Learning for All - Webinar Series

The first webinar of the 2021 Learning for All series took place on Thursday, 21 January at 4.30pm.

The webinar is called ‘Plus ꞔa Change –Fostering Inclusive Learning Anew’.

The panel included:

• Tomás Ó Ruairc, Director of the Teaching Council
• Michael McNamara, Team Leader, Digital Technologies PDST
• Catherine Doolan, Director of Laois Education Centre
• Mathew Colgan, Post-primary student and Secretary of ISSU
• Emmet Fahy, Parent of three primary school children
• Orla Conway, Post-primary teacher and Assistant Principal

A copy of the webinar PowerPoint is available here.

The second webinar of the 2021 Learning for All series took place on Wednesday, 24 February at 4.30pm. The webinar is called ‘Focusing on the Now – Supporting Students with Additional and Special Educational Needs'.

The panel focussed on supporting teaching and learning for those with additional and special educational needs, also referred to as SEN. Panellists were given an opportunity to describe how they’re managing the current situation, including the return to school, things that are working well and challenges being faced. The importance of connecting with one another and focusing on what’s important right now was discussed.

The webinar served to help us reflect on last year’s closures and explore what’s different this time round, and what has remained the same. Practical supports and guidance were also signposted for teachers, principals, parents, and students.

The panel included:

Facilitator - Tomás Ó Ruairc, Director of the Teaching Council

• Don Golden, Principal of Scoil Bernadette, Montenotte
• Geraldine O’Loughlin, NCSE Advisor
• Teri Doyle, Parent of a Post-primary student 
• Heather O'Doherty, Special class Teacher from Firhouse ETNS
• Megan Murphy Fields, Post-primary student

You can access the webinar PowerPoint and the recording of the webinar is available to watch above.

Please find below a list of additional resources and supports mentioned during the webinar:

• https://ncse.ie/remote-teaching-and-learning-support-for-teachers-january-2021
• https://ncse.ie/for-schools/connect-teacher-professional-learning-events-catalogue
• https://ncse.ie/teacher-resources
• https://ncse.ie/theme-for-learning-spring
• https://ncse.ie/school-support
• https://www.pdst.ie/EAL
• https://www.middletownautism.com/
• https://www.education.ie/en/Schools-Colleges/Services/National-Educational-Psychological-Service-NEPS-/Resources-Publications.html

The first webinar in our Learning for All series was called 'Learning at Home: From online to offline'. The panel for this webinar included:

• Tomás Ó Ruairc, Director of the Teaching Council 
• Jack Kennedy, 5th year student, CBS Ennistymon
• Marie-Therese Kilmartin, Principal Coláiste Bríde Presentation Secondary School, Clondalkin
• Danielle Conaty, Home Economics Teacher, St. Clare's Comprehensive School Manorhamilton
• Michael McNamara, PDST Team Leader - Digital Technologies
• Áine Lynch, CEO National Parents Council Primary

Please click here to watch the recording.

The second webinar in our Learning for All series was called 'Unifying the community: Creative ways to stay connected'. The panel for this webinar included:

• Tomás Ó Ruairc, Director of the Teaching Council
• Jason Byrne, Primary Teacher - Home School Community Liaison Co-ordinator, Galway 
• Rachel O'Connor, Post-primary Principal, Ramsgrange Community School, Wexford
• Shane Farragher, Student, Coláiste Bhaile Chláir, Galway
• Ciara Delaney, PDST Health and Wellbeing Team Leader
• Mary O’ Mahony, Parent and Adult Educator 

Please click here to watch the recording.

The third webinar in our Learning for All series was called 'Vital for some, good for all - Supporting students with Special Educational Needs (SEN) remotely''. The panel for this webinar included:

• Rachel Markey, Primary Teacher and Specialist Lead for Policy and Practice Development, National Council for Special Education (NCSE)
• Ben Rowsome, Student
• Rachel Moynagh, Principal, Holy Family Special School, Cootehill, Co. Cavan
• Ian McMorrough, Parent
• Ann Marie Caulfield, Post-primary Teacher and SEN Coordinator, St. Joseph's School, Rush

A recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

The following handouts were also included in this webinar:

1. The powerpoint used on the day
2. Guidance on Continuity of Schooling: Supporting Students with Special Educational Needs For post-primary schools
3. Guidance on Continuity of Schooling: Supporting Pupils with Special Educational Needs For primary and special schools  

The fourth webinar in our Learning for All series was called 'Teaching and Learning at Post-primary Level, Offline and Online'. The panel for this webinar included:

• Anthony Kilcoyne, Deputy Director of Digital Technologies, Professional Development Service for Teachers  
• Tony Collison, Principal of Rockford Manor, Blackrock, Co. Dublin 
• Vivienne Hogan, Deputy Principal of Thomond Community College, Limerick
• Anna Merrick, Parent and Further Education Teacher at Pearse College of Further Education, Crumlin, Dublin 12. 
• Lisa Noone, Acting Team Leader of Post Primary Health & Well-being Team, Professional Development Service for Teachers 

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

A copy of the PowerPoint used in the webinar is available to download here.

The fifth webinar in our Learning for All series was called 'Teaching and Learning at Primary Level, Offline and Online'. Our panel for this webinar included:

• Caoimhe McLaughlin, Team Leader of CPD, Research & Design, Professional Development Service for Teachers 
• Tiernan O’Neill, Principal of Corpus Christi Primary School, Moyross, Limerick
• Caoimhe Ní Dhaghnáin, Sixth Class student at Gaelscoil Mhichíl Cíosóg, Ennis, Co. Clare
• Deirdre O’ Donovan, Parent
• Eimear Dilleen, Primary School Teacher working between two rural schools in east Clare

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

A copy of the PowerPoint used in the webinar is available to download here.

The sixth webinar in our Learning for All series was called 'Leading for All, Learning for All - Supporting School Leaders'. Our panel for this webinar included:

• Bernard McHale, Team Leader of Leadership, Professional Development Service for Teachers  
• Cecilia Munro, Principal of Ballyfermot College of Further Education, Dublin 12
• Páiric Clerkin, Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Primary Principals’ Network
• Mary Gallagher, Deputy Principal and SEN coordinator at St. Joseph's National School, Tullamore
• Kieran Golden, Past President of National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals and Principal of Mayfield Community School, Cork City

The recording of this webinar can be accessed here.

A copy of the PowerPoint used in the webinar is available to download here.

The seventh webinar in our Learning for All series was called 'Teagasc agus Foghlaim Ar-líne agus As-líne – Oideachas Trí Mheán na Gaeilge'. Our panel for this webinar included:

• Phil Fox, Cathaoirleach agus Leas Stiúrthóir, An Chomhairle Mhúinteoireachta
• Seosamh Mac an Iomaire, Ceannaire Foirne Gaeilge don tSeirbhís Um Fhorbairt Ghairmiúil do Mhúinteoirí
• Muireann Ní Mhóráin, Príomhfheidhmeannach, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta
• Caoilfhionn Ní Ghoill, Coláiste Naomh Éinne, Cill Rónain, Inis Mór, Co. na Gaillimhe
• Deirble Nic Conghamhna, Príomhoide Scoil Neasáin, Baile Hearman, Baile Átha Cliath 5
• Lorna Ní Choistealbha, Gaelscoil Mhic Amhlaigh, Cnoc na Cathrach, Gaillimhe
•  

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

A copy of the PowerPoint used in the webinar is available to download here.

Our eighth webinar is called 'Supporting Online Assessment and Feedback'. The panel included a main panel with input from a sub-panel. 

Main Panel

• Patrick Looby, 2nd Year student - Gaelcholasite Luimnigh
• Clare Downey, Parent to three children aged from 9 to 19 years old and Early Years Services Manager for the National Parents Council Primary.  
• Nuala Taffe, Deputy Director of Policy, Research and Design, Professional Development Service for Teachers

Sub panel

• SiobhánNíUptáin - 1st and 2nd Class Primary teacher

• Stephanie Kelly – Primary Deputy Principal and SET 

• Stephanie Hodgers – Post-primaryArt teacher 

• Pauric O’Donnell - Post-primary Computer Science and Maths teacher

A copy of the PowerPoint for this webinar is available to download here.

The recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

Our ninth webinar is called 'An International Perspective - What's Happening in Other Countries'. The panel included:

• Andy Hargreaves, Research Professor in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College.
• Ciara O’Donnell, National Director of the Professional Development Service for Teachers, Ireland  
• Deanne Fishburn, Director of the Queensland College of Teachers, Australia  
• Andreas Schleicher, Director of the Directorate of Education and Skills, OECD, France
• Deborah Netolicky, Head of Teaching & Learning, St Mark's Anglican Community School, Australia

Click here to watch this webinar.

The tenth, and final, webinar in the 'Learning for All' series for the school term 2019/20 from the PDST and partners, the Teaching Council broadcast Friday 19 June at 12 pm. The focus of this webinar was on the return to school with also a look back over the last number of months.

Our panel for this webinar included:

• Evin Fleming, Incoming 5th year student in Scoil Chonglais, Baltinglass
• Dymnpna Daly, Director of West Cork Education Centre
• Daniel Hyland – Principal of Clarin College, Athenry
• Sonya Ryan, Parent
• Karina Hanley – Primary school teacher 

A recording of the webinar is available to watch here.

A copy of the PowerPoint for this webinar is available to download here.