NCI Blog

This blog is written by Carrie Archer, Programme Director for the microcredentials in Technology Enhanced Learning in the Centre for Education and Lifelong Learning. In today's classrooms, educators are increasingly turning to technology to support the creation of more productive, engaging, and inclusive learning environments. Learning environments shift, evolve and change all the time. They include our traditional classrooms, but now also include the use of learning management systems and a variety of platforms to facilitate asynchronous learning. They also include virtual classrooms where we engage with learning synchronously, but from locations all over the world and across time zones. Regardless of context, the learning environment or the discipline you work in, learner variability is a given.

This is a guest blog post written by Dr Yvonne Emmett, Assistant Professor in Education, Centre of Education and Lifelong Learning at National College of Ireland. If you work in education and training or plan to, you know the importance of lifelong learning for personal and professional development. The Master of Arts in Educational Practice at National College of Ireland is an advanced qualification for those working or aspiring to work in a variety of adult learning contexts, including adult and community education, higher education, corporate learning and development functions and educational research. It can help increase your effectiveness as an educator or trainer and open the door to a wider range of employment opportunities.

As it's Dyslexia Awareness Week, we want to highlight that at NCI, we focus on abilities rather than difficulties which students with dyslexia may experience.

As part of the Centre for Education and Lifelong Learning at National College of Ireland’s Festival of Education and Lifelong Learning, a practice-based early childhood education seminar took place. This event focused on the opportunity digital storytelling represents as a pedagogical tool in early childhood education and Reflective practice in ECEC Educator preparation. Part one of the seminar, which focused on digital storytelling, was facilitated by Dr Marianne Undheim, Associate Professor and Lecturer at the University of Stavanger, Norway.

This is a guest post written by Conor Thompson, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) Coordinator at NCI. Conor completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Further Education in 2020 after which he joined the NCI team to support students with a diverse range of educational needs and learning differences. He transitioned into his current role to promote inclusive learning strategies across the College. Conor explains what UDL is, how it is implemented at NCI and lists some useful resources in this article.

This is a guest blog post by Dr Michael Goldrick, Programme Director of the learning and technology courses at National College of Ireland.

National College of Ireland has extended its long-established and highly reputed BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), from evening delivery to also being offered as a daytime course to CAO applicants.

The world of education changed this year. Where once, the idea of blended or fully-online teaching and learning was an option, or even an aspiration, this year has necessitated an adaptation for most of us, to technology enhanced learning.

Dr Meghan Marrero continues her guest blog, this week giving an insight into her work with young children and STEM education. Why STEM for young children?

We are delighted to welcome Dr Meghan Marrero to NCI. She has generously agreed to take the time to blog about her work here in Dublin.