Mary Immaculate College (MIC), as a leading teacher education provider, is delighted to launch its summer suite of Continuing Professional Development courses aimed at both primary and post-primary teachers. This year’s schedule of courses includes Gaelic Games in the Primary School – Advanced; Exploring Numeracy through STEAM Education Practices; and Exploring and Celebrating Identity and Belonging in the Classroom through Drama. Approved for Extra Personal Vacation (EPV) days each course is designed to reflect the ever-changing and diverse professional needs of teachers and will be delivered in-person on the MIC Limerick Campus from 4 to 8 July.
According to Dr Cathal De Paor, MIC Director of Continuing Professional Development: "We’re delighted to be back on campus this July with three excellent courses. This will be a welcome opportunity for teachers to spend time with their colleagues in a pleasant environment, learning and reflecting on issues of professional practice. The support from our partners is greatly appreciated in this endeavour - the Munster Council of the GAA, the Irish American Partnership and the Galway One World Centre."
The Gaelic Games in the Primary School – Advanced course is part of the long-established partnership between MIC and the Munster Council of the GAA in the provision of professional development for teachers. The course is designed to develop teachers’ knowledge and skills in the teaching of GAA in primary school in particular on coaching, coaching skills, and the management of coaching programmes at all levels.
According to Joe Redington, Gaelic Games Development Officer at MIC: "The course on Gaelic games will focus in particular on coaching and the management of coaching programmes at all levels, and includes modules on the GAA Total Playing Performance (TTP) coaching model. Dr Richard Bowles, lecturer in the Department of Arts Education and Physical Education at MIC will also contribute modules on the social context of Gaelic Games in schools, adding that the course will include experts from coaching and team management at county level."
Exploring Numeracy through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) Education Practices is geared towards effective practices in STEAM education, through the delivery of interdisciplinary STEAM teaching and learning pedagogies.
Dr Maeve Liston, MIC Director of Enterprise & Community Engagement explains: "This newly developed STEAM course, delivered by the CRAFT Maker Space initiative at MIC, aims to inspire and guide effective best practices in STEAM education, through the delivery of novel and innovative STEAM teaching and learning pedagogies. The week-long course, that will have a strong focus on numeracy skills, involves a variety of different workshops delivered by experts in STEAM education and Industry."
Exploring and celebrating Identity and Belonging in the Classroom through Drama embraces the themes of inclusion, identity, migration and belonging using fiction as a catalyst for children to explore and celebrate the diversity in their families, communities and in the wider world.
Speaking about the course, which is being co-hosted by Galway One World Centre, co-ordinator Vicky Donnelly commented: "Teachers will feel boosted in their confidence to deal with issues of migration, diversity, identity, and belonging, sensitively and constructively. The course facilitator, Irene O’Meara brings a wealth of experience and will share many resources, including those developed as part of the Beyond Borders project."
Closing date for applications is Friday 24 June.
Further details and application forms can be found here.
