Dates:      Tuesday 21st February & 7th, 14th & 21st March 2023
Time:        4 - 6 pm
Venue:     Online via Zoom

Target Audience:  Primary 3^rd to 6^th class teachers

The Renewable Energy Lab designed for students and teachers to creatively explore science, technology engineering and math with real world application and problem solving.

 A hands on and practical introduction into energy, electricity and renewable sources of power. This course has been designed specifically for the primary curriculum and includes a range of creative STEM activities and cross curricular learning opportunities. Current electricity concepts and circuits are investigated and include an engineering challenge to design and make a prototype.

Teachers participating in this course will receive:

• a fully funded STEM teaching kit
• Lesson guides and 
• Teaching resources. 

Format:

• 4 workshops online (1.5 hours) with full teaching kit provided (the online CPD sessions are connected and attendance at all three is essential). 
• This course is limited to 20 applicants as each teacher will receive a STEM teaching kit to the value of €250.
  
• Kit remains property of the teacher participating and will be delivered directly to the teacher after first workshop/online CPD

What teachers are saying:

‘Clarity and ease of access to information was most helpful. Excellent webinars’

‘Yes! I found it informative and enjoyed getting new ideas. Great resource and documentation to fall back on’

‘Very enjoyable. Science and STEM not my forte but feel confident in delivery of the lessons’

‘ the children in the classroom have loved every lesson that I went back and taught, it was also great to have a lesson so interactive, both enjoyable for the children and teacher.’

‘The children  thoroughly enjoyed it, many parents remarked on it at the parent teacher meeting and many children had asked could they get a kit to use at home they enjoyed it so.

Through this course participants will:

• develop an understanding of what STEM teaching and learning is in the senior primary school context through meaningful integrated learning across the primary school curriculum
• explore some STEM teaching and learning methodologies that build key
• be given the opportunity to develop a sense of curiosity while working on collaborative learning tasks
• be encouraged to engage in ongoing reflection based on their own classroom practice and potential implementation of the methodologies explored in the course modules
• explore the use of IT to facilitate STEM teaching and learning and assessment with an emphasis on the creation rather than consumption of content with pupils

Participation in the course will:

• develop teachers’ competence and proficiency in the skills and knowledge of the curriculum at the senior end of the primary school
• develop teachers’ competence and proficiency in the pedagogical skills required for STEM teaching, learning and assessment at the senior end of the primary school
• develop teachers’ own enthusiasm and enjoyment of STEM
• provide teachers with opportunities to link subject specific skills and knowledge across the curriculum
• explore how teachers may create and foster a conducive learning environment for STEM teaching and learning for all pupils at the senior end of the primary school
• provide teachers with the opportunity to collaboratively review their practice relating to integrated learning and STEM
• encourage teachers to share their experience relating to STEM to build capacity in their school community

Kinia:

Kinia is an education focused non-profit, charity and social enterprise, and we want to make sure future focused skills and learning opportunities are available for all children and young people. We want to build the foundations that support diversity and inclusion to become key pillars in a society where every child has the vision to set their dreams and the pathway to achieve them.

Facilitator: Michelle Maher

An experienced public engagement and education lead who has worked in diverse education and cultural settings both at local and national levels. I  have collaborated on a number of national projects in Science Education, STEAM Education, Education for Sustainable Development and Climate Action. A strong commitment to  interdisciplinary and collaborative ways of working, bringing together different disciplines and stakeholders to ensure engagement is impactful and lasting. Successfully designed, managed and implemented a number of government funded STEAM projects both in the classroom and community based public engagement with impactful evaluation outcomes. I also have developed and delivered a number of Dept. of Education approved continuous professional development (CPD) programmes in the areas of teaching and learning in Primary Science, Inquiry Based Science Education, NCCA Primary Coding Initiative, and Junior Cycle elective CPD module in climate change education. I hold a Bachelor of Arts (Mod) Natural Science and a Master of Chemistry (Research), both awarded from Trinity College Dublin. I also received a Trinity College Dublin postgraduate award for academic excellence. Over 15 years’ experience in teaching science and science education at all levels in education (primary, second and third level) and extensive experience in public engagement.