NCI Blog

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

2021 sees National College of Ireland extending its long-established and highly reputed BA (Honours) in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC), currently delivered as an evening course, to also offer the programme through daytime delivery 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.

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

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, and we will be sharing regular updates with you on the NCI blog in the coming months.

It’s quite fashionable to say the education system is broken.  It’s not broken, it's wonderfully constructed.  It’s just that we don’t need it anymore.  It’s outdated. - Sugata Mitra

There is little doubt that teaching, learning and development in the 21st century is undergoing fundamental and substantial change. Learning is no longer limited to primary or secondary school contexts – there is now a growing need for professional educators to meet the needs of lifelong learners in workplace, community, voluntary or other educational settings.

People who are considering a return to education come from a wide range of backgrounds, and have a variety of motivations and desires – improving their skills, advancing their career, returning to the workforce, learning for learning’s sake – but they all have one thing in common: the challenge of fitting learning into their already busy lives and schedules.