

This webinar will focus on:

• Preparing the literacy learning environment
• Preparing for language development
• Preparing for reading
• Preparing for handwriting
• Preparing for literacy development through play

Biographies:

Clara Maria Fiorentini is a lecturer in education at Marino Institute of Education specialising in English Methods and Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining MIE, Clara taught for eleven years in Dominican Primary School, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin throughout which time she developed a keen interest in literacy development and playful pedagogy. Clara completed a Masters in Children’s Literature at DCU and is currently a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin and is researching early literacy development and transitions to formal literacy learning. The face behind the popular Irish teaching blog www.littlemissteacher.com, Clara is also an executive committee member of the Literacy Association of Ireland and is co-author of Ireland’s first multisensory phonics programme, Sounds Like Phonics (CJ Fallon, 2019).

Sinéad McCauley Lambe is a lecturer in education at Marino Institute of Education specialising in Early Childhood Education. Prior to joining MIE, Sinéad taught for eleven years in St. Vincent’s Infant Boys’ school in North William Street. Here, Sinéad moved into resource teaching and worked with children with ASD and those experiencing a wide range of emotional and behavioural difficulties. It was this work that ignited Sinéad’s interest in educational disadvantage, motor development and early intervention. Sinéad completed a Masters Educational Disadvantage in DCU and is currently a PhD candidate there. Her research interests include infant motor development and emergent handwriting development.

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Infant Support Group - "Station Teaching in the Infant Classroom"

Join Emma and Denise who will give advice and practical tips on this topic