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; Integrated arts: an integrated arts approach to storytelling; Integrating Robotics Across the Primary School Curriculum; and Teckno - Open A New Chapter in Technology.
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 the 3 to 7 of July.
According to Dr Cathal De Paor, Director of Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Education, MIC: “We’re delighted to have four excellent courses to offer on campus this July. 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 many partners is greatly appreciated in this endeavour, including the Munster Council of the GAA, PDST Technology in Education, and the Lime Tree theatre.”
The Gaelic Games course is part of the long-established partnership between MIC and the Munster Council of the GAA. Dr Richard Bowles from the Department of Arts Education and Physical Education explained that: “The launch earlier in 2023 of the MIC Munster GAA Centre of Excellence in Child Coaching and Gaelic Games Promotion has been an important milestone in further developing our provision for the professional development for teachers.”
According to Joe Redington, Gaelic Games Development Officer at MIC: “The course is designed to develop teachers’ knowledge and skills in the teaching of Gaelic Games in primary school in particular on coaching, coaching skills, and the management of coaching programmes at all levels.”
Dr Dorothy Morrissey from the Department of Arts Education and Physical Education leads a course on the use of an integrated arts approach (using drama, dance, music and visual art) to storytelling. She explained: “The course is based on the award-winning ‘Jub’s Story’ project which will feature in the Lime Tree Theatre’s Bualadh Bos Children’s festival in October 2023. As well as learning about the use of storytelling across the arts education, it offers participating teachers the opportunity if they so wish to prepare for, and participate in this festival with their classes.”
There are two courses on the integration of technology in the curriculum, delivered by the CRAFT Maker Space initiative, under the leadership of Dr Maeve Liston, MIC Director of Enterprise & Community Engagement. Both courses are designed to be practical, as explained by Dr. Eleanor Walsh, STEM Outreach Project Officer: “In the robotics course, teachers will learn in a practical way how to embed and realise a high-quality STEM education experience for learners through robotics – in particular VEX Robotics. A second course, Teckno - Open A New Chapter in Technology will focus on STEM education experience for learners through coding. Both courses align with the redeveloped primary school framework in Mathematics, Science and Technology education.”
Closing date for applications is 24 of June.
Further details and application forms here.
