Teaching Skills Initiative (TSI)
TSI Overview
The professional development of teachers has been identified internationally as the primary factor in enabling the effective integration of ICT into schools.
The NCTE's Teaching Skills Initiative, which has been operating since 1998, has responded to a huge demand for in-career, Continuous Professional Development (CPD) training from teachers and in excess of 130,000 teachers have availed of ICT training places.
Courses
Currently in excess of 32 courses have been designed by the NCTE in partnership with teaching professionals, third level institutions and teaching unions. The programme of courses ranges from a purely skills based focus to a pedagogical focus emphasising the practical application of ICT to teaching and learning.
Special educational needs are also addressed through CPD. Course content is continually monitored and a number of new courses are currently in development. Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) are eligible to attend some of this range of courses also.
Individual courses are rolled out in partnership with the Education Centres throughout the country who play an integral role in facilitating local requirements.
Postgraduate Courses
Recently some of the Universities and Colleges of Education have recognised and accredited a selection of NCTE courses as prior learning for or as part fulfillment of their postgraduate programmes. For example, in collaboration with the NCTE, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra is offering a Certificate/Diploma in Education (Digital Learning).To learn more about these ICT postgraduate programmes and to view links to other ICT postgraduate programmes on offer, click here.
Whole School Training & Support Groups
Schools can request Whole School Training and teachers can establish Support Groups, to concentrate on more focussed training/development as required, through their local Education Centre
Pre-service Training
A priority identified for TSI in the current year is the integration and support of ICT courses into pre-service training. Collaboration with the pre-service institutions, ie the universities and teacher training colleges, on the content of these courses is an integral part of the programme.
Developing an eLearning Plan for your School
This new course for ICT Coordinating Teachers has been developed to provide them (or any teacher involved in ICT planning in the school) with the necessary information and tools to develop an eLearning plan.
The teaching skills initiative is managed from the NCTE by a full-time national coordinator.
