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FESS PD Calendar Spring-Summer 2025
Information and the online booking system for the FESS PD events for Spring/Summer 2025 can be accessed here.
FESS PD Calendar Autumn/Winter 2024
Information and the online booking system for the FESS PD events for Autumn/Winter 2024 can be accessed here.
NEW! - Locally Devised Assessment Course
FESS has developed this new resource to support new assessors to navigate their way through assessment for the first time. The resource focuses on the assessment of learners who are following further education and training programmes or FET programmes that lead to QQI certification at NFQ levels 1 to 6. The specific focus of the resource is on summative assessment in a locally devised assessment process which means that the detail in the resource is targeted towards assessors who are tasked with devising their own assessment briefs, examination papers and related documentation so that they can assess learners for certification purposes.
The resource is divided into five modules. Each module is divided into a number of units, and each unit is divided into sections. The five modules are:
- Quality Assuring Assessment
- Understanding the Standard
- Devising Assessment
- Marking Learner Assessment Evidence
- Considerations for an Assessor
To access the course, click here
A tutorial document to help you create your account, enrol on the course, complete the course and download your digital certificate can be downloaded here
A short video tutorial to guide you through the process of creating an account and enrolling yourself in the course can be accessed here, it is slightly over 5 minutes long
We hope you find the resource useful.
New PD calendar sessions
Some new events have been added to our PD calendar recently, these include:
Artificial Intelligence (AI), What is it and what are the opportunities and challenges for FET?
Supporting Executive Functioning in FET
FESS PD Calendar Spring 2024
Information and the online booking system for the FESS PD events for Spring 2024 can be accessed here.
FESS PD Calendar - Spring/Summer 2023
Information and the online booking system for the FESS PD events for Spring/Summer 2023 can be accessed here.
FESS PD Calendar - Autumn/Winter 2022 (Announced June 2022)
Information and the online booking system for the FESS PD events for Autumn/Winter 2022 can be accessed here.
FESS PD Calendar - Spring/Summer 2022 (Announced January 2022)
Information and the online booking system for the FESS PD events for Spring/Summer 2022 can be accessed here.
Resources to Support Reflective Practice (Announced September 2021)
A new section has been added to the Thematic Resources page (under the Resource Library menu) on the website where resources to support those engaging in reflective practice with their learners will be available. Please click here to access this page.
Reimagining your Assessment for Remote Learners (12 February 2021)
This course complements the existing FESS/H2 Learning Reimaging your course – the move to blended learning course which focused primarily on blending the delivery of your course. The main aim of this new course is to get people thinking about their current formative and summative assessment plans and consider ways of conducting the assessment differently.
The course will include some underpinning principles and theoretical perspectives, quality assurance considerations and a range of case studies from across the FET sector. It will also provide participants with the opportunity to engage with FET colleagues in discussions on a range of assessment related issues.
This course will be available from the week of the 1 March and comprises a set of pre-recorded resources that participants can engage with in their own time (asynchronous).
Bookings can be made at the following link - https://www.fess.ie/professional-development/cpd-calendar#reimagineAssessment
An Introductory Guide to Blending a Course: Strategies for Blended Delivery (handbook)
An Introductory Guide to Blending a Course: Strategies for Blended Delivery (handbook)
FESS have developed a handbook to support those delivering FET programmes who have been tasked with converting a fully face-to-face course to one with an online/remote element (i.e. the blended element) for learners. Blended learning is a mode of delivery allowing learners to complete their course of study by a combination of in centre face-to-face, work based and online learning. This handbook focuses primarily on the online element of the blended learning activity.
This resource was developed by FESS working in conjunction with Liz Hogan who is a Blended Learning Expert. FESS would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution provided by Dr. Michael Hallissy, H2 Learning.
Academic Writing Handbook for Learners in the FET Sector
FESS has been working with ETBI and six ETBs in the development of this Academic Writing Handbook for Learners in the Further Education and Training (FET) Sector, which is available here.
Referencing Handbook for the Further Education and Training (FET) Sector
FESS has been working with ETBI and eight ETBs in the development of a referencing handbook and an academic writing handbook for learners in the FET sector.
Referencing Handbook for the Further Education and Training (FET) Sector
The full referencing handbook is available here
Where providers might like to compile a customised referencing handbook for their learners, the referencing handbook is available in sections here.
EXTERNAL AUTHENTICATOR OPPORTUNITY
Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI), on behalf of the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), have established a directory of External Authenticators (EA) for Further Education and Training programmes.
The role of the External Authenticator is to provide independent confirmation of fair and consistent assessment of learners in accordance with QQI requirements and report on the consistency of assessment results with national standards.
If you are interested in this role, please visit the ETBI website to participate in the online briefing, which will provide you with more detailed information about the directory as well as the role.
ETB Sector Assessment Reference Documents (announced June 2018)
A suite of reference documents for quality assuring assessment of learners has been developed by an ETB sectoral assessment working group in collaboration with the Further Education Support Service (FESS), and following a detailed consultative process. These reference documents have been developed to assist ETBs in developing and documenting policies and procedures for quality assuring learner assessment, in line with best practice. Copies of the reference documents have now been distributed to all ETBs in hard copy and are also available through a secure login repository on www.etbi.ie
Taking Care of Your Well-Being for FET Teachers and Tutors (announced November 2016)
To work effectively with learners it is important to take care of your own well-being, as a teacher and tutor. This booklet will explore how you can use the findings and strategies of positive psychology and maximise your own individual potential for happiness and well-being. Taking Care of Your Well-Being for FET Teachers and Tutors was developed by Dr. Marie Rooney on behalf of FESS to support those working in the FET sector. We hope that you find it useful.
Publication of Programme Module Specific and Thematic Resource Lists (announced October 2016)
FESS is pleased to announce that in addition to new programme specific resources, we now also have thematic specific resource lists available here
The thematic resources can be categorised under the following headings:
Equality and Diversity
Learner well-being in the FET Environment
Literacy and Numeracy
Teaching and Learning
Technology Enhanced Learning
