Teachers’ professional learning (TPL) consultation

20th and 21st July 2021

BACKGROUND:

The Department of Education (DoE) is overseeing the development of an evaluation framework for teachers’ professional learning (TPL), also called continuing professional development or CPD. The development of the evaluation framework is a four-year, multi-strand project, guided by a Steering Committee which is chaired by the DoE.

The DoE and the Educational Research Centre (ERC) want to gather the views of young people to inform the evaluation framework objectives and to contribute to all stages of its development.

Views of primary-aged children have already been obtained; the current phase seeks the views of post-primary students. The project’s Steering Committee is keen for the voices of all young people, including those with special educational needs, to be included. 17 Comhairlí signed up to take part in two consultations to represent second-level young people.

A blue-sky session allowed young people to express their thoughts on their experiences of teaching and learning at school. A lifeline exercise allowed participants to explore their everyday lived experience of their education. An online workshop session asked the following questions:

1. How can teachers make learning more engaging?
2. How can teachers make learning easier?

The following Comhairlí were involved in the consultations over two days

Day 1: 20th July

CORK CITY, CORK COUNTY, DUBLIN SOUTH, FINGAL, KILKENNY, LAOIS, MEATH, OFFALY & WEXFORD

Day 2: 21st July 

CORK COUNTY, GALWAY COUNTY, LEITRIM, LIMERICK, LONGFORD, MAYO, ROSCOMMON, WATERFORD & WICKLOW