This workshop is offered by IT Tralee as part of the SOAR project for broadening participation in third level education.

Assistive technology can reduce or remove many of the barriers to learning faced by students with disabilities.  A difficulty often faced in schools, however, is that the use of technology in the classroom may single out and stigmatise the student using it.  Many teachers have noted students actively or passively resisting using a laptop when others are writing by hand.

However, many of the technologies now available have much wider application and are used effectively and productively by students and professionals across the board.  The need for all students to have access to a full range of technology for learning has been brought strongly to the fore by the current COVID crisis.

These sessions will be an opportunity to consider how technology can be incorporated into mainstream classes to create an inclusive environment where students can experiment with different means of representation and of expression as per Universal Design for Learning. 

After the introductory first session, teachers will try out some of these approaches in their own classrooms.  This will vary depending on the individual school’s technology infrastructure and policies, the subject matter to be covered and the teacher’s and students’ preferences.  The second session will be a sharing of experiences, problem solving and forward planning.

Session 1. Date – Monday 5th October, 7-8.30pm

Overview of technologies: text to speech, speech to text, mind mapping, collaboration

Integrating technologies into inclusive mainstream classrooms

Session 2. Date – Wednesday 21^st October, 5-6.30pm

Review of experiences, difficulties arising, planning future learning.

Who should attend?

Mainstream subject teachers, SEN teachers working or planning to work in mainstream classes, SNAs.  Participants are asked to commit to attending both sessions in full.

Participation in this training can be included in your school’s Digital Learning Plan. 

Click Here to Register

Navigating emotions in times of turmoil - EQ to support better relationships going back to school

Sinking or swimming? We’re in unusual times and each of us respond differently to  change and challenge; how we think and feel directly impacts what we do, every moment of everyday. Mindfulness and emotional intelligence has a critical part to play in our success and the success of our students. 

This webinar focusses on how we can use emotional intelligence to   navigate relationships and work in uncertain and changeable times. We’ll explore how being emotionally smart can increase insight, connection and purpose and lead to more meaningful outcomes. 

We’ll start with understanding, appreciating and managing ourselves and how we interpret and respond to change and challenge. We’ll then develop ways to engage students in being more emotionally intelligent and support them to apply simple strategies to get better results everyday.

If you're sinking, make sure you’re also waving; if you’re swimming make sure you’re supporting others to stay afloat. 

Biography

Katharine Roff is the Regional Director in Europe for Six Seconds, a global non profit committed to growing emotional intelligence. We think the world would be a better place if a billion people were practicing the skills of emotional intelligence (EQ). So, we research and share scientific, global, transformational tools & methods to support that goal. People are at the heart of what we do and why we exist because emotions drive people and people drive performance.

This workshop will explore how to get started with iPad. Explore the built in Apps that help bring your lessons to life like never before. Experience how iPad can open up new and engaging ways of teaching and learning in your classroom.

Register here

NEPS will be presenting the webinar for parents: “Reading aloud to children, how it builds vocabularies”  

Reading aloud to children from a very young age underpins future literacy development. It is the single most important parental activity for helping reading success (Bredekamp, Copple, & Neuman, 2000).

Children can listen to stories at a much higher level than they can read, so reading aloud makes complex ideas more accessible and exposes children to vocabulary, background knowledge and language patterns that are not part of everyday speech. This, in turn, will familiarise children to the structure of books when they read independently (Fountas & Pinnell, 1996).

Reading aloud to children also allows less skilled readers to access the same rich and engaging books that strong readers read on their own, and encourages them to become better readers. Pupils of any age benefit enormously being read aloud from high quality books.

This webinar is aimed at parents of children in the pre-school or primary school age range. 

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Virtual Art Appreciation

The tutor demonstrates how well known works of art and free online resources can enhance pupil engagement with the Art curriculum. It highlights practical and fun activities for pupil engagement in Art appreciation and familiarisation with world famous art galleries through a virtual lens. 

Register here

This webinar focuses on best practice in working as a Special Needs Assistant. This webinar will focus on SNAs’ role in supporting pupils’ care needs, as well as supporting pupils in developing greater levels of independence. This webinar will present a range of evidence-based strategies to support best practice in the role, as well as allow time for engagement.

Please note that there will be no recording shared with participants. Slides will be shared if the presenter is agreeable to this . Please only register for our webinars if you have an internet download speed greater than 6MB. Speed test your internet prior to registering. If you lose your internet connection during the webinar this doesn’t warrant a refund.

Register here

"Realistic teacher talk for once-especially regarding differentiation and assessment which can overwhelm the best of us. The answer to our literacy prayers."

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Concern Worldwide invites teachers participating in the Concern Primary Debates Programme to an information session through zoom.   The Concern Primary Debates is a fun educational programme aimed at senior primary students. 

How will students benefit?

• Learn to speak in public and in front of their peers
• Develop cognitive and language abilities, as well as skills in research and debating
• Gain a deeper understanding of the global issues affecting millions of people

The debates are run in conjunction with The Education Centre Tralee and this year the debates are moving online due to social distancing.  If you are a Primary school teacher who would like your school to take part and receive training on how the Concern Primary Debates works, please note that a Training Session will be held through a webinar on Monday 28^th September, 2020 at 4.00p.m.  Claire Marshall, Schools and Youth Manager, Concern Worldwide will host this webinar

Click here to register