Mary Robinson keynote speaker at Teaching Council's FÉILTE

FÉILTE, the largest educational event in Ireland, is taking place online for the first time on Saturday, October 3, from 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Hosted by the Teaching Council, FÉILTE (the Festival of Education in Learning and Teaching Excellence) gives teachers the opportunity to collaborate and share their work with each other and with the wider public.

Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland, is keynote speaker for the event.

Forty-five showcases - which display a multitude of projects by teachers covering a range of themes including wellbeing, cross-curricular, STEM, inclusion, collaborative practice and more - will be available online in a virtual format via a tailor-made Expo area.

Almost 100 different schools and education centres from across the country are contributing to the event, either via a showcase, hosting a workshop, or coordinating a TeachMeet. Amongst them is the Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board (MSLETB) in Castlebar.

Edel Gavan, Brendan Geraghty, and Siobhan Magner will present a showcase titled 'Harnessing TEL to Lead Change in Apprentice Programmes'. It will look at the how MSLETB is embedding technology enhanced learning in new apprenticeship programmes to lead change by taking a holistic view of the learner journey, commencing with their comprehensive induction programme, followed by looking at their 'on-the-job' work experience, 'off the-job' learning in face-to-face workshops, and their online learning environment. The apprenticeship follows the 'earn and learn' model, designed to empower the apprentice with underpinning knowledge, skills and competencies.

The event was launched by Minister for Education Norma Foley, together with the Teaching Council’s chair, Seán McMahon, and director, Tomás Ó Ruairc.

Now in its eighth year, FÉILTE provides a unique platform for teachers to share innovative teaching and learning practices, and to network with each other and the public. In response to government guidelines, FÉILTE will be online, opening the full event to a global audience.

Said Mary Robinson: “As a lifelong advocate for learning, social justice and sustainability, I am honoured to have been asked to deliver the keynote interview at FÉILTE 2020. Innovation has always been an essential pathway for education.

“With Covid-19, as school buildings closed, teachers responded to the crisis with creativity and compassion. Now as schools reopen, the challenges of equity, social justice and innovation are more acute than ever. I am delighted to see how teachers are once again responding to these challenges.

“FÉILTE recognises the value and vocation of teachers within society. I warmly congratulate the Teaching Council on FÉILTE 2020. Held online, FÉILTE will be a great national collaboration among teachers and communities of education, in the circumstances of Covid-19. We have much to discuss.”

The Main Stage will host the keynote event, where Ms. Robinson will deliver the opening address and will share insights in conversation with Tomás Ó Ruairc, director of the Teaching Council.

The popular ‘meets’ – collaborative sessions focusing on certain themes and topics – will continue in an online format this year. Sessions include ResearchMeet, LeadershipMeet (facilitated by the Centre for School Leadership), and TeachMeet. Additionally, there will be a panel discussion between school leaders and Newly Qualified Teachers (NQTs) in StudentMeet, where they will offer advice and discuss queries that student teachers may have.

There will also be a panel discussion on the topic of ‘Teaching and learning during a pandemic: opportunities and challenges’, probing the learnings and of this most turbulent year and discussing the new reality of the next academic year under Covid-19.

Finally, a fun, collaborative entertainment piece featuring Paul Harrington with students, teachers and parents will also be hosted on the Main Stage.

The event is open to teachers and the general public. Tickets are free and now on general release and available at https://hopin.to/events/feilte2020.

The full programme is accessible here: https://hopin.to/events/feilte2020.