My name is Nikki Roberts. I hail from Greystones in Co. Wicklow and now live in Killorglin, Co. Kerry. I have a medical background having worked within mental health in both public & private sectors for the last 3 decades. I hold MA (Hons) Art Psychotherapy BA (Hons) degrees and have a private practice as well as holding clinics at various educational, healthcare and industry -based locations. I am qualified as a Hypnotherapist, Psychotherapist and also as a Master Neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) Practitioner. I studied at the Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design, Dublin and Crawford College of Art & Design, Cork. I work as an Art Psychotherapist for the South West Counselling Centre, South Kerry Development Partnership (SKDP) and am Resident Psychotherapist at the ISK Intermediate School, Killorglin. I hold voluntary monthly clinics at Recovery Haven Kerry Cancer Support. I am a Reiki Master, Intuitive and Pranic Energy Healing Practitioner. I facilitate face to face CPD courses and Croke Park Hours for schools nationwide and am the Creative Designer for “Difference Days” – (an organisation that runs corporate socially responsible projects - featuring on TV3 & RTE)

“I AM” – Integrating Art & Mindfulness - is a new user friendly online course. Participants can explore the importance of leading a holistic lifestyle and how to integrate it simply into their daily routine. This course provides participants with tools to support their own positive mental health and wellbeing and that of their students through the medium of art and meditative practices.

The “I AM” course is a gentle and thought provoking course that offers the participant calm, relaxing and peaceful meditations through the use of self-soothing techniques and exercises to allow introspective and contemplative reflection.

“I AM” seamlessly integrates with both the Visual Arts and SPHE curriculum. The course considers how art, meditation and mindfulness can be used to manage stress, increase one’s ability to cope in challenging situations and build mental and emotional resilience.

The “I AM” course provides a yearly scheme that demonstrates how mindfulness and the Visual Arts are integrated. Individual lesson plans expand on the yearly plan. There is no need to possess any perceived artistic abilities. This is a course that offers a platform to use the medium of art as a self-soothing tool. There is no right or wrong way of creating an image and there will be no critiquing of your artwork. The images are simply for you to consider and review.

PARTICIPANTS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE THE 20 HOUR “I AM” ONLINE COURSE QUALIFY FOR EPV DAYS

This course provides the participants with tools to support their own mental health and wellbeing and that of their students through the medium of art and meditative practices.    In a relaxed and supportive environment it explores how art and meditation can be used to manage stress, increase ability to cope in challenging situations and build mental and emotional resilience

This hands-on practical course for 2018 from PDST TiE aims to equip teachers from all class levels with effective digital tools that will allow them to easily integrate digital technologies into their daily teaching. This course will investigate a wide range of curriculum related websites and resources which can enhance teaching; promote active learning and facilitate assessment right cross the curriculum, paying particular focus to literacy and numeracy.

Throughout this course, teachers are not only led in creating a wide range of digital teaching, learning and assessment resources that can be used in their classrooms; they can also engage in a range of curricular-directed digital activities that can be applied in their own settings to great effect.

Other important key areas of course content include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; developing whole school assessment practices through the use of digital technologies; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework; and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

21st Century Problem Solving

(Computational Thinking and Coding in the Primary Classroom)

This innovative course for 2018 by PDST TiE introduces teachers to the concepts of 21st century problem solving in a practical manner, using a range of structured activities that can be easily transferred to the classroom. Participants will explore a combination of “offline” and “online” tasks that will focus on the development of students’ problem solving abilities. Teachers will also explore how the methodologies of computational thinking outlined in this course are fundamental in developing the problem solving skills of reasoning, integrating and connecting and communicating and expressing, the improvement of which positively impacts pupils’ learning right across the curriculum.

Throughout the week, teachers will use and develop a variety of offline lessons that can be used without any need for computers. The course will also introduce teachers to the use of STEM-focused manipulatives such as Lego WeDo, Bee-Bots and Spheros that can be incorporated into teaching and learning from the infant classroom up to sixth class. While primarily focusing on problem solving skills and coding for Mathematics, this course will also look at ways that 21st century problem solving methodologies can be used in a variety of other curricular areas.

Key areas of course content to be discussed and explored during the week also includes digital citizenship and internet safety, finding and selecting good quality digital content online and exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

This innovative PDST TiE summer course for 2018 focuses on the effective use of tablet technologies, namely the iPad, in enhancing teaching, learning and assessment in the Irish classroom.

This course offers teachers a range of practical approaches to employ when utilising tablet technology to best effect in their classrooms. Key content in this course will address how the effective use of tablets can enhance pupil engagement when undertaking literacy and numeracy lessons, as well as in a cross-curricular fashion. Importantly, this course also aims to provide teachers with insights relating to key educational and whole-school considerations in the deployment of tablet technologies through a range of participant-oriented tasks and activities.

Other key areas of course content include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; developing whole school assessment practices through the use of ePortfolios and other methods; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Embedding Digital Technologies in the Primary School Classroom

This hands-on practical course for 2018 from PDST TiE aims to equip teachers from all class levels with effective digital tools that will allow them to easily integrate digital technologies into their daily teaching. This course will investigate a wide range of curriculum related websites and resources which can enhance teaching; promote active learning and facilitate assessment right cross the curriculum, paying particular focus to literacy and numeracy.

Throughout this course, teachers are not only led in creating a wide range of digital teaching, learning and assessment resources that can be used in their classrooms; they can also engage in a range of curricular-directed digital activities that can be applied in their own settings to great effect.

Other important key areas of course content include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; developing whole school assessment practices through the use of digital technologies; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework; and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

21st Century Problem Solving

(Computational Thinking and Coding in the Primary Classroom)

This innovative course for 2018 by PDST TiE introduces teachers to the concepts of 21st century problem solving in a practical manner, using a range of structured activities that can be easily transferred to the classroom. Participants will explore a combination of “offline” and “online” tasks that will focus on the development of students’ problem solving abilities. Teachers will also explore how the methodologies of computational thinking outlined in this course are fundamental in developing the problem solving skills of reasoning, integrating and connecting and communicating and expressing, the improvement of which positively impacts pupils’ learning right across the curriculum.

Throughout the week, teachers will use and develop a variety of offline lessons that can be used without any need for computers. The course will also introduce teachers to the use of STEM-focused manipulatives such as Lego WeDo, Bee-Bots and Spheros that can be incorporated into teaching and learning from the infant classroom up to sixth class. While primarily focusing on problem solving skills and coding for Mathematics, this course will also look at ways that 21st century problem solving methodologies can be used in a variety of other curricular areas.

Key areas of course content to be discussed and explored during the week also includes digital citizenship and internet safety, finding and selecting good quality digital content online and exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Tablets to Support Teaching, Learning and Assessment

This innovative PDST TiE summer course for 2018 focuses on the effective use of tablet technologies, namely the iPad, in enhancing teaching, learning and assessment in the Irish classroom.

This course offers teachers a range of practical approaches to employ when utilising tablet technology to best effect in their classrooms. Key content in this course will address how the effective use of tablets can enhance pupil engagement when undertaking literacy and numeracy lessons, as well as in a cross-curricular fashion. Importantly, this course also aims to provide teachers with insights relating to key educational and whole-school considerations in the deployment of tablet technologies through a range of participant-oriented tasks and activities.

Other key areas of course content include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; developing whole school assessment practices through the use of ePortfolios and other methods; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Tablets to Support Teaching, Learning and Assessment

This innovative PDST TiE summer course for 2018 focuses on the effective use of tablet technologies, namely the iPad, in enhancing teaching, learning and assessment in the Irish classroom.

This course offers teachers a range of practical approaches to employ when utilising tablet technology to best effect in their classrooms. Key content in this course will address how the effective use of tablets can enhance pupil engagement when undertaking literacy and numeracy lessons, as well as in a cross-curricular fashion. Importantly, this course also aims to provide teachers with insights relating to key educational and whole-school considerations in the deployment of tablet technologies through a range of participant-oriented tasks and activities.

Other key areas of course content include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; developing whole school assessment practices through the use of ePortfolios and other methods; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Creating and Using Digital Resources across the Primary Curriculum

In this popular PDST TiE course for 2018, the emphasis will be placed on guiding participants to create their own digital teaching, learning and assessment resources, whilst also exploring useful online tools to support and enhance pupils’ cross-curricular work.  

Each module includes ample opportunity for discussion centred on classroom application and includes specific reference to the use of digital technologies in creating meaningful learning opportunities in the areas of literacy, numeracy and assessment. Each module refers to classroom-based examples of differentiation across the curriculum so as to provide for all pupils levels of ability and the variety of needs that exist within every class.

Other important related areas of course content to be explored during the week include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

21st Century Problem Solving

(Computational Thinking and Coding in the Primary Classroom)

This innovative course for 2018 by PDST TiE introduces teachers to the concepts of 21st century problem solving in a practical manner, using a range of structured activities that can be easily transferred to the classroom. Participants will explore a combination of “offline” and “online” tasks that will focus on the development of students’ problem solving abilities. Teachers will also explore how the methodologies of computational thinking outlined in this course are fundamental in developing the problem solving skills of reasoning, integrating and connecting and communicating and expressing, the improvement of which positively impacts pupils’ learning right across the curriculum.

Throughout the week, teachers will use and develop a variety of offline lessons that can be used without any need for computers. The course will also introduce teachers to the use of STEM-focused manipulatives such as Lego WeDo, Bee-Bots and Spheros that can be incorporated into teaching and learning from the infant classroom up to sixth class. While primarily focusing on problem solving skills and coding for Mathematics, this course will also look at ways that 21st century problem solving methodologies can be used in a variety of other curricular areas.

Key areas of course content to be discussed and explored during the week also includes digital citizenship and internet safety, finding and selecting good quality digital content online and exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

21st Century Problem Solving

(Computational Thinking and Coding in the Primary Classroom)

This innovative course for 2018 by PDST TiE introduces teachers to the concepts of 21st century problem solving in a practical manner, using a range of structured activities that can be easily transferred to the classroom. Participants will explore a combination of “offline” and “online” tasks that will focus on the development of students’ problem solving abilities. Teachers will also explore how the methodologies of computational thinking outlined in this course are fundamental in developing the problem solving skills of reasoning, integrating and connecting and communicating and expressing, the improvement of which positively impacts pupils’ learning right across the curriculum.

Throughout the week, teachers will use and develop a variety of offline lessons that can be used without any need for computers. The course will also introduce teachers to the use of STEM-focused manipulatives such as Lego WeDo, Bee-Bots and Spheros that can be incorporated into teaching and learning from the infant classroom up to sixth class. While primarily focusing on problem solving skills and coding for Mathematics, this course will also look at ways that 21st century problem solving methodologies can be used in a variety of other curricular areas.

Key areas of course content to be discussed and explored during the week also includes digital citizenship and internet safety, finding and selecting good quality digital content online and exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

21st Century Problem Solving

(Computational Thinking and Coding in the Primary Classroom)

This innovative course for 2018 by PDST TiE introduces teachers to the concepts of 21st century problem solving in a practical manner, using a range of structured activities that can be easily transferred to the classroom. Participants will explore a combination of “offline” and “online” tasks that will focus on the development of students’ problem solving abilities. Teachers will also explore how the methodologies of computational thinking outlined in this course are fundamental in developing the problem solving skills of reasoning, integrating and connecting and communicating and expressing, the improvement of which positively impacts pupils’ learning right across the curriculum.

Throughout the week, teachers will use and develop a variety of offline lessons that can be used without any need for computers. The course will also introduce teachers to the use of STEM-focused manipulatives such as Lego WeDo, Bee-Bots and Spheros that can be incorporated into teaching and learning from the infant classroom up to sixth class. While primarily focusing on problem solving skills and coding for Mathematics, this course will also look at ways that 21st century problem solving methodologies can be used in a variety of other curricular areas.

Key areas of course content to be discussed and explored during the week also includes digital citizenship and internet safety, finding and selecting good quality digital content online and exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Embedding Digital Technologies in the Primary School Classroom

This hands-on practical course for 2018 from PDST TiE aims to equip teachers from all class levels with effective digital tools that will allow them to easily integrate digital technologies into their daily teaching. This course will investigate a wide range of curriculum related websites and resources which can enhance teaching; promote active learning and facilitate assessment right cross the curriculum, paying particular focus to literacy and numeracy.

Throughout this course, teachers are not only led in creating a wide range of digital teaching, learning and assessment resources that can be used in their classrooms; they can also engage in a range of curricular-directed digital activities that can be applied in their own settings to great effect.

Other important key areas of course content include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; developing whole school assessment practices through the use of digital technologies; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework; and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Tablets to Support Teaching, Learning and Assessment

This innovative PDST TiE summer course for 2018 focuses on the effective use of tablet technologies, namely the iPad, in enhancing teaching, learning and assessment in the Irish classroom.

This course offers teachers a range of practical approaches to employ when utilising tablet technology to best effect in their classrooms. Key content in this course will address how the effective use of tablets can enhance pupil engagement when undertaking literacy and numeracy lessons, as well as in a cross-curricular fashion. Importantly, this course also aims to provide teachers with insights relating to key educational and whole-school considerations in the deployment of tablet technologies through a range of participant-oriented tasks and activities.

Other key areas of course content include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; developing whole school assessment practices through the use of ePortfolios and other methods; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Creating and Using Digital Resources across the Primary Curriculum

In this popular PDST TiE course for 2018, the emphasis will be placed on guiding participants to create their own digital teaching, learning and assessment resources, whilst also exploring useful online tools to support and enhance pupils’ cross-curricular work.  

Each module includes ample opportunity for discussion centred on classroom application and includes specific reference to the use of digital technologies in creating meaningful learning opportunities in the areas of literacy, numeracy and assessment. Each module refers to classroom-based examples of differentiation across the curriculum so as to provide for all pupils levels of ability and the variety of needs that exist within every class.

Other important related areas of course content to be explored during the week include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

Creating and Using Digital Resources across the Primary Curriculum

In this popular PDST TiE course for 2018, the emphasis will be placed on guiding participants to create their own digital teaching, learning and assessment resources, whilst also exploring useful online tools to support and enhance pupils’ cross-curricular work.  

Each module includes ample opportunity for discussion centred on classroom application and includes specific reference to the use of digital technologies in creating meaningful learning opportunities in the areas of literacy, numeracy and assessment. Each module refers to classroom-based examples of differentiation across the curriculum so as to provide for all pupils levels of ability and the variety of needs that exist within every class.

Other important related areas of course content to be explored during the week include digital citizenship and internet safety; finding and selecting good quality digital content online; exploring the newly constructed Digital Learning Framework and how a school can create their digital learning plan.

This course provides the participants with tools to support their own positive mental health and wellbeing and that of their students through the medium of arts and meditative practices. In a relaxed and supportive environment it explores how art and mediation can be used to manage, stress, increase ability to cope in challenging situation and build mental and emotional resilience

The course is a practical hands - on week of learning the the beautiful setting of Grotbrack Organic Farm, Ballyseedy Tralee. The course will enable participants to work with their pupils to assess their particular school grounds and plan long term improvements.

Creative Craft Skills to enhance the delivery of the Visual Arts Curriculum is a hands-on exploration of Drawing, Painting, Fabric & Fibre, Printmaking Clay & Construction.