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Draft

Annual Report 2016/17 & Programme of

Activities 2017/18

Projects, Programmes & Services

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April 2018 City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) Curriculum Development Unit (CDU)

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Background and Foreground

Introduction The Curriculum Development Unit (CDU) came into existence in 1972 through the sponsorship of three agencies namely the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee (CDVEC) represented by Jeremiah Sheehan CEO, Trinity College Dublin represented by Prof Val Rice and Brian Powell and the Dept. of Education (DES) represented by the assistant secretary Sean O Connor. The CDU supports research grounded professional development of teachers in creating relevant and meaningful courses, methodologies, resources and assessment structures. The impetus to the formation of the CDU arose from the pressing social necessity for formal education to be significantly more responsive to the needs of all learners particularly the disadvantaged and early school leavers. On 7th April 1972 the Unit’s Steering Committee held its first meeting adopting the provisions of the “Proposal for the Joint Curriculum Development Project for Junior Cycle Post-Primary Courses”. During 1972 the project was approved by the CDVEC committee in February, by the Board and Council of Trinity College in May and finally by the Dept. of Education in December with a remit to extend the work to include non CDVEC schools. In 1978 the CDU was reaffirmed as a sub-committee of the CDVEC/University of Dublin Joint Liaison Council. The CDVEC/University of Dublin Joint Liaison Council was formed in 1976 to enable the University to give degree status to a number of courses within the five CDVEC third level colleges. In 1987/8 the DES formally agreed to the allocation of two heads of staff which with some ancillary provision. Other activity and staffing was subsequently organised on a self-financing basis. The CDVEC was incorporated into the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB) in July 2013. In the financial year 2015 the CDU had an expenditure of €3.2 million. The CDU has initiated a number of projects that later have been mainstreamed in whole or in part through the post-primary and further education sector including Civic Social and Political Education (CSPE), Youthreach, Environment and Social Studies. Earlier work on the Humanities and Integrated Science (ISCIP) are congruent with many aspects of the new NCCA Junior Certificate proposals. Arising from education responses to early school leaving, the CDU developed the Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) which subsequently became a national DES programme which has also informed developments in the new Junior Certificate. The CDU is responsible for the employment and human resource support to the senior librarian and the librarians located in thirty JCSP DEIS schools throughout the country. More recently the work of the Trocaire/CDU citizenship studies project has borne fruit in the announcement that Politics and Society will become a new Leaving Certificate subject in 2016. A previous

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collaboration with Trocaire gave rise to the Junior Certificate Civic Social and Political Studies (CSPE) course.

From the beginning of the major expansion of further education in the late 1970s, the CDU has supported teachers and developed structures to enhance the provision of a quality service for learners. It included, prior to the introduction of the NCVA/FETAC/QQI, the provision of certification to PLC students of CDVEC and other participating colleges that was recognised by a number of Higher Education Institutions by an enhanced points system or by a direct entry mechanism. Given the new QQI guidelines, the CDU will enable the development of newly devolved structures and provide tailored CPD for CDETB staff, and through the Further Education Support Service provide professional support to other DES/SOLAS funded further education providers. The CDU will also continue to promote an understanding of Further Education and Training to include developing the learners’ capacity to play a full critically aware, democratic, ethical and active part in their civic community, in line with the agreement on new competences for democratic culture by the ministers of education at the Council of Europe.

CDU working definition of education Arising from nearly forty-five years’ experience of education developments the CDU provisionally operates from the working definition that education is a lifelong process of developing and realising human potential through the exploration of what it means to be human. Given our social nature and the sensation of our experiences through hand, heart and head, education deepens our understanding of the nature and quality of the relationships we have with ourselves, with others, and with the natural and constructed world. Through play, exploration, cultural, artistic and scientific expression of these interconnecting relationships we create meaning, sustain ourselves, elucidate truth, shape our identities, cultivate an ethical and moral outlook, develop skills, build structures and, carry out social, political and economic activities. The quality of these relationships intensely impacts on our wellbeing, profoundly effects learning, deeply influences the development, nurturing and flourishing of the human person and of human life and directly impinges on other living beings and on the planet itself.

Role of the CDU While the CDU initially operated within the second level sector, nowadays it also operates in the further education sector and with all the providers including Youthreach, Adult Education and Prison Education. The CDU has also established points of alignment with the CDETB Psychological Service through the professional development programme, the CDYSB through the Separated Children’s Service and the Sports and Cultural Committee (SCC) through the CDETB JCSP/Poetry Ireland arts initiative.

The role of the CDU is to support teachers and trainers in their professional practice of defining and realising education and training goals that ensure their learners are provided with the capacity to participate in and develop the economic, social, cultural and civic life of their community. The role of the CDU is achieved by providing a climate, resources and professional development conducive to creative and innovative curriculum development, providing leadership and management support to specifically funded projects, programmes, professional

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networks and services. In addition, the CDU offers support to individual teachers and schools/centres in their search for new and innovative approaches to teaching and learning and in the development and transfer of new resources and expertise. The CDU also initiates projects to explore, demonstrate or pilot evidence based curriculum enterprises that can subsequently be mainstreamed in response to local, national and international educational needs.

In responding to the needs of the CDETB and the broader educational community, the CDU has a long history of supporting projects involving social justice issues including citizenship, sustainability, equality, development, peace and reconciliation, intercultural understanding, democracy, human rights, ethics and transparency as well as programmes involving inclusion, access and participation that address both the causes and effects of educational disadvantage. In response to international agreements and national policies the CDU assists the DES in realising its objectives through developing resources, initiating projects and where appropriate provide representation on committees e.g. the Council of Europe (CoE) Education for Democratic Citizenship/ Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE) and the CoE Ethics and Transparency in Education ETINED. The CDU also has entered into partnership with Concern Worldwide and Gorta Self Help Africa as lead agency to enable the Irish Aid funded post primary development education programme WorldWise Global Schools (WWGS). The CDU assists the education sector in responding to its’ Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR) by supporting and participating in initiatives that deepen the integration of education within the broader community. Currently the CDU has established links with the Young Social Innovators (YSI), ECO/UNESCO, Encountering the Arts Ireland (ETAI), Poetry Ireland, Dublin City Council, Irish Aid, other GOs and NGOs. The process includes enhancing North/South cooperation with educational organisations in Northern Ireland by participation in the EU PEACE funded projects arising from the Good Friday/ Belfast agreement and/or by joining in mutual partnership in other international projects.

Future In addition to implementing existing initiatives the CDU is exploring schemes to further integrate the CDETB Outdoor Education programme into the formal curriculum, supporting ICT and STEM projects, assisting in Arts in Education initiatives, fostering new and effective relationships with employers and provide an educational response to pressing social and environmental needs within the environs of the City of Dublin and beyond. For example, the Separated Children’s Service which has responded to the diverse and often complex needs of separated children, young asylum seekers, aged-out minors and increasingly other young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds living in Dublin has sourced funds to enhance the service. The (English for Speakers of Other Languages) ESOL support which provides a support service to second level schools will also assist with these new developments.

Significant future development will include:

An enhancement of CPD across the mainstream second level schools and further education areas

Developing effective professional networks

Technology enhanced learning (TEL)

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Projects, Programmes and Services

Table of Contents

The current activities of CDU include: page

Professional development of teachers, tutors and trainers 7

CDETB CPD Calendar 7

Induction of teachers new to CDETB 10

Deputy Principals Network 10

Promoting Accredited Learning 12

Technology Enhanced Learning 12

Skills4Work 15

Outdoor Education Service 15

CDETB English Language Support Service for Schools 18

Consumer Education 20

The Separated Children’s Service 21

Promotion of Social Justice Themes within the Curriculum 23

Education for Sustainable Development 25

Arts in Education 27

Junior Certificate School Programme (JCSP) Demonstration Library Project 28

Further Education 30

Safety in the school laboratory 35

Promotion of CDETB provision 36

Library and research services 29

Publishing and reprographics 41

In addition to the projects, programmes and services included in this report the CDU offers support to individual teachers and schools/centres in ensuring learners have a quality education.

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Professional Development of CDETB Staff

The CDETB CDU is a support organisation within CDETB which works in partnership with CDETB Head Office, CDETB Psychological Service and CDETB Schools, Colleges and Centres to support a co-ordinated approach to CPD. The CDU supports staff as essential contributors to the development of a flourishing learning community in CDETB and in the broader national and international educational community. This is achieved through initiating, developing, exchanging, implementing, supporting or managing educational initiatives, projects and support services.

CDETB CPD Calendar

Background Since 2005/2006 the Curriculum Development Unit has developed and managed a Continuing Professional Development calendar on behalf of CDETB. The calendar is published twice during each academic year (September and January) and is designed to add to and compliment the wide range of professional development opportunities that are also available through CDETB schools, colleges or centres and through CDETB Head Office, Winstead etc. The calendar is distributed as widely as possible to CDETB staff with the support of senior management in schools, colleges and centres. Themes for the Calendar are informed through:

suggestions from staff in general

participants who have attended previous CPD sessions e.g. noting ideas on evaluation forms, surveys etc.

management in terms of identifying areas of need e.g. following inspections, evaluations etc.

national and organisational priorities as identified by DES, QQI, SOLAS, Teaching Council etc.

local, national and international projects e.g. pilot projects, Erasmus+ etc.

CDETB Policy

Most sessions on the calendar are delivered as twilight sessions (17.00-19.00) to avoid disruption to the working day and all schools, college and centres are invited to host sessions on evenings when they are open for business e.g. night school.

Where feasible, priority is given to using CDETB staff to facilitate sessions. This promotes the practice of collaboration and sharing across the organisation. CDU provides certificates of attendance with the number of CPD hours stated. The majority of sessions unless otherwise stated are free to staff with light refreshments/ snack provided. Venues for sessions vary with hosting of sessions dependent on the availability of CDETB schools and centres.

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Activities 2016/2017

Two calendars were published during the academic year 2016/2017 with eighty one courses, workshops or activities on offer to CDETB staff mainly through CDU, FESS or Winstead CPD activities Most sessions were face to face twilight sessions with a small number of full or half day sessions also on offer. The majority of sessions were free except where a small fee was required for certification purposes from outside awarding bodies.

Themes across the two calendars were diverse and catered primarily for CDETB management, teachers, tutors, and facilitators in mainstream, further education and training and adult and community education. Sessions where applicable were also open to administrative staff. This year once again the Psychological Service included their CPD activities on the calendar providing a more integrated approach to promoting CPD in CDETB.

Themes on the calendars were broad but mainly fell into categories as follows:

Leadership and management – Deputy Principals network, the middle leader, conflict resolution, conducting effective meetings, and time management

Methodologies / approaches – Mindmapping, Skills for working with groups, active teaching and learning, learner academic writing skills in FET, and Skills4Work

Induction of Teachers New to CDETB

Information Technology and Technology Enhanced Learning

Motivating and Engaging learners

Assessing Learner Evidence for QQI Certification

Outdoor Education – Orienteering Personal Proficiency Training, mountain skills training, whitewater rescue technician, lowland leader wilderness first-aid

Peer Learning and Sharing: PAL Learning Champions

LGB and T+ in FET

Health and wellbeing at work, learner wellbeing,, mindfulness , and wellbeing of prison education teachers

Professional Book Club

Active approaches for JCSP Librarians

Online Courses: In addition to CPD provided through the CDU, FET staff had access to online courses provided through the SOLAS eCollege and FESS.

SPECIAL CPD Day for CDETB Senior Management to SERC, Bangor, Northern Ireland - 3rd May 2017 CDU organised a special CPD Day for CDETB Senior Management. The agenda included: effective continuous professional development – peer mentoring a whole college approach, SPACE, creating learner engagement using technology, the BEST system, project based learning – enterprise and entrepreneurship, and designing systematic change. Two worth highlighting include: TEL Peer Mentoring SERC has pioneered the use of ILT Pedagogy mentoring in Northern Ireland, with great success, which has been highlighted in many inspection reports. Peer mentoring programmes are normally the domain of initial teacher training, but in SERC an ILT Pedagogy mentoring programme was put in place to enhance the effective integration of technology enhanced learning into classroom practice. It provides an opportunity for peer

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support through demonstration lessons, team teaching, training and final classroom observations. BUSINESS ENGAGEMENT AND STUDENT TRACKING SYSTEM – BEST SERC researched software in an attempt to meet the challenges associated with managing an institution wide student work placement scheme, and given the College’s success on other areas including Student Funding and Learning Support, this lead to the internal programming development of a more integrated software solution which enforced business processes.

BEST was designed as a single shared database where information and communication with external companies is stored and student placements are managed. The system promotes internal collaboration and efficiency, and provides multi-site secure access to the three placement partners: students, college placement staff and Placement Providers (employers).

Students can search and apply for placements and companies, college placement staff assign detailed placements to students, and Placement Providers have access to all information relevant to their placement student. The system generates placement documentation and evaluations for the three partners to complete and reports are produced. Proposed Activities 2017/2018

The CDU has the capacity to be responsive to the professional development needs of CDETB and its staff as needs and themes emerge. CPD Calendars: The CPD calendars will be informed by the needs of the organisation as well as important national and local agendas / strategies / frameworks. It is proposed to publish two CPD calendars for CDETB staff in 2017/18. These will compliment other CPD activities offered at school, college or centre level. It is hoped that the calendars will not only capture those CPD activities organized through the CDU but the broader range of CPD activities that take place across the organization e.g. events organized through the Psychological Service, Head Office, Further Education Unit etc. International projects The CDU will continue to work with or lead Erasmus+ projects that contribute to supporting the professional development of staff and priority areas as identified by CDETB. Other CPD opportunities: As CPD needs and interests are identified additional CPD opportunities will be provided for staff. CPD organised by CDU will not be limited to the CPD calendar only as often additional needs arise and are addressed between calendars.

Staffing

Miriam O’Donoghue, Acting Director CDU

Damien O’Reilly (Admin)

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Induction of Teachers New to CDETB

Background The Curriculum Development Unit on behalf of CDETB runs an annual scheme wide CPD induction day for teachers that are new to CDETB. The induction day is in addition to induction offered at local school/centre level and in addition to induction that newly qualified teachers (NQT) are required to attend.


In 2016 the induction day took place on 11th November and was attended by 30+ teachers from across Mainstream, Further Education, Youthreach and Prison Education. All attendees received a certificate of participation. The day included an overview of CDETB, conditions of employment, professional behaviour and boundaries, contracts, the role of the Psychological service, well-being, managing stress etc. Attendance numbers did not fully represent the number of appointments that had been made and many teachers reported difficulty accessing induction because of the large numbers seeking release form their schools, colleges or centres on the same day.

Proposed Activities 2017/2018

It is proposed to run a corporate induction for teachers who are new to CDETB before term starts i.e. late August 2017 It is also proposed to extend the induction to two days to facilitate a more interactive style of presentation and to broaden the range of topics covered. The details of this will be worked out with head office.

Staffing



Deputy Principals Network

Background

The CDETB Deputy Principals Network was set up by the CDETB Curriculum Development Unit during the academic year 2013/14 and supports communication, collaboration, peer support, peer sharing and learning and the professional development of CDETB Deputy Principals.

The Network is now co-ordinated and supported by the CDETB Curriculum Development Unit and the Psychological Service who co-manage this network along with a subcommittee of Deputy Principals. The network of Deputy Principals meets approximately three to four times each academic year.

The Network is supported by a small committee of Deputy Principals that also meets three to four times each year to help to plan and implement the CPD days. An audit of Deputy Principals CPD needs and areas of interest was conducted in February 2014. This data is helping to inform and guide the work of the committee.

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Four Deputy Principal Network Days were facilitated during the academic year 2016/2017:

21 October 2016 Universal Design for Learning - Centre for Excellence in Universal Design National Disability Authority DP Professional Development Needs Analysis

5 December 2016 Promoting your school/college on a shoestring - The Wheel Bouncability - Shane Martin

12th January 2017 Past, Present & Future directions for CDETB 2nd Level schools Other People’s View Exercise, OPV feedback, Consensus Exercise, Reflective Exercise - Wheel Activity, Sharing Exercise - Clock partner activity

28th April 2017 Creating and maintaining a positive/effective school environment – the power of positive leadership and how to achieve it - Jacinta Kitt CDETB Vision - update /sharing MoSCoW Activity on Wellbeing


It is proposed to continue to support the Deputy Principals network in 2017/18 through CPD events, and to convene meetings of the DP subcommittee. Themes will be informed by the DP Professional Development Needs Analysis conducted in October 2016. As has become the practice there will be a strong emphasis on activities that promote peer learning and sharing.

Staffing


Caroline Martin (CDETB Chief Psychologist)

Deputy Principals Subcommittee: o Aine Mulderrig (Presentation College), Mary McAteer (Marino College), Ruth

O’Doherty (Ballsbridge College of FE), and Deirdre Doyle (Larkin College)

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Promoting Accredited Learning – PAL (Peer learning and sharing amongst staff)

Background

CDETB and CDU together with partners in Northern Ireland (Belfast Met), Lithuania, Poland and Hungary are participating in the PAL project, an Erasmus+ project 2014-2016. The project is focused on the informal and non-formal peer learning and sharing activities that take place in an organisation amongst staff. Many of these activities go unnoticed and unrecognised as a rich learning resource within organisations. PAL provides a framework that helps practitioners to engage in peer learning and sharing activities. These can be tracked and celebrated through a system of earning CPD credits for participating in and facilitating peer sharing and learning sessions for peers and through achieving targets in a range of CPD areas so that staff can be celebrated as ‘Learning Champions’.


PAL was showcased by CDU and Pearse College at the Teaching Council FEILTE event in October 2016 CDU managed an ongoing small scale project with Pearse College during 2016/17 where teachers worked together to achieve Certified PAL Champion status.


Under the terms of the project CDU on behalf of CDETB and the project will disseminate PAL. CDU will continue to work with Pearse College and subject to resourcing will roll out PAL to additional CDETB Schools, Colleges and Centres.

Staffing


Technology Enhanced Learning Mentors (TELMS)

Background

The aim of the TELMS project 2016-2018 is to address the need for the appropriate use of Technology Enhanced Learning (TEL) within education provision. The project will support VET staff to embed TEL in the classroom across partner countries. The Curriculum Development Unit is leading this project on behalf of CDETB Participation in this project is offering opportunities to:

Invest in and develop the intangible assets within the partner organisations, that is, its people, technology, brand and goodwill

Develop peer mentoring in the context of each partner’s educational environment

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Explore how TEL can be embedded across the curriculum using a peer mentoring strategy

Stimulate thinking and debate about effective pedagogical practices and the use of technology to enhance learning, by analysing the operation and impact

Promote the professional development of staff in ICT methodologies.


A team of three CDETB staff members participated in a one week Train the Teacher Mentoring Programme in SERC, Bangor, NI. The purpose of this week was to build teacher capacity and ensure that the teachers could mentor their peers to use a range of appropriate technologies and associated digital learning strategies.


Following Mentor training, the TELMS model will be piloted in two colleges: Marino College and Pearse College with a small number of mentees throughout the academic year 2017/18. The mentoring model and piloting experiences in CDETB will be shared at a number of national events e.g. FET conference, FESS national consultation event. CDETB will contribute to a TELMS Teacher Toolkit and a TELMS Online Platform The TELMS Teacher Toolkit will support the training programme and provide valuable resources and guidance for VET teachers on implementation of the ILT pedagogies in the classroom. The Toolkit will provide a framework for development and practical implementation of effective use of ILT pedagogy in the VET sector. The TELMS Online Platform will facilitate access to innovative training resources for technology enhanced learning. It will be used as a digital repository, for information sharing and dissemination purposes. Teachers will be encouraged to explore the resources and discuss their experiences of using the technologies and the effective implementation of the pedagogical strategies suggested through an on-line community forum.

Later in 2018 CDU on behalf of CDETB will organise a Final Conference: This will be used as a platform to showcase and publicise the aims and results of the project, raise awareness and enhance visibility across Ireland and Europe and provide an opportunity for stakeholders to learn from the experience of the project and contribute to fostering good practice in TEL in the classroom. CDETB is responsible for the Dissemination of the project and co-ordinating the activities of the partners. A dissemination plan will be published by CDETB CDU

Staffing

Miriam O’Donoghue, Acting Director CDU (Project Manager)

Caroline Martin, CDETB Chief Psychologist

Jacqui Noonan, Principal Pearse College

Suzanne Yarker, Teacher, Pearse College

Blake Hodkinson, Principal, Marino College

Carrie Archer, Teacher, Marino College

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Skills4Work - Work Based Learning Model for VET & EXTERNSHIPS

Background

From 2014-16 CDETB and CDETB CDU participated in an Erasmus+ Skills4Work project, designed to improve work experience pathways for VET students by creating and validating a Work Based Learning (WBL) model. Resources developed included:

A resource website www.skills4workproject.eu etc.,

Five CDETB booklets: a. Employer Engagement b. Role and Responsibilities c. Developing Learner Soft Skills d. Completing the Work Experience Supervisors Report e. Externships for Teachers and Trainers

An externship programme for teachers with a supporting toolkit.

Activities 2016/17

Work based learning booklets The CDETB booklets were shared with the FET sector and a working group responsible for reviewing the Work Experience programmes. Many of the ideas and learning from the project were incorporated into the work and outcomes of the group. Externships The externship model was shared with the Further Education Support Service who were in a position to adapt the model and implement it nationally. Externships for CDETB staff were made available through CDU and FESS in the IT area. These included the following companies - CISCO, IBM and Zurich Proposed Activities 2017/2018

The CDU plans to continue to make externships available to staff at local level and nationally through the support of FESS. The focus for 2017/18 will be in the area of tourism/hospitality and community health

Staffing


http://www.skills4workproject.eu/

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Outdoor Education

Outdoor Education Support Service

Background

Outdoor education is often defined as experiential learning in, for, or about the outdoors. With this in mind the Outdoor Education Support Service continues to support the delivery of outdoor education throughout the CDETB. This is achieved by either supporting existing programmes or directly providing outdoor education to schools and centres that may not have appropriate staff or resources. These outdoor education programmes can include the following

One-off activity based days to expose students to activities and the outdoor environment

Multi day residential trips including remote expeditions

Ongoing TY programmes providing adventure sport QQI or National Governing Body awards

Support for Gaisce programmes

Support for PLC QQI programmes Activities 2016/2017

The past academic year has been the busiest to date with most sectors showing increased use of the service. The table below shows a breakdown of how each sector was supported.

Post Primary

Youthreach PLC Support Staff Training

Other Total

September 14 4 1 19

October 14 4 2 3 4 27

November 10 6 4 2 3 25

December 9 4 5 7 1 26

January 10 4 1 3 1 19

February 11 5 1 17

March 15 10 1 1 3 30

April 8 3 4 4 19

May 17 6 6 7 3 39

June 12 8 20

July

Total 108 58 19 28 28 241

Many of these groups require more than one outdoor education staff member. Therefore the number of staff: student contact days are greater than indicated by the table. As well as the contact time with students, staff are also required to allocate time for maintenance of equipment and sites, administration, etc. Post Primary: 108 groups from 10 different schools. Day trips, expeditions and ongoing programmes.

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Youthreach: 58 groups from 7 different centres. A mixture of NGB awards, ongoing programmes and one off trips. PLC Support: 19 PLC support days were provided to 3 different colleges with staff providing QQI assessment or additional training. Staff Training: 28 in-service days were provided. There were a diverse range of programmes offered with the focus on orienteering instructor training for teachers and up skilling/retraining of staff. Other: A number of other groups and events were facilitated. These included the Separated Children Service, Sports& Cultural Council events, ASD unit and Pathways. Outdoor education development activities The Outdoor Education Support Service continues to be involved in a large number of ongoing projects. These projects are essential as they ensure that the CDETB continues to provide high quality, safe outdoor education and to meet current needs.

These projects have included the following;

Continued development of water sports site at Polaphuca reservoir.

DEIS school orienteering project (with Irish Orienteering Association).

Development of coasteering award structure (with WWETB).

Review of all risk assessments.

Development of Standard Operating Procedures to support operational guidelines.

Development and promotion of Outdoor Education Junior Cert Short Course.

Ongoing support for CDETB staff training and CPD.

Support for schools/centres when seeking outdoor education staff.

Ongoing support for the development of QQI accredited outdoor education programmes.

Maintain and keep updated operational guidelines for outdoor education activities.

Maintain and keep updated guidelines on equipment use/storage/maintenance/disposal.

Assistance and advice to CDETB staff on undertaking risk assessments.

Provision of SCC orienteering and bouldering/climbing competitions.

Greater involvement with Outdoor Education Ireland.

Greater involvement with ETBI outdoor education sub group. Proposed Activities 2017/2018

The Outdoor Education Support Service will continue to deliver its regular programmes for 2017-2018. Programmes have expanded greatly over the last two years, however the level of progress required cannot be sustained without the recruitment of additional staff. Upcoming and ongoing projects

Continue the development of our water sports site at Polaphuca Resevoir

Develop and expand our involvement with Outdoor Education Ireland

Develop and expand our involvement with ETBI outdoor education sub group.

Continue DEIS schools orienteering project

Organise national CPD events in conjunction with other ETBs.

Increase the level of support for PLC courses

Develop other Junior Cycle Short Courses

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Train a number of teachers so they can take groups hill walking without CDU support

Increase attendance at national orienteering and climbing events Staffing - Outdoor Education Support Service Core Staff

Ronan Lenihan (Coordinator)

Eoin Browne

Aine Carroll

Garry Rossiter

Ronan Kane

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English Language Support

CDETB English Language Support Service for Schools

Background

The (English for Speakers of Other Languages) ESOL Development Unit provides a support service to CDETB centres in their provision of programmes which include students of migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking backgrounds. Based in the Curriculum Development Unit until 2015, it is now located in Captains road and is responsible for ESOL provision in the CDETB Adult education centres. The CDU remains responsible for the CDETB English Language Support Service for Schools. Second Level ESOL support is provided to a small number CDETB mainstream schools following the Junior and Senior Certificate programme. The main activities of the unit fall under two broad strands: Teaching support and initial assessment.


In 2016/2017 the CDU continued its provision of English as an Additional Language (EAL) classes and support to Larkin Community College (15 hours tuition per week and Marino College (7 hours tuition per week). As in 2015 and 2016, all new students who did not have English as a first language were assessed in September using the Department of Education’s Post-Primary EAL Assessment Kit complemented by additional reading and writing tasks designed to obtain a more accurate gauge of students’ abilities at the upper end of the Common European Framework Reference (CERF). 38 students were tested in Larkin Community College. Of these 21 students attended classes at three levels A0-A1, A2-A3, and B1 – B2. In Marino College 23 students were tested and 11 students attended classes at levels A0-A1 and A3-B1. The number of students entering the two schools with little or no English (A0- A1) continued to increase and while the number is still very small (seven in total) they represent a significant challenge. Ideally students at this level should be receiving intensive EAL tuition (at least 15 hours per week) at the appropriate level before being expected to integrate into mainstream classes. In the absence of the resources in either school to provide this the, CDU Language Support Service this year endeavoured to maximise the amount of tuition offered at this level. For two students this amounted to nine hours per week but for others due to timetabling constraints it was as little as one hour. While it is the case that these students also attended “extra English” classes in groups based on students who have an exemption from Irish within their year, these classes are per se very mixed in level and do not meet the needs of absolute beginners. Some of these students are now entering their second year of post-primary education with a very inadequate level of English. It is hoped to target these students in the coming year.

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In both schools students were offered the opportunity to prepare for and sit, either the Preliminary English Test (PET) or the First Certificate in English (FCE), (levels B1 and B2 on the Common European Framework Reference (CERF) A total of seven students took the examinations with the cost of fees being shared among the school, the students’ parents and the CDU. Happily all of the students were successful.

Proposed activities 2017/18

The English Language Support Service will continue to co-ordinate the two CDETB schools and colleges and work with them in identifying and implementing new approaches to ESOL including the development of initial assessment methods.

In 2016/17, in response to above mentioned increase in the number of students who are testing at levels A0 and A1, we considered offering the lowest level of the Cambridge suite of international examinations – the Keystone English Test (KET). However, in the end we decided that the costs were prohibitive. Instead we now plan to offer our own examination modelled on the KET administered by CDETB staff but external to the two schools, with the CDU providing certificates for the successful candidates. While these will not have the international recognition of the actual KET, we believe they will nonetheless be a worthwhile in providing recognition of students’ attainment and will encourage them to go on to do the PET and FCE. This year we have had some success in developing the relationship between the two schools and the Migrant Access Programme (MAP) of the CDETB Youth and Education Service for refugees and Migrants.

Given their geographical proximity to many of the students attending both Larkin Community College and Marino College, the services offered by MAP represent a potentially very valuable resource. This year five students from Larkin Community College availed of the opportunity to attend MAPs study clubs for non-native students preparing for the Junior and Leaving Certificates which were held in the February mid-term break and at Easter. The feedback from the students was very positive and hopefully we will build on this in 2018. Unfortunately no students took up the opportunity to attend MAP’s after school support service which would certainly benefit them. Hopefully students from both schools will, with the encouragement of their teachers, do so in 2017/2018.

Finally, and again in response to the number of AO- A1 level students enrolling in our secondary schools, the CDU Language Service is currently developing what we hope will be a comprehensive course tailored-made for these students. In the initial phase, the CDU has allocated the resources to develop four sample units which will importantly include audio classroom materials and which will be trialled by a number of CDETB teachers. The materials will meet a significant gap in the published EAL materials currently available which at this level are overwhelmingly designed for either younger learners (primary school) or adults. In addition, there are no materials available which specifically address the linguistic and cultural challenges facing students embarking on fulltime secondary school in Ireland. The classroom materials will be accompanied by extensive teaching notes intended to assist teachers who find themselves delivering EAL classes without necessarily having any background or training in teaching English as a second language.

Staffing

John Poole (English Language Support Teacher)

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Consumer Education

The Consumer Classroom

Background

The Consumer Classroom www.consumerclassroom.eu is a community website for teachers bringing together an extensive library of consumer education resources from across the EU, along with interactive and collaborative tools to help prepare and share lessons with students and other teachers. The site is developed together with teachers, taking their needs and feedback into account. It is funded by the European Commission and aims to stimulate consumer education in secondary schools (12-18 year olds). CDETB Curriculum Development Unit is the ‘National Team Partner Representative’ for Ireland.


As the National Team partner representative for Ireland the CDU undertook several pieces of work for the Consumer Classroom which included work on resource kits, promotion of the teachers website, resource review, partnership building, and forum and blog posts.


The CDU will continue to contribute to the Consumer Classroom based on requests received from Expertise France who manage the project on behalf of the EC. The CDU will represent the Consumer Classroom at the School Summit in Dublin in September 2017 by providing assistance on their exhibition stand.

Staffing


http://www.consumerclassroom.eu/

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Separated Children

CDETB Separated Children’s Service

Background

The CDETB Separated Children’s Service has been working with Separated Children and aged out minors since 2001. It has responded to the diverse and often complex needs of this target group and has developed into a well-established education and youth support service for Separated Children, aged-out minors and increasingly other young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds living in Dublin.

The Separated Children’s Service offers a range of education and youth-work activities that complement formal education provision and non-formal youth work practice. The service provides opportunities and resources for young people from refugee and migrant backgrounds to realise their full potential, to negotiate and navigate their new environment and life in Ireland and to integrate into and contribute to Irish society. The service employs a full time manager, 1.7 youth workers, a coordinator for the Access

Programme, as well as 8 part time tutors.


Overall 2017 saw an increase in numbers of participants across the various programmes. The Service received additional funding for an Integration of Migrants Project from the Dormant Accounts Fund via the Social Inclusion Unit of the Department of Education. This is to expand the provision to children and young people from migrant backgrounds in addition to the original core target group of unaccompanied minors. The Migrant Access Programme: Over 40 weeks, from January to July and from September to December, the Migrant Access Programme provided a transition programme for newly arrived unaccompanied minors and young migrants / refugees with English as an Additional Language (EAL). With 20 hours per week class contact time, the programme centres around 4 core- modules: ESOL, Maths, Lifeskills and basic IT skills and includes a range of after school, and intercultural activities. Total participation numbers: 124 students of which 64 unaccompanied minors (in the care of TUSLA) and 60 migrant children with families. 72 % male, 28% female Top 5 countries of origin: Afghanistan (29%), Albania (16%), Romania (14%), Somalia (11%), Syria (9%) Average level of English (as an additional language) pre A1 Participants also availed of a range of after-school and holiday time activities, organised by the service’s youth workers. For example: Weekly cooking workshops, football and sports, arts and crafts and music / guitar; Information workshops with An Garda Siochana and a visit to Templemore; Workshops with the Ombudsman for Children; Activities via the CDU Outdoor Education Team; Workshops and overnight camps with Scouting Ireland; A weekly language exchange programme with

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Belvedere College; Numerous cultural and recreational activities and excursions, including an overnight camp to the Cavan Centre. Study Buddy Volunteer Tuition Programme From September to May the twice weekly after school Homework Club took place, with 40 young people and 28 volunteers. Drop in – Outreach

The youth workers supported over 70 young people with a variety of issues, such as housing, accommodation and homelessness, access to and paths back into education, affordable childcare, supports around mental health and wellbeing, preparation for and access to employment. Materials Development The Service is collaborating with the CDU’s English Language Support Unit with a view to developing tailor made EAL materials that reflect Irish culture and are applicable to an Irish schools setting. CPD The Service facilitated a workshop at the NALA ESOL conference in April, as well as at the FEILTE, Teacher Council conference in October.


The service will continue its programmes and activities.

A further increase in student numbers is anticipated for both the Migrant Access Programme and the School Support Programme. The service is working more closely with schools who have students who require additional English language support as well as receiving more referrals of unaccompanied minors through TUSLA.

The Service will continue its pilot project with Limerick and Clare ETB with the support of the Dormant Accounts Fund and The Social Inclusion Unit in the Department of Education. The Service is continuing to develop tailor made resource materials for Post primary EAL teachers.

In 2017/18 the service plans to recruit a fixed term resource worker for the Migrant Access Programme. The resource worker will be responsible for supporting the coordinator in the day to day running of the Migrant Access Programme. Duties will include: · Supervision and monitoring of students upon arrival, break-time and at other times as required. · Preparation and planning of activities · Accompanying groups on external fieldtrips · Liaison with parents / guardians and / or care staff in relation to students’ attendance. · Facilitation of student groups · Administrative duties appropriate to the position

Staffing

Jessica Farnan (Manager)

Manuela Moreno, Andrew Sexton (youth workers)

Moira Kelly (MAP coordinator and teacher)

Jillian Frayne (teacher and School Support Programme Coordinator)

Eight part time tutors

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Promotion of Social Justice Themes within the Curriculum

Background

The CDU has a long history of promotion of social justice themes within the curriculum. Through a joint initiative with Trocaire, the Junior Certificate subject Civic Social and Political Education (CSPE) was introduced. More recently the work of the Trocaire/CDU citizenship studies project has borne fruit with the announcement that Politics and Society will become a new Leaving Certificate subject in 2016. The CDU has supported the Young Social Innovators (YSI) programme through provision of advice and staff on the judging panel. The new universal Sustainable Development Goals will have impact across social and environmental justice themes in education. The CDU supports the Citizenship Education Network and the Five Nations Network which promotes citizenship and values education through an annual conference and small grants. Activities 2016/2017

Council of Europe (CoE): The Council of Europe Education for Democratic Citizenship/Human Rights Education (EDC/HRE) programme in currently focused on the promotion of the CoE charter on EDC/HRE among the 45 member countries. The CDU actively participated in the development of a European wide “Managing Controversial Issues”. New themes focusing on extremism and radicalisation of young people and student welfare are emerging.

WorldWise Global Schools (WWGS): WorldWise Global Schools is an Irish Aid funded development education programme for the post primary sector. WWGS is led by a consortium of the CDETB CDU, Concern Worldwide and Gorta Self Help Africa as lead agency. The project had a €3.3 million budget over three years with €0.6 million directly allocated in grants to post primary schools for 2015/2016. A similar allocation has been provided over the eighteen-month period until the implementation of another multiannual round of funding in 2018. The CDU played an important role in the evolution of Development Education in the post primary sector. The CDU is named by Irish Aid as one of three organisations to consult with on development education.

Other: The CDU /Emeritus Director is a member of:

Department of Education and Skills (DES) national coordinator of the Council of Europe education for Democratic Citizenship Education and Human Rights Education

DES Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Advisory Group.

National representative on the Council of Europe ETINED (Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in education) committee.

Irish Aid Development Education Strategy reference group

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To continue to support the social justice themes and agencies that explore and address the root causes and effects of inequality and disadvantage.

To submit, with its consortium partners Gorta/Self Help Africa and Concern, a new multi annual proposal to Irish Aid for the next phase of WorldWise Global Schools.

To support the new universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) as part of a whole of government response and to initiate resource development for mainstream and further education targeting the SDGs

To explore possible funding for North/South work under PEACE 4

To represent DES on the Council of Europe Education Policy Advisors Network (EPAN) in respect of education for democracy and human rights and the Reference Framework of Competences for Democratic Culture (CDC).

To represent DES on the Council of Europe Council ETINED (Ethics, Transparency and Integrity in education) committee.

Explore revisiting inter-culture themes.

Staffing

Aidan Clifford (Associate)


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Education for Sustainable Development ESD

UNESCO CHAIR & UNITWIN (PERL) Network for Education About Sustainable Lifestyles

Background

Since 2015 the UNESCO CHAIR and UNITWIN (PERL) Network for Education About Sustainable Lifestyles has been building on the work of the Partnership for Education and Research about Responsible Living (PERL) 2003-2009 and the Consumer Citizenship Network (CCN)2009-20015. PERL and CCN built a substantial international network and established cooperation with 140 universities, colleges and international organizations in 50 countries. Cooperation with the majority of these organizations has lasted more than 15 years. 32 members of the network committed themselves through the UNITWIN agreement to continue to cooperate closely with Hedmark University University of Applied Sciences (HUAS). HAUS is committed to actively developing competence and cooperation which will increase social responsibility and quality education and research nationally, regionally, and internationally. As a part of this process and on the basis of its longstanding engagement in education and research about responsible living, HAUS has established a UNESCO Chair and UNITWIN Program on Education about Sustainable Lifestyles.

The CDETB CDU worked closely with CCN and PERL and led the development of active teaching and learning approaches and resources to support sustainable and responsible living in formal, informal and non-formal learning situations. From 2006 to present the CDU has been a lead author and editor of eight ESD active methodology toolkits. CDU was also an active member of the PERL Steering Committee. In 2015 an international advisory board was convened to coordinate the activities of the UNESCO Chair, the PERL/UNITWIN network, and other related projects. CDU was invited to be a member of the advisory board.


The tasks of the international advisory board have been to ensure that the activities of the PERL/UNITWIN network contribute constructively to the newly adopted global development goals (SDGs). To do so, the work of the network contributes to the UNESCO's Global Action Program for Education for Sustainable Development and to the 10-Year Framework of Programs on Sustainable Lifestyles and Education. CDU played a key role in providing advice and developing new material and resources for active methodology toolkits.


The CDU will continue to to be a member of the advisory board and attend meetings twice each year.

CDU will provide ongoing advice and editing services for new active methodology toolkits on ESD

Staffing


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eBook: Global Sustainable Development, a challenge for Consumer Citizens

Background

The International Federation of Home Economics (IFHE) together with the CDU as lead agency have produced an e-book to support international sharing of practice in relation to sustainable development, responsible living and themes linked to the millennium development goals (MDGs). The ebook currently includes 134 contributions from 54 Countries worldwide.

The ebook was developed and published in 2008 and was updated in 2010 and 2012.

The types of contributions include: Case Studies, discussion papers, illustrated stories, philosophical reflections, research papers, teacher resources

The ebook themes are linked to the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

The eBook first published in 2008 can be found at http://www.educationforsustainabledevelopment.org/


The main activities for the year related to the dissemination of the eBook

Proposed Activities 2017/2018 The main activities will continue to be related to the dissemination of the eBook and maintenance of the ebook website which is managed through the CDU

Staffing


Eva Hornung, CDU Librarian

http://www.educationforsustainabledevelopment.org/

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Arts in Education

Background

The CDU is facilitating “Encountering the Arts Ireland (ETAI)”, an alliance of governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals committed to arts and education in Ireland and supporting the implementation of the Arts in Education Charter. ETAI was jointly launched by the ministers of the Departments of Education and Skills (DES) and Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DAHG) in 2014. In 2015 ETAI was reformed as a limited company and in November 2016 will become a company limited by guarantee (CLG). More recently Creative Ireland has provided new impetus to Arts in Education.


Under the Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP) programme, ETAI in partnership with ATECI (Association of Teacher Education centres Ireland), ACEA (The Association for Creativity and Arts in Education) and DES as the lead, implemented a successful week long summer CDP programme on teacher artist partnership in 20 Education Centres nationally. In total 400 teacher and 80 artists participated. ETAI also forwarded a research proposal to Creative Ireland to establish ways to identify a quality arts experience. Proposed activities 2017/18

The TAP programme is currently implementing 80 teacher artist residencies in primary schools nationally before May 2018. The CDU will continue to support ETAI and other small scale developments in arts and education including an initiative with Poetry Ireland, Sports and Cultural Committee (SCC), and CDETB JCSP library school’s artist in residence programme. The CDU will provide expertise, advice and assistance to future arts in education based proposals including emergent initiatives with Dublin City Council. Aidan Clifford will continue to represent ETAI on the TAP design team and on other relevant initiatives Staffing


Miriam O’ Donoghue, Acting Director CDU

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Junior Cycle

JCSP Demonstration Library Project

Background

The JCSP Demonstration Library Project is a unique project creating a new educational space, in the form of a state-of-the-art school library, in DEIS post-primary schools. The CDU is responsible for the human resource needs and employment of the Project’s Senior Librarian and the 30 professional school librarians located in DEIS post-primary schools around the country. The main aim of the Project is to improve literacy levels, develop a whole-school reading culture and enhance the learning experience of students – with a particular focus on the literacy and numeracy needs of potential early school leavers. Activities 2016/2017

Some highlights: We Write What We Like:

We Write What We Like is a Writer in Residence initiative, run in partnership with the CDETB Sports and Cultural Council It involves the engagement of an author/artist over the full academic year to work with creative writing groups across all 12 CDETB second-level schools. This year saw the engagement of author Kevin McDermott as Writer in Residence, and the focus was on the

development of a community of writers across CDETB schools. It was a very successful initiative which inspired young writers and which culminated in a very successful showcase event in the National Library of Ireland at the end of April. WRaPParound (Writing, Reading and Performance Poetry): Set up in 2013, WRaPParound is a JCSP Library Project performance poetry initiative run in conjunction with Poetry Ireland and Trócaire. Participating students in each school work with an established poet/rapper over a full day or over a series of shorter workshops during which they write, edit, recite and/or record their own work. This spoken-word poetry initiative introduces students to writing, reading and reciting poetry in a new way. Through being encouraged to craft poems based on their own ideas and experiences, students find a new way into poetry. Writing, listening to and creating spoken word poetry and rap songs gives students an understanding of the power of language. The ability to write their own poems, to stand up and perform their poems or to rap quickly, clearly contributes to the development of writing, oral language and listening skills.

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A total of 27 schools and over 400 students from around the country took part in the 2016/2017 initiative which culminated in WRaPParound Wrap celebration events which took place in University College Cork on the 27th April 2017 and in Trinity College Dublin on the 4th May 2017. These celebratory events involved the coming together of a selection of students from across the participating schools, together with their librarians, teachers and principals. Students performed their raps and recited their poems in front of all those present. Through the support of Trócaire’s Mobilising for Justice Scheme, the JCSP Library Project was delighted to introduce the WRaPParound the World strand of the initiative last year. Under this strand a selection of schools received grant aid to engage a poet/performance artist to work with their students to produce poems and raps on the chosen Trócaire theme. This year’s theme was ‘Before the Storm’ which introduced students to the important subject of climate justice. National Drop Everything and Read Challenge:

The JCSP Library Project continued its support of Ireland’s National Drop Everything and Read challenge this year. The aim of the DEAR challenge is to promote reading for pleasure by encouraging the entire country to ‘Drop Everything and Read’ at 12 noon on Friday April 28th. Over 50,000 people registered to participate this year – including individuals, families, primary and second-level schools, PLCs and third-level colleges, book clubs,

public libraries, etc., etc. Our DEAR Ambassador this year was Laureate na nÓg P.J. Lynch. The initiative was a great success which raised the profile of reading for pleasure for all age groups. We hope to continue and further develop our support for this initiative next year. Proposed Activities 2017/2018

CDU role:

Support the CPD needs of the librarians

Assist the DES in ensuring the appropriate level of staff is deployed to achieve the optimal outcome for JCSP students

Advise the DES on restructuring library facilities Staffing

Kathleen Moran, Senior Librarian | JCSP Demonstration Library Project

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Further Education and Training

Furt er Education Support Service (FESS) www.fess.ieh Background FESS supports QQI-registered providers funded by SOLAS in developing, planning, delivering and assessing programmes leading to QQI awards at Levels 1-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and all Providers delivering programmes at NFQ Level 1 and Level 2. The City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), through the CDU is the lead agency for FESS. It is one of a number ETBs who co-operate to provide a national service. FESS regional offices are based in Tipperary ETB, Kildare and Wicklow ETB, Cavan and Monaghan ETB and City of Dublin ETB. The Dublin office supports the following region: Dublin City and County, Co. Laois, Co. Offaly, Co, Meath and Co. Louth.

Direction of FESS is through a steering committee with representation that includes the four hosting ETBs. The FESS Manager and the Dublin support officer are based in the CDETB Curriculum Development Unit. FESS Activities 2016/2017 A broad range of capacity-building support strategies were employed by FESS in 2016/2017 including: National/Regional/Local-based Support:

Seminars/CPD including areas such as: o Managing and conducting Assessment o Developing learners’ academic writing skills o Programme development

http://www.fess.ie/

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o Programme evaluation o Motivating and engaging learners in FET o Learning well-being in FET o Being LGB and T+ in FET o Active teaching and learning approaches in FET o Creating and using mind maps to support teaching and learning in FET o Time management in FET o Conducting effective meetings in FET o General FESS, QQI and QA updates

Collaborative project with SOLAS e-college, ETBI and the National Network of IT Teachers (NNITT) to provide ongoing CPD for IT teachers/tutors/trainers. This involved national/regional seminars, the provision of tailor-made online programmes provided by SOLAS e-College and the provision of externship visiting programmes (EVPs) to industry (e.g. Cisco, IBM) for IT teachers/tutors/trainers

Collaborative project with the DSP, CDETB and DDLETB to provide targeted training to approximately 400 Community Employment (CE) Supervisors

ETBI/QQI FET Collaborative forum (renamed during 2017 as the ETBI QA forum) – While FESS take part in all forum meetings, it also acts as secretariat to the forum and has been involved in a number of ETBI working/task groups including:

o Development of Assessment Procedures Handbook for ETBs (FESS has a lead role in managing and co-ordinating this working group)

o Implementation plan for the new QQI validation policy. This involved working collaboratively with ETBI, ETBs and QQI in the development of a validation manual to support providers in making programme validation applications to QQI in line with the 2016 policy (FESS has a lead role in managing and co-ordinating this working group)

o Work Experience working/task group – this involved the review of levels 3, 4, 5 and 6 work experience modules

o Establishment of External Authentication Model for ETBs

Provider/Centre visits – The focus of these visits is generally to support management/staff with specific issues in relation to provider quality assurance and QQI processes.

Web-based Support:

Online support - The Further Education Support Service website www.fess.ie provides a first point of contact for those seeking support, advice and information. In 2015/2016 the development of resource lists by FET staff for FET staff commenced. To date (June 2017), approximately 220 subject/module specific resource lists were developed and published on the FESS site. The production of resource lists is ongoing with 50 more expected by early September 2017.

General Supports:

FESS supported programme/curriculum development for the ETB sector, including o the development of the Commis Chef apprenticeship programme

http://www.fess.ie/

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o the level 6 digital media production programme developed in line with the 2016 QQI validation policy and criteria, as part of a pilot project between 7 ETBs and QQI

Consultancy Meetings with relevant stakeholders including QQI, ETBI, SOLAS, JMB, ACCS, SNSs, DSP, National Network of IT Teachers (NNITT), National Association of Adult and Community Education Directors (NACED), Fáilte Ireland, NALA, etc. to explore appropriate support strategies

Provision of telephone and email support

Development of guidelines, templates and exemplars of good practice

Commenced work with SOLAS, ETBI and ETBs to progress the development of a professional development framework to meet the requirements of quality assurance in FET

FESS is represented on a range of groups/fora/committees including the ETBI QA forum and related sub-groups, ETBI Further and Adult Education Forum (AFET), JMB FE Advisory Group, JMB and ACCS Joint FE Representative Group (JFERG), RPL Practitioner Network Steering Group, QQI Communications and Information Focus Group (FET), ETBI / SLAI Equality Project, European Credit Transfer Systems for VET (ECVET) Expert Group (Ireland), ECVET Working Group on Units of Learning Outcomes; QQI Project ‘EQAVET : Self Evaluation, Quality Indicators and ETBs’

FESS was represented and/or delivered sessions at a number of conferences/events in the FET area

FESS has contributed to the consultation process on a range of FET-related discussion documents, White Papers, etc.

FESS Proposed of Activities 2017/2018

CPD provision o Work in partnership with SOLAS to support the implementation of a national

CPD strategy for FET including working with SOLAS, ETBI and ETBs to progress the development of a professional development framework to meet the requirements of quality assurance in FET

o National/Regional/Local Seminars including: Assessing learner evidence in FET for QQI certification, including CPD for

training centre staff on devising assessments to support the AIS model of assessment

External authenticator training to support the proposed new model of EA for the ETB sector

Teaching and learning events such as active teaching and learning approaches in FET and learning and organisational tools to support FET learners; TEL in the FET environment

Subject-specific seminars for IT teachers Time management in FET Inclusive education toolbox (facilitated by AHEAD) Motivating and engaging learners in FET Creating and maintaining a positive and effective workplace Resilience and personal well-being Delivery and assessment in language programmes

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General QQI and QA updates o There will also be focus on CPD support for providers on the implementation of

the new QQI validation policy and criteria. This will involve support in the areas of programme/curriculum development, self-evaluation of programmes to support validation applications

o FESS Externship Visiting Programme (EVP), continuing with the IT industry but also developing the EVP programme to include other industry areas, such as hospitality, healthcare, etc.

o Further development of subject/module specific resource lists and thematic resource lists by FET staff for FET staff

o Ongoing provision of provider-led CPD to meet local demand

Support the ETBI QA forum as last year and also by leading and/or part-taking in task groups to complete work in a number of key areas:

o Development of Assessment Procedures/Regulations/Handbook for ETBs o Establishment of External Authentication Model for ETBs o Implementation plan for the 2016 QQI validation policy o Programme Development & Validation for new Apprenticeships

Continued representation on a number of groups/fora/committees in the FET area

Ongoing development of web-based support

Provide ongoing telephone and e-mail support

Development of guidelines, templates and exemplars of good practice

Attend/deliver sessions at conferences/events in the FET area Staffing

Miriam O’Donoghue, Acting Director CDU (National Manager)

FESS Support Officer: Finola Butler (Region - North Leinster and Dublin)

Ann Glynn and Colm O’Keeffe (Admin) Other support officers includes:

Siobhan Magee (Region - North & West)

Mary Sheehy (Region - South East)

Jenny Whelan (Region - South West)

CDETB Further Education Unit (FEU) Background

The FET Development Unit was established in September 2015 as a support service which is aimed at enabling CDETB and its staff to meet the challenges and opportunities which are presenting themselves within the FET Sector, while maintaining our educational ethos and core values. The FET Development Unit is committed to being a supportive presence at all levels of the organisation and across its different service spheres. The focus of its work is to enable CDETB Centres and Services to appropriately determine and meet the needs of learners and prospective

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learners; while ensuring CDETB meets stakeholder obligations to its’ staff, regulatory bodies, awarding bodies, employers, other FE providers and higher education institutions.

The Unit is located within the Curriculum Development Unit. It issues its own Annual Report and has a programme of activities agreed with CDETB Senior Management. CDU is a member of the CDETB FET Steering Group and chair of the FET Programme Management Committee.

Staffing

David Treacy, Education Officer John Farrelly, Development Officer Ann Dunne, Development Officer Barbara Galvin, Development Officer Treasa Brannick O'Cillín, Development Officer

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Safety in the School Laboratory

Chemicals Project

Background

The CDU is enabling safety in the school laboratory through supporting schools and science teachers in disposal of listed substances under two Department of Education and Skills (DES) funded schemes: Disposal of Hazardous Chemicals from post-primary schools in Ireland in compliance with the European Union Consolidated EU Regulation on the Registration Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals (REACH EC 1907/2006) and Disposal of Radioactive substances from post-primary schools in Ireland in response to the European Union Council Directive 2011/70/EURATOM and on the recommendation of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII). Activities 2016/2017

By June 2017 chemicals have been removed from 446 schools and 1066 radioactive sources were removed from 202 schools country wide. Most other activities involved the provision of support and advice to schools on disposal operations for which they were responsible.


To bring all aspects of the removal and disposal operations to a conclusion (There continues to be a small trickle of schools contacting the CDU about the disposal of radionuclides and hazardous chemicals.) Staffing


Colm O’Keeffe (Admin)

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Promotion of CDETB

Promoting Course Provision Background

The CDU organises and supports various promotional activities, exhibitions and events on behalf of CDETB Head Office and CDETB colleges and centres. The CDU also distributes the CDETB Directory of Courses and Services on behalf of CDETB. The main purpose of these activities is to help to promote courses and services.


Exhibitions: The CDU supported the CDETB schools and centres to promote their courses by planning and co-ordinating the annual CDETB stand at the Higher Options exhibition in the RDS in September and a number of other smaller promotional / careers events in Dublin and the Leinster region e.g. Carlow Career day in November. The CDU provided staff to oversee the stands at these events and where requested organised the printing of

course flyers for centres in the CDU print room. Distribution: The CDU also distributed the CDETB Directory of Courses and Services to all second level schools in Ireland and helped with facilitation, and where appropriate, redirection of all general queries in relation to CDETB provision.


The CDU staff will continue to support CDETB schools and centres to promote their courses in line with previous year’s activities. This will include but not be limited to

Organising and managing the Higher Options Exhibition stand in September 2017, a stand at the Carlow Careers day in November 2017, and the Guidance Counsellors conference in DCU in March 2018

Printing course flyers on request from schools and centres

Distributing 5,000 copies of the new CDETB Directory of Courses and Services

Posting out 1,460 directories across 160 Dublin schools and 570 Schools outside of Dublin.

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Staffing


Angela Corcoran (Admin)

Colm O’Keefe (Admin)


Promoting CDETB as an Employer

The CDU organises and supports various promotional activities, exhibitions and events on behalf of CDETB Head Office. These are aimed at graduate, post graduate students and qualified teachers. The main purpose is to promote CDETB as an employer and highlight the advantages of taking up a teaching career with CDETB. Activities 2016/2017

In April 2017 (18th) the CDU represented CDETB at the DCU St. Patrick’s Campus, Drumcondra, Teacher Education Fair. Proposed Activities 2017/2018

The CDU will respond to teacher education fairs as they emerge or as invitations are received. We will attend the following:

University of Limerick, Teachers Education Fair, 7th March 2018 12.00-15.00 Staffing




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CDETB Youthreach

Background

The CDU provides administration support to the CDETB Regional Youthreach programme.


Administrative activities included Record keeping Maintaining accurate policy procedures documents, maintaining payroll records of students’ attendance, generating graphs of enrolments numbers , archiving documents relating to annual centre class timetables, requesting and checking centres staff utilisation. Invoicing Processing of invoices Assessment Supporting assessment processes by archiving Internal Verification (IV), External Authentication (EA) and Results Approval Panel meetings reports. Events Documenting CDETB Youthreach In-service, booking rooms, catering facilities and Helping with events such as boxing in the community; Easter/Spring cake & crafts competition; and CDETB Youthreach sports day. Liaising with the Dublin Mansion House re CDETB Youthreach Students Achievement Awards. Meetings Sending our formal correspondence re Coordinators and Sub-group meetings and archiving agenda/minutes. Misc. Issuing staff and student documents. issuing to centres annual CDETB Youthreach Programme Calendars. Proposed Activities 2017/2018

The CDU will continue to provide administration support to the CDETB Regional Youthreach

programme as required.

Staffing


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CDU Library, Research, Publishing and Reprographics Services

CDU Library and Research Services

Background

The CDU Library is a special lending library servicing the information and research needs of City of Dublin ETB staff, and associates of CDU-based projects, including Trinity College Dublin and other staff engaged in educational research. The Library holds about 8,000 books and items of grey literature, journals and some videos, CD-ROM and DVDs. The library offers (within certain limits) a free book purchasing scheme to CDETB staff engaged in advanced study or research on the understanding that all such books will be returned to the CDU on completion of the study. The CDU catalogue online is at http://curriculum.heritage4.com/ The Library Resource Centre is also the central point for the distribution of CDU publications most of which are free to CDETB centres. Activities 2016/2017

Newsletter:

The new CDU library newsletter, which features links to websites, new initiatives in the field of Education and new resources was published monthly during term time. There were nine publications in total.

Support for teachers:

The library helped CDETB teachers and staff with their research and information queries.

CPD Calendar:

The librarian updated the CDU website regularly with all CDETB CPD calendar events Moodle and CDU Website:

The CDU librarian was the information manager for the CDU Moodle platform and supported its redesigned in February 2017

CDETB validated QQI programmes were uploaded as soon as they became available. Furthermore, the librarian maintained the CDETB staff user accounts to ensure access to CDETB programmes from levels one to six

The CDU librarian was part of the development and implementation team for the new CDU website which was launched in February 2017.

The Librarian updated the CDU website on a regular basis adding events featured in

http://curriculum.heritage4.com/

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the CDETB CPD calendar, new documents and open-access journals.

A new electronic depository, which showcases research undertaken by CDETB staff, is now online.

The CDU Library co-manages alongside the Director of the CDU the CDU Twitter account. The CDU tweets several times a day about educational matters and monitors topics of interest to CDETB staff. The CDU promotes the work of CDETB and its schools and centres through twitter. The CDU has over 1,000 followers. @cdetbcdu

JCSP Libraries

The CDU library co-ordinated a network with a number of the JCSP libraries based in CDETB colleges focusing on professional issues including collection and service development.

Professional associations

The librarian continued to be active in professional associations. The CDU librarian is Chairperson of the Academic & Special Libraries Section of the Library Association of Ireland and mentor for professional qualifications with the Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals. This has facilitated the CDU library to link to many information centres in Ireland and the UK.

In the summer of 2017 the librarian attended a meeting of the L2L librarians’ community of practice of the National Forum for the Enhancement of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education.


The Library will continue to implement the 2017/18 CDU Library and Information Management Services Plan to ensure and assist CDETB staff access to relevant information. The key focus will be on further enhancement of the IT education and learning platforms developed by CDETB. The library will:

Provide ongoing support for the development and population of CDUs new website. www.cdetbcdu.ie

Provide specific initiatives and resources to support teachers in the area of technology enhanced learning (TEL)

Offer TEL support to teachers through a one to one peer initiative in the Library

Continue to update and circulate the CDU catalogue of publications to CDETB schools and colleges as well as other interested parties.

Continue to advise on copyright and legal deposit issues, for print and online publications. The library acts as ISBN title editor for both CDU and CDETB publishers.

Support an electronic depository of relevant material, which will enable staff to share work with others.

Move towards offering pdf versions of CDU publications through Moodle.

Staffing

Dr Eva Hornung

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CDU Publishing and Reprographics Background The CDU provides an in-house publishing, reprographic and binding service and where required uses its own ISBN codes. Activities 2016/2017 The CDU published most of its resources in-house. Printing requests included student / teacher resources, parent newsletters, calendars and certificates. These were printed for either a minimal cost or on a pro bono basis. In some cases resources for teachers were made available on memory sticks. All CDU publications were free of charge to CDETB centres. Proposed Activities 2017/2018 The CDU will continue to publish and print in house resources and to distribute its publications. It will raise awareness of the service across all the CDETB centres. Staffing


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