Learning from Experience: Embedding a Culture of Excellence through Reflective Practice

This online event is a follow on to the Reflective Practice in Further Education and Training Settings PD event offered by FESS in March 2021. This new event, open to all and not exclusive to those who participated in March, aims to further support practitioners in their various roles as they endeavour to use reflective practice as part of their continuous professional development.

As teachers, tutors, trainers and administrators, we know the importance of modelling the habit of reflection and know that we can influence others through our practice, building reflective communities where we work. We want to be part of a supportive environment where enquiry into practice is accepted and prioritised. Leadership and teamwork are the platforms and scaffolding for this enterprise.

This event will:

• provide a brief overview of the history of reflective practice in the professions
• explore the relevance of reflective practice to the role of the FET practitioner
• discuss the dispositions, habits and skills needed to take part in learning conversations as participant and leader. These conversations may act as a catalyst for writing a reflective journal as an aid to learning from experience
• share examples of reflective writing and demonstrate how the development of the professional is enhanced by keeping a learning journal.

Learning together in this event will help us recognise the transformative possibilities that follow from our intentional efforts at reflective practice. Reflective learning is personal but holds within itself the possibilities for transforming our personal and professional lives with consequent benefits for all our adult learners.

The target audience for this event is: FET Staff including teachers, tutors, trainers, co-ordinators, managers.

Facilitation: This event will be hosted by FESS and facilitated by Carmel Lillis. Carmel is an independent education consultant in the primary, post-primary and third level sectors. She has worked in a variety of roles in the education system and has contributed to leadership programmes for teachers in Maynooth University and the University of Limerick in the areas of reflective practice and action research. She is a qualified personal and executive coach. Carmel works with Education Centres and presents programmes for principals and deputy principals. She has delivered professional development seminars to Special Needs Assistants and is involved in supporting nurture groups in schools.

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.

 Dates

Time 

 Venues

 Tuesday, 14th September 2021

10.00 - 11.30

Online
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Clinic(s) to support FET practitioners with blended learning and remote assessment

These one hour online sessions complement the FESS Handbook, An Introductory Guide to Blending a Course: Strategies for Blended Delivery. The sessions will provide an opportunity for FET practitioners to pose any blended-learning and remote assessment related questions and queries that they may have. An informal approach will be adopted for these sessions which will also allow for the sharing and discussion of ideas. These clinics are participant-led and we encourage participants to come along with their questions and queries but to also share their knowledge and expertise. These clinics will be hosted on Zoom and the link will be emailed to participants a couple of days in advance of the event. 

Target audience: FET practitioners including course co-ordinators, teachers, trainers, tutors involved in the delivery of blended programmes.

Facilitation: Members of the FESS team. 

Please note: Pre-booking is essential. Please do not book onto these clinics unless you are sure that you will attend/have approval/time 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. Prior to each clinic, each participant will be emailed a link to attend. 

 Dates

Time 

 Venues

Wednesday, 22nd September 2021

15.00 - 16.00

Online
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  Employer Engagement for Programme Development in FET

This online event will explore the value and benefits of employer engagement and provide insights into how employers have successfully contributed to programme development and how they continue to enhance programmes by participating on programme boards throughout the ETB sector.

Employer representatives will speak about their input into a range of ETB programme development initiatives. Colleagues from ETBs will share their experiences, discuss the impact of employer engagement and present models of good practice.

The target audience for this event is: those considering new programme development, those involved in establishing programme boards, ETB QA Officers and ETB Employer Engagement Officers.

Facilitation: This event will be hosted by FESS and facilitated by Siobhan Magner, National Programme Manager, Sales Apprenticeship, MSLETB. After 20 years in the HE sector, Siobhan Magner moved to the Further Education (FE) sector in 2017 to support the programme design and development of a number of new generation apprenticeships. Her current role with Mayo Sligo Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) as National Programme Manager for the Sales Apprenticeship involves the implementation and management of this new innovative programme.

Guest Speakers will include;

• Margaret Cox, Director of the Western Management Company (WMC) which is the leading Management, Leadership and Regulatory Training Organisation in the West of Ireland
• Fiona Fay, FET Quality Assurance Support Officer, DDLETB
• John Kelly, Manager, National Construction Training Centre, Laois and Offaly ETB
• Suzanne Kiely, National Hairdressing Apprenticeship Programme Co-ordinator, Limerick and Clare ETB
• Carol Murphy, Head of HR & Development, SalesSense International

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.

 Dates

Time 

 Venues

Thursday, 23rd September 2021

10.00 - 12.00

Online
Link to the event will be emailed in advance
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    An Introduction to Local Assessment for New Assessors

This online workshop will support the assessor working in a further education and training environment, where the assessor is required to develop local assessment instruments and related documentation.

In advance of the workshop, a Powerpoint presentation with supporting documentation will be made available to those who have booked a place, with the expectation that they will review them prior to the workshop. The workshop will then facilitate new assessors to tease out the detail contained in the presentation and documentation. Those who log into the session will also be facilitated to ask questions and request clarification on issues relevant to their provision and/or context.

The following topics will be covered:

• An overview of the assessment process, including key milestones
• Ensuring an understanding of the standard associated with levels 1 – 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)
• Devising local assessment instruments (briefs and examination papers), marking schemes and outline solutions
• Making assessment judgements/decisions

The target audience for this event is: those assessing learners for the first time, using locally devised assessment instruments.

Facilitation: This event will be facilitated by FESS.

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.

 Date

Time 

 Venue

Tuesday, 28th September 2021

10.00 - 12.00

Online
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Monday, 11th October 2021

14.00 - 16.00

Online
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Capturing the Learner Voice

This online event will provide an opportunity to consider QQI requirements and guidelines around ensuring the meaningful involvement and input of learners in the ongoing review, maintenance and enhancement of a provider’s quality assurance system.

In addition, it will provide an opportunity to hear about the work of AONTAS in capturing the learner voice, as it is used in the National FET Learner Forum. AONTAS will also describe what they have learned about capturing the learner voice in an online setting during COVID-19, what methodologies proved most effective, and how they ensure that learners have a safe, respectful space to freely share their experiences so that learner voice processes are authentic.

Finally, there will be an opportunity to hear from providers about their approach to engaging with learners:

• CMETB will talk about the steps they have taken to include the learner voice in the ongoing review, maintenance and enhancement of their quality assurance processes
• Moate Business College, a single location provider, from the Voluntary Secondary/Community and Comprehensive School (VSCCS) sector, will share their experience of capturing the learner voice and how this data is used to inform the improvement of quality assured systems
• CETB will explain their approach to engaging with learners, and the role of the learners, in the inaugural review of quality assurance in education and training boards

The target audience for this event is: FET staff engaging with learners and those tasked with capturing the learner voice within their provision.

Facilitation: This event will be hosted by FESS and facilitated by FESS, AONTAS, CMETB, Moate Business College and CETB.

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.

 Dates

Time 

 Venues

 Tuesday, 5th October 2021

14.00 - 16.00

Online
Link to the event will be emailed in advance
Please keep an eye on your Junk/Spam folder in case
the e-mail with the link to the online event ends up there.

 Integration of Programme Delivery and Assessment of Learners

This online event will introduce integration for the delivery of FET programmes and assessment of learners. Breakout rooms will be used to facilitate those logged in to share ideas and opinions with each other. In addition, the following content will be covered:

• What is meant by integration?
• What are the benefits and challenges of integration?
• How can integration be planned for?
• What approaches can be used in integration?
• Planning next steps

The target audience for this event is: those wishing to integrate the delivery of FET programmes and/or the assessment of learners.

Facilitation: This event will be facilitated by FESS.

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.

Exploring RPL in FET

This online event will explore the practical implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) within FET providers.
The following topics will be covered:
RPL within the Provider:

• Legislation (provider context)
• Policies and Procedures
• Resource Implications
• Staffing for RPL
• ‘Location’ of RPL within the provider
• Developing staff capacity in RPL

RPL for:

• Access
• Advanced Entry
• Certification

Developing an RPL Toolkit:

• RPL Handbook
• Applicant Guide
• Forms
• Assessment instruments
• Materials for staff Professional Development in RPL
• Promotional materials

An RPL Journey:

• From Screening to Certification
• Unpacking the 4 stages of RPL: Identification, Documentation, Assessment and Certification

The target audience for this event is: those with an interest or role in the implementation of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) within FET providers.

Facilitation: This event will be hosted by FESS and will be facilitated by Anne Higgins, Quality Assurance Co-Ordinator, Galway and Roscommon ETB and Patsy Hogan, Quality Assurance Officer - Policies, Procedures, Supports and Stakeholder Engagement, Limerick and Clare ETB.

Anne Higgins has worked across Further Education and Higher Education for many years, in both teaching and managerial roles. She has extensive experience in the delivery of programmes and the assessment of learners, and as an External Authenticator. Anne is a member, and former Convenor, of the RPL Practitioner Network National Steering Group and is very active in the implementation of RPL initiatives regionally and nationally. Anne’s current role is as Quality Assurance Co-Ordinator with Galway and Roscommon ETB.

Patsy Hogan has many years’ experience working in FET, initially as an IT teacher, then a BTEI Co-ordinator and in the past five years as part of the Quality Assurance team in Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. Patsy has a particular interest in the area of RPL and is involved in many local and national projects in this area.

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.

   Reimagining your Course – The move to Blended Learning

In Autumn/Winter 2020, FESS partnered with H2 Learning to provide an online learning opportunity for FET practitioners. As providers continue to find themselves in a position where learners are accessing their learning online, this course will continue to be available, subject to demand.

As blended learning becomes more common place across the sector, this course will support educators in improving the quality of their online offerings to learners. The goal of the course is to help participants to create a plan for moving some elements of their course or module online.

The course consists of a series of four online sessions that will allow participants to reimagine their course/module to include online learning. Participants will have a blended learning experience where they will participate in a mix of synchronous and asynchronous learning activities.

Participants will initially undertake three asynchronous sessions in their own time and it is expected that each session will take up to 30 minutes. The three sessions are as follows:

1. Reflecting on Covid-19 - Where we came from and where we might go?
2. Blended Learning - What might it look like in your context?
3. Designing Blended Learning - The Foundations of Learning Design

These three sessions will be followed by a fourth session – a live online reimaging workshop. The goal of the workshop is that participants will have a process and a structure by which they can design blended learning that meets their learners’ needs. Please note: once you have completed the asynchronous material, you will be required to register your interest in the live online workshop. Details regarding this will be e-mailed to you.

This live online workshop will be available to FET practitioners that have completed the previous 3 asynchronous sessions. It is expected that participants will have had time to reflect and begin planning their learning designs in advance of the live workshop. This session will take place on Zoom and will be 2 hours long. The live online workshop will:

• focus on designing a blended learning approach for a programme, module or a centre
• be discussion based and it will use elements of the ABC Learning Framework, Microsoft 21 CLD materials and other appropriate tools
• facilitate discussion and sharing of participants’ designs

The live online workshop will only take place when there is sufficient demand and will be offered to groups of no more than 60 participants.

Target audience: FET practitioners including course co-ordinators, teachers, trainers, tutors involved in the delivery of blended programmes

Facilitation: Dr. Michael Hallisey, H2 Learning and FESS

Date: A link to the asynchronous elements of the course will be forwarded to the person who registers for this PD event. The live online workshop will be scheduled as soon as there is sufficient demand.

Self-directed learning for the three asynchronous sessions.

Intake for this course is ongoing.

The fourth session, the live online workshop, will be based on demand.

 Online
Link to the online material will be emailed in advance
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    Reimagining your Assessment for Remote Learners

This course complements the existing FESS/H2 Learning Reimagining 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.

Content covered will include some underpinning principles and theoretical perspectives, quality assurance considerations and a range of case studies from across the FET sector. 

This course comprises a set of pre-recorded resources that participants can engage with in their own time (asynchronous).

We would like to acknowledge the valuable contribution made by FET practitioners, from across the FET sector, for sharing their experience through the case studies included in this course.

Target audience: FET practitioners including course coordinators, teachers, trainers, tutors involved in the assessment of learners.

Facilitation: FESS with Dr. Michael Hallisey, H2 Learning

Self-directed learning for the 3 asynchronous sessions

Intake for this course is ongoing.

 Online
Link to the online material will be emailed within a few days of  registering
Please keep an eye on your Junk/Spam folder in case
the e-mail with the link ends up there.