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 Chat GPT, 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 and Susan Dunne both from Tipperary ETB

John Heffernan is the Technology Enhanced Learning Co-ordinator for Tipperary ETB. 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. He is moving to MSLETB as PD co-ordinator in the near future

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.

As a follow-up to the recent PD event Artificial Intelligence (AI), What is it and what are the opportunities and challenges for FET? we are offering an AI Clinic. This Clinic will be facilitated by FESS and John Heffernan (MSLETB) and Susan Dunne (TETB) who delivered the PD session on AI will be available to answer your queries. Both Susan and John have extensive knowledge  of AI and the use of AI apps that might be useful in teaching, learning and assessment in FET.

This session is participant led and therefore in order to get maximum value from the session, please come with questions/queries.   

As a follow-up to the recent PD event Artificial Intelligence (AI), What is it and what are the opportunities and challenges for FET? we are offering an AI Clinic. This Clinic will be facilitated by FESS and John Heffernan (MSLETB) and Susan Dunne (TETB) who delivered the PD session on AI will be available to answer your queries. Both Susan and John have extensive knowledge  of AI and the use of AI apps that might be useful in teaching, learning and assessment in FET.

This session is participant led and therefore in order to get maximum value from the session, please come with questions/queries.   

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.

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.

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.

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.

Target audience: All FET educators (including but not exclusive to those working with neurodivergent learners).

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.

A similar session was run in October 2023 and Spring 2024, 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 Professional Development Co-ordinator for Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB. John's career, prior to teaching was in IT, working for a number of start-up companies. He has taught or worked in education technology for more than twenty years, including two years as a PLC teacher. He has been involved in AI in Education with a number of organisations for a number of years. He is on the executive of CESI (Computers in Education Society of Ireland) which is the Subject Association for Computer Science and technology in education. He was previously TEL coordinator with Tipperary ETB. He was recently awarded one of the ISTE 20 to watch for 2024.

Susan Dunne brings 13 years of experience as an educator in post-primary education, teaching Business, Accountancy, and IT. During her time in post-primary education, she was a coordinator for programs such as LCA, LCVP, TY, 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 five 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. Currently, she is actively involved in the development team for the new Leaving Certificate Business Studies course with the NCCA.

This is a repeat of  the PD session run on 2 October 2024

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 Professional Development Co-ordinator for Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB. John's career, prior to teaching was in IT, working for a number of start-up companies. He has taught or worked in education technology for more than twenty years, including two years as a PLC teacher. He has been involved in AI in Education with a number of organisations for a number of years. He is on the executive of CESI (Computers in Education Society of Ireland) which is the Subject Association for Computer Science and technology in education. He was previously TEL coordinator with Tipperary ETB. He was recently awarded one of the ISTE 20 to watch for 2024.

Susan Dunne brings 13 years of experience as an educator in post-primary education, teaching Business, Accountancy, and IT. During her time in post-primary education, she was a coordinator for programs such as LCA, LCVP, TY, 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 five 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. Currently, she is actively involved in the development team for the new Leaving Certificate Business Studies course with the NCCA.

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 LCETB College of FET addressed the challenges and specifically how the TEL and QA support services 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.

The session will cover much of the content from Máire and Brendan’s April FESS Workshop but will also bring you up-to-date with more recent developments and efforts to embed a critically-led approach to the adoption and use of AI in teaching and Learning.

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.

This workshop builds upon a previous session (22 October 2024), where the TEL and QA support services in LCETB College of FET showcased how they came together to develop a coordinated strategic approach to the adoption and use of AI. In this workshop, we will take a closer, hands on look at specific AI tools and how they can be applied to enhance teaching, learning, and assessment in practical ways. AI can streamline lesson planning, personalise learning experiences, and support ongoing assessment and we will demonstrate hands-on examples of how these tools can be integrated into classroom practices to improve student engagement and outcomes. Along with practical applications, criticality will feature throughout our exploration of AI use.

Target audience: All FET educators and particularly those involved in teaching, learning and assessment.

Facilitation: Liese Gubbins, Shirley O’ Leary and Caroline Carr (LCETB)

Liese Gubbins is a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Support Worker for the Limerick and Clare ETB, providing support to campuses in Limerick city and West Limerick. She has over 4 years' experience in the Further Education and Training sector, having previously worked as an Adult Educator with the Vocational and Employee Skills Development provision. Liese holds a Masters and Chartership in Work and Organisational Psychology and has a background in Human Resources and recruitment. She applies her experience in organisational psychology to support the adoption of digital tools, enhance staff development, and promote effective learning environments.

Shirley O’Leary is a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Support worker with the Limerick and Clare ETB, supporting staff in integrating technology across campuses in Clare. With 21 years of teaching experience at second level & the Youthreach programme, she has taught History, English, SPHE, and STEAM. Shirley holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and English, a Higher Diploma in Education, and certifications in Technology Enhanced Learning, Digital Course Design & Digital Media Production. Shirley is passionate about Universal Design for Learning. Her key interests lie in promoting accessible, engaging, and adaptable learning environments.

Caroline Carr is a Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) Support worker for the Limerick and Clare ETB, supporting staff with the integration and use of technology across campuses in Limerick city and East Limerick. With 17 years of experience as an educator on the Youthreach programme, she taught Mathematics, SPHE, Music, STEAM and IT, and coordinated the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) programme. Her passion for learner engagement and retention drives her to explore innovative teaching methods and share best practices. Caroline holds a Masters in Education, Postgraduate Diploma in Educational Leadership, along with certifications in Technology Enhance Learning for learning support, assessment and digital learning design and Universal Design for Learning (UDL). She is continuously enhancing her skills to support staff and improve learning experiences.

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.