The Further Education Support Service has put together a calendar of events for Spring 2024 to support those working in the FET environment for SOLAS and DES funded providers. We have focused on offering on-line webinars and workshops across a range of topics. Those who register for a place on one of the on-line events will receive a link, via e-mail, that will allow them access the event on the given date and time. We will be adding more events as we finalise the details of the events, but as a start we have the following events available.
The following is a list of the current series and themes on the PD calendar - please click on the highlighted headings below for further information:
Assessment - A series for those interested in locally devised assessment
This is a series of five online sessions that will deal with the following:
- An Introduction to Locally Devised Assessment
- Devising Assessment Briefs and Examination Questions (Locally Devised Assessment)
- Devising Marking Schemes (Locally Devised Assessment)
- Marking Learner Assessment Evidence
- Feedback to Learners on Summative Assessment Tasks
Clear Writing for Developing Programmes and Assessment (Plain English)' NALA
Artificial Intelligence (AI), What is it and what are the opportunities and challenges for FET?
Growing and Promoting RPL in ETB FET Provision
Supporting Executive Functioning in FET
The Science of ‘Bouncibility’ – How to Build Resilience within Ourselves
AI for Teaching, Learning and Assessment in FET
Machine Vs Machine - AI and Assessment
Active Teaching and Learning - Visual Thinking, Mapping & Framing Techniques
Unlocking the Potential of Rubrics in Teaching, Learning and Assessment
Enhancing Our Sense of Team: An Evidence-based Approach
Please note: If you would like further information about a PD event, please contact FESS at cpdbookings@fess.ie. If you would like to cancel a place at a PD event, please contact FESS at cpdcancellations@fess.ie. To ensure that the maximum number of people get the opportunity to attend a FESS PD event, please give a minimum of four working days notice when cancelling attendance.
Please also note: In response to the fact that a number of people previously booked an online place at a PD event that they subsequently didn't log into, FESS took the decision to allow more people book a place at an event than there are places for. Those who log in first at the designated time for a live online event will be those who will be accommodated with a place. We hope that by taking this action, we will be able to maximise the number of people who are getting to log in to our PD events.
Assessment - A series for those interested in locally devised assessment |
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Please note that this is a repeat of the Assessment suite of events that were offered in Spring/Autumn/Winter 2022 and 2023.
Participants are welcome to attend any or all of the sessions in this series. However, ideally participants would attend all five sessions to maximise their learning about local assessment.
The target audience for this series is: Assessors new to the area of FET and engaged in a locally devised assessment process. However, the sessions may also appeal to those who wish to refresh their understanding of assessment and/or those tasked with supporting/informing the assessment process locally. Please see further information on the target audience for each of the five sessions below. Facilitation: This series will be facilitated by Mary Sheehy (FESS). Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto an event unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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An Introduction to Locally Devised Assessment Please note: This is a repeat of the assessment suite of CPD events offered previously. The focus of this online session is on supporting the assessor working in a further education and training environment, where the assessor is required to develop local
The target audience for this session is: those assessing learners for the first time, using locally devised assessment instruments. A link to this online session will be emailed in advance. |
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Devising Assessment Briefs and Examination Questions (Locally Devised Assessment) Please note: This is a repeat of the assessment suite of CPD events offered previously. A link to this online session will be emailed in advance. |
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Devising Marking Schemes (Locally Devised Assessment) Please note: This is a repeat of the assessment suite of CPD events offered previously. The focus of this online session is on devising marking schemes and outline solutions, as part of local assessment, at NFQ levels 4 – 6, for both assessment briefs and examination papers. The target audience for this event is: those assessing learners for the first time, using local assessment. A link to this online session will be emailed in advance. |
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Marking Learner Assessment Evidence Please note: This is a repeat of the assessment suite of CPD events offered previously. This online session will focus on:
The target audience for this session is: those marking learners’ summative assessment evidence. In addition, this event is targeted at those who have a role in A link to this online session will be emailed in advance. |
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Feedback to Learners on Summative Assessment Tasks Please note: This is a repeat of the assessment suite of CPD events offered previously. A link to this online session will be emailed in advance. |
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Follow-up Assessment Clinic This one hour online clinic is designed as a follow-up support to complement the recently delivered suite of 5 PD sessions focusing on locally devised assessment. This clinic will provide an opportunity for FET practitioners to pose any locally-devised assessment questions and queries that they may have. An informal approach will be adopted for this session where the clinic will be participant-led, which will allow for the sharing and discussion of ideas. These clinics will be hosted on Zoom and the link will be emailed to participants in advance of the event. Tuesday 23 April - 16.00 to 17.00 |
This is a series of five weekly online sessions that will deal with the following:
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Clear Writing for Developing Programmes and Assessment (Plain English)' NALA |
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This session will show how the NALA plain English guidelines https://www.nala.ie/publications/a-plain-english-checklist-for-documents/ can help you to keep your written message clear, concise and effective. The interactive workshop will look at best practice and use authentic examples from FET programmes and FET assessment instruments. This is an interactive session. Participants are asked to be ready to ask and answer lots of questions to reflect on how we communicate with our learners. |
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Wednesday 28 February 2024 - 14.00 to 16.30 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
Artificial Intelligence (AI), What is it and what are the opportunities and challenges for FET? |
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A similar session was run in October 2023, this session will included updated information as the area of AI is fast-moving In the last year, there has been a huge interest in the profound potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the realm of Further Education and Training. This presentation will cover the basics of AI, demystifying its core concepts and exploring its real-world applications. We will focus on BingChat, an advanced AI language model through the lens of a FET teacher or tutor. AI can assist educators, administrators, and students alike, providing personalized support, generating educational content, and promoting engagement. But AI in education is not just about convenience; it's also about the opportunities and challenges it presents to educators. Explore the vast potential for AI to streamline administrative tasks, enhance teaching materials, and adapt learning experiences to individual student needs. We will discuss the challenges and potential threats AI poses to educators in the FET sector, addressing concerns about job displacement and the changing role of teachers/tutors/trainers. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion on the future of education where AI and human educators collaborate to create more effective and personalized learning environments. Discover how you can harness the power of AI to elevate your teaching practices and unlock new possibilities in Further Education and Training. Facilitation: John Heffernan (Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB) and Susan Dunne (Tipperary ETB) John Heffernan is the MSLETB as Professional Development co-ordinator. John's career, prior to teaching was in IT, working for a number of start up companies. He has taught or worked in ed tech for more that twenty years including two years as a PLC teacher. Susan Dunne brings 13 years of experience as an educator in post-primary education, teaching Business, Accountancy, and IT. She was part of one of the first schools to achieve recognition as a Microsoft School of Excellence in Ireland.Over the past four years, Susan ventured into Further Education, where she teaches QQI Level 4 and 5 courses. Within her teaching, she uses OneNote E-portfolio extensively for teaching and assessment purposes. Alongside her practical teaching experience, she holds a postgraduate qualification in Special Educational Needs. Her enthusiasm for technology is constant and she continually explores innovative ways to incorporate it into her teaching practices.Throughout her career, she has dedicated time to enhancing her pedagogical skills, delving into various teaching methodologies, including Assessment for Learning and becoming a Universal Design for Learning (UDL) facilitator. Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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Thursday, 29th February 2024 - 14.00 to 16.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
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The session will focus on broadly answering the following questions: There will be time for Q&A and group discussion on these topics during the session and the session is intended to be informative, supportive and interactive. The target audience for this event is: FET staff members, especially those in a management/co-ordination and/or quality assurance role who have a particular interest in RPL promotion and/or development in their ETB. Facilitation: Patsy Hogan, Quality Assurance Officer, Limerick and Clare ETB. Patsy has been actively involved in the RPL space for a number of years. She has been instrumental in placing Limerick and Clare ETB at the forefront of RPL practice in Ireland. Patsy has developed a RPL professional development course which is run internally in her ETB and has also been attended by colleagues from other ETBs. She has also taken a lead role in RPL policy development, promotion, support and awareness both in her own ETB and in national and European projects. Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person.
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Wednesday 6 March 2024 - 10.00 to 12.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
Many Providers in FET are struggling to develop and promote RPL as a mainstream offering in their ETB. Patsy Hogan, QA Officer with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, will explain how RPL has grown from small discrete projects in Limerick and Clare ETB to widely offering RPL as a mainstream strand of provision through policy development, staff training and promoting awareness.
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Executive functioning skills include our ability to plan, to manage our time, to be organised, to prioritise and to maintain motivation and persistence, amongst lots of other things. Do you have learners who just can't seem to get work completed, or in on time. Do they find it difficult to prioritise? Are they struggling with meeting deadlines in their daily lives or in your classroom? These skills do not always come easy to everyone. However, these skills are exceptionally challenging for many learners who are neurodivergent. Although this workshop is not only for those working with neurodivergent learners, it will examine the importance of scaffolding and teaching executive functioning skills to neurodivergent learners. In the true spirit of UDL, creating an environment supportive of neurodivergent learners with executive functioning challenges, will create an environment that is supportive of all. Through a Universal Design for Learning lens, by the end of this hands-on and interactive workshop, participants will be able to: Target audience: All FET educators (including but not exclusive to those working with neurodivergent learners). Facilitation: This session will be facilitated by Carrie Archer. Carrie lectures on postgraduate programmes for FET specifically in the area of Diversity and Inclusion. She is a qualified special education and inclusive education teacher and has worked in the FET sector for the past 15 years. She is a qualified education leadership coach and specialises in the area of ADHD. She is a keen advocate for the use of UDL in education, from classroom to staffroom to boardroom and beyond to meet the needs of all. Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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Further Information, Date and Time |
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Monday 11 March 2024 - 14.00 to 16.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
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The Science of ‘Bouncibility’ – How to Build Resilience within Ourselves |
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If you are low in resilience, you will focus too much on your problems and deficits and be overwhelmed during challenges. You will be drawn towards unhealthy conclusions and become more vulnerable instead of stronger. Becoming more resilient will not mean that problems disappear. It does not mean that you have to become ‘as hard as nails’. Resilience is more about learning how to cope – tapping into our own resources and fostering inner-strengths in order to stay ‘standing’ during and after crisis. Science has uncovered specific traits/factors that can be utilised at work and in our lives in general. This seminar outlines evidence-based strategies linked to greater outcomes during challenge and change. The target audience for this event is: All FET staff members. Facilitation: Shane Martin C.Psychol.Ps.S.I., Chartered Psychologist of the Psychological Society of Ireland Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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Further Information, Date and Time |
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Thursday 14 March 2024 - 10.00 to 12.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
Life is an imperfect journey and crisis is guaranteed. There will always be setbacks and misfortunes. Resilience is the ability to adapt to the challenges of life. It’s about bouncing back rather than falling apart. If you are strong in resilience you have this ‘bouncibility’ and can harness your inner strengths and coping mechanisms. Others need to learn the skills at the heart of resiliency. If life is full of challenges then we need to know how to not only withstand the pressure but to thrive in adversity.
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Target audience: All FET educators and particularly those involved in assessment of learners includinf QA staff. Facilitation: Máire Lynch and Dr Brendan Ryan Máire Lynch is a QA Officer with Limerick and Clare ETB with responsibility for curriculum development and review, new programme development and quality assuring teaching, learning and assessment across the organisation. Máire previously worked in industry before taking up a teaching position with the former VECs and worked extensively in classroom and co-ordination roles before moving into the area of quality assurance. She was part of the national working group responsible for the development of the FET Referencing Handbook and Academic Writing Handbook for Learners. Areas of particular interest include incorporating UDL Principles into teaching, learning and assessment at all NFQ levels, use of Plain English tools and facilitating AI practices to enhance teaching, learning and assessment. Dr Brendan Ryan has worked in Adult and Further Education for over thirty years and as a Learning Technologist for over twenty of those years. In his role with Limerick and Clare ETB Further Education and Training (FET) Division he leads up the Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Support Service. Brendan has extensive teaching and research experience and recently completed a PhD study focused on embedding criticality in Learning Technology Professional Development. Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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| To register please click on the link below |
Further Information, Date and Time |
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Thursday 11 April 2024 - 14.00 to 16.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
Rapid advances in generative AI present significant opportunities and challenges for society and for education providers. In FET the opportunities include harnessing AI to support planning and teaching and utilising AI tools to support learners throughout their learning journeys. Challenges include addressing concerns about academic integrity and developing a strategic approach to AI use which focuses on ethics and criticality. In this workshop we will detail how the TEL and QA support services in LCETB College of FET came together to develop a coordinated strategic approach to the adoption and use of AI. The approach adopted involved initial awareness raising, the development of guidelines on AI use in assessment, and the rollout of CPD initiatives focused on AI and assessment and the critical exploration of AI tools.
Machine Vs Machine - AI and Assessment |
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Target audience: All FET educators, particularly those who are involved in the assessment of learners as well as QA staff. Facilitation: This session will be facilitated by Dr Keith Quille who is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Enterprise Computing and Digital Transformation in TU Dublin. Keith's' primary area of research is in Computer Science Education (with an emphasis on inclusion) which spans third, second and primary levels. The main focus of Keith's' research at third level (including my PhD) was the early identification of students who were at risk of failing or dropping out of Computer Science (using machine learning techniques), as well as interventions to try and reduce attrition rates. Keith's' research also focuses on gender and inclusion, with an aim to reduce stereotypes and promote the Computer Science discipline across all levels of education. Keith's primary area of teaching is in Software Development, (CS1 and CS2) and Applied Machine Learning with Artificial Intelligence. Keith is the program coordinator of TU862 Computing with AI and ML undergraduate. Keith has also developed, delivered and coordinated a wide range of other modules. To complement Keith's' Computer Science Education research at third level, Keith has also been significantly involved in primary and second level Computer Science Education, from the Governmental level to formal and informal teacher professional development, to leading a large-scale national, primary and second level Computer Science outreach and research programme (http://CSinc.ie). Keith was also a secondary school and further education teacher for 7 years in St Conleth's Community College, in Newbridge, Co Kildare. Keith is also a part time software developer in webuildweb. Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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| To register please click on the link below |
Further Information, Date and Time |
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Monday 15 April 2024 - 10.00 to 12.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
In this professional learning session for teachers, we'll delve into the fascinating realm of AI in assessment. Together, we'll examine its utilization and effectiveness, uncovering both the challenges it faces and the areas where it excels or falls short. Our exploration will commence with an in-depth look at the essence of AI and its various applications in assessment. From the rigidity of closed, proctored exams to the flexibility of open-book assessments, we'll dissect examples that span the spectrum. We'll delve into critical questions: Can its presence be easily identified? These inquiries will guide our discussion as we dissect the nuances of AI detection and explore the evolving strategies students employ to evade detection. Join us as we navigate the complexities of AI in assessment, equipping ourselves with the knowledge and insights necessary to adapt and thrive in an increasingly technologically driven educational landscape.
Active Teaching and Learning
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This online workshop will introduce some visual thinking tools and techniques to support FET learners develop ideas for projects, reports and presentations e.g. map initial ideas, research a topic, find relevant keywords etc. The workshop is hands-on and will take participants through the process of selecting and using different tools, and exploring possible uses and applications.
The target audience for this event is: FET staff members, especially those in a management/co-ordination and/or quality assurance role who have a particular interest in RPL promotion and/or development in their ETB. Facilitation: Miriam is an independent facilitator, trainer and consultant with a strong background and experience of working in Education both nationally and internationally that includes teaching, lecturing and training roles at Primary, Post-primary, Further Education and Training, and Higher Education (Teacher Education) levels. Miriam has also held senior management roles in Curriculum Development, Professional Development and Education Support Services. Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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| To register please click on the link below |
Further Information, Date and Time |
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Monday 15 April 2024 - 14.00 to 16.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
Unlocking the Potential of Rubrics in Teaching, Learning and Assessment |
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Please note: This event is a repeat of a previous FESS PD event on 'Unlocking the Potential of Rubrics in Teaching, Learning and Assessment' first delivered online in Spring and Autumn/Winter 2022 and 2023.
This event will:
Learning together in this event will help us to consider the range of possibilities rubrics can bring to teaching, learning and assessment. The target audience for this event is: FET staff including teachers, tutors, trainers, programme co-ordinators and QA staff. Facilitation: This event will be facilitated by Mary Sheehy (FESS). Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this event unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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Tuesday 16 April 2024 - 10.00 to 12.00 A link to this online event will be emailed in advance. |
This online event aims to assist FET staff in the development and use of rubrics to support teaching, learning and assessment activities. This is an interactive event where participants will be provided with information, have the opportunity to engage in discussion and participate in a rubric development workshop.
Enhancing Our Sense of Team: An Evidence-based Approach |
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Working with other people doesn’t mean that you’re working as a team. Real teamwork implies collaboration, communication, and acknowledgment of a common purpose. Grouping people together doesn’t mean you have a team. Teams are, in fact, a very particular kind of group in that they’re interdependent and focused on structure and activities. At a minimum, a team should be a cooperative unit and, at its best, a team is a collaborative unit. How can we harness an authentic sense of team? How can we initiate and sustain a sense of team? Are there any scientifically proven strategies that can make teams better at teamwork?
The target audience for this event is: All FET staff members. Facilitation: Shane Martin C.Psychol.Ps.S.I., Chartered Psychologist of the Psychological Society of Ireland Shane Martin is a psychologist dedicated to teaching the very best evidence-based psychology to help people protect their mental health and enhance the quality of their lives. Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto this session unless you are sure that you will attend / have approval to attend (if required). If an emergency arises, please inform us ASAP (cpdcancellations@fess.ie) as we operate a waiting list system and if time allows, we can offer your booked place to another person. |
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| To register please click on the link below |
Further Information, Dates and Times |
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Wednesday 24 April 2024 - 10.00 to 12.00 A link to this online session will be emailed in advance. |
