MIC Free Summer Courses For Teachers

MIC free summer courses for teachers include a new collaboration with the GAA.

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) is collaborating with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) in offering a Continuing Professional Development course on the teaching of Gaelic games in multiple sites throughout the country this July.

The Leading Gaelic Games in the Primary School Teacher Summer Course has been offered over many years through the long-established partnership between MIC and the Munster Council of the GAA. This year, the course will run in MIC Limerick as usual, but is also offered on a blended basis in one of eight Education Centres nationwide. This involves in-person attendance at the respective centre on 1 and 2 July, followed by 12 hours of online activity. These additional courses are organised by local Education Centres and are delivered by GAA Game Development officers and coach developers (tutors). All courses are approved for Extra Personal Vacation (EPV) days.

Dr Richard Bowles from MIC’s Department of Arts Education and Physical Education explained that: “The launch in 2023 of the MIC Munster GAA Centre of Excellence in Child Coaching and Gaelic Games Promotion, which aims to promote, develop and enhance Gaelic games and coach education within education from pre-school to post-primary level, has been an important milestone in further developing our professional development provision for teachers.”

He added the course is designed to develop teachers’ knowledge and skills in the teaching of Gaelic Games in primary school, in particular on coaching, coaching skills, and the management of coaching programmes at all levels, providing them with the resources they need to enjoy their own, as well as the children’s, participation in Gaelic Games.

According to Martin Kennedy, Head of Coach and Player Development, GAA: “We are delighted to collaborate with MIC in the delivery of this course and sincerely hope all participating teachers enjoy their engagement with it this summer. Teachers play such an important role in the holistic development of children. The GAA is grateful to teachers across the country who actively promote Gaelic games and physical activity in their primary school.”

Welcoming the joint initiative and the continued cooperation between the College and the GAA in teacher professional development, Dr Cathal De Paor, Director of Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Education, MIC, also highlighted the benefits of making the course more widely available. “This new initiative will allow us support teachers in other regional locations in the teaching of Gaelic games. We’re delighted to be extending our collaboration with the GAA in this way.”

MIC is also delighted to be offering a CPD course this year on the integration of robotics in the curriculum, delivered by the MIC CRAFT Maker Space initiative and funded by Oide, the national professional development service for teachers. CRAFT (Creative Arts Future Technologies) Maker is an initiative by MIC providing STEM outreach engagement to children, schools, teachers and the public with the aim to demystify STEM and STEAM and to catalyse the public’s engagement with STEAM.

The Integrating Robotics across the Primary School Curriculum course is designed to be practical, as explained by Dr Eleanor Walsh, Acting Director, Enterprise & Community Engagement: “Teachers will learn in a practical way how to embed and realise a high-quality STEM education experience for learners through robotics – in particular VEX Robotics. It aligns with the redeveloped primary school framework in Mathematics, Science and Technology education.” This course will run from 1 to 5 July on site at MIC Limerick.

The Continuing Professional Development Unit in MIC supports teachers’ professional learning through a range of short courses held annually in the summer and occasional courses and seminars all year round. Topics for summer CPD vary year on year but all are designed to reflect the ever-changing and diverse professional needs of teachers. All courses are approved for EPV days and are a mix of delivery modes like on-campus, blended (onsite & online modules) or completely online.

Courses are being offered free, thanks to the support of our partners and the MIC CPD Development. Places are limited and early booking is advised.