Post Primary

 SUITABLE FOR Primary and Post-Primary CSPE, Science, SPHE, Transition Year

Following on from our successful series for the past three academic school year. Join a collective group of teachers for 15 minutes every Monday who are bringing nature into their classrooms. 

Join us for Bitesize Biodiversity. Weekly 15-minute sessions where we explore our native Irish flora and fauna . Discover fascinating wildlife insights, gather resources, and ignite your students' curiosity about the natural world.

Thursday 2nd October 4pm: Getting back into the Garden - How to get started with school growing and how to find your way through the summer overgrowth. 

Thursday 6th November 4pm: Autumn Planting - It’s time to sow: Onions and Garlic. Preparing your garden for overwintering.

Thursday 5th March 4pm: Preparing for Spring - Checking in on Onions and Garlic. It’s time to sow: Peas, Broad Beans and Potatoes.

Thursday 9th April 4pm: Spring Sowings - It’s time to sow: Salad Leaves, Parsnip and Radish.

Thursday 7th May 4pm: Sharing Stories - Celebrating harvests simply at school. It's time to sow: Carrots, Beetroot, Chard and Pumpkins. It's time to Harvest: Salad Leaves and radish.

Thursday 4th June 4pm: Preparing for Summer - It’s time to sow: Swede (Parsnips). It’s time to transplant: Pumpkins. It’s time to harvest: Potatoes, Peas and Beans.

Course delivered by Deirdre Madden - UCC

This course is aimed at post primary teachers, with many references to the Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate exams in the videos. However, this technology is applicable to all learners and primary school teachers are welcome to this course to learn how to use this technology with their younger learners

The course is run over two evenings:

• Tuesday the 7th and 14th October 2025

Feedback from the last session:

• Thanks Deirdre. Great course, great technology. The course was well delivered and the technology shown in the course can all work together to make learning easier for all learners.
• Deirdre was a brilliant presenter. I learnt so much from her. I would most definitely sign up to any webinars led by her in the future.
• Very practical course run by an enthusiastic presenter
• Deirdre is a fountain of knowledge and has a brilliant style that engages the participant very well. 

UCC have created a online course/resource on free Technology to Make Learning Easier for school students and teachers. Importantly this course/resource  covers free or built-in software on phones/tablets, in MS Office 365, in Google or software that is just free to download.  Learn to take full advantage of  the technology you/your school already has to help make reading, writing and studying easier. There is no cost involved!                   

Cork Education Support Service and UCC are delighted to offer you training (2 x 2 hour sessions) where you will be taken through using these tools, this course/resource will allow a chance between the sessions to try it out and come back with queries and questions. 

Technology can have a positive, role in making learning easier and in giving students and educators greater choices in how, where and when they learn. In this free course/resource, aimed at TY students and educators (but applicable to all), we offer training videos, links and advice to make reading, writing and studying easier for students. It explores various free technologies either already on your computer, your phones or technology that is free to download.

Making Reading Easier: Students can learn how to get their phone to read notes/ quotes/ definitions etc read aloud to them. There are tools to get the computer/phone to read aloud to you. There are even options to have text read aloud in Irish, French, German and other languages to help prepare for oral/aural exams. Making a sound file of text to listen to learn/revise anywhere, anytime even on your phone is so easy and convenient. 

Making Writing Easier: Another section of the course shows how to get your phone /computer to type what you say to speed up project work. It also covers using free mind mapping software to plan/ structure your written work to speed up and improve your homework, projects, classroom based assessments etc.

Making Studying Easier: In this part of the course students can learn to use mind maps to study and make excellent, visual revision notes with images, video and even sound files.  You can then access your mind maps study on your phone anywhere, anytime.

To allow students to make the most of these excellent, free learning tools we also examine some fundamental IT skills including touch-typing and file management. Resources to help teachers to share their teaching and learning materials digitally are also included to allow students to utilise technology to make their learning easier.

Click here for an overview of this course/resource:  Free Technology to Make Learning Easier
This CESC course will train you to use these tools and explore how you can use them with your colleagues and students to make learning easier.

Sincere thanks to the SOAR Project for funding. Created by UCC’s Disability Support Service.

A link to access the course will be emailed to you prior to the course.

A classroom that feels safe, inclusive, and connected is a classroom where students thrive. This session equips teachers with tools to create positive dynamics that support learning and psychological safety.

This session will cover:

• Foundations of classroom connection and belonging
• Group energy dynamics and student engagement
• Techniques to foster a relational learning environment
• 
  Learning Outcomes:
  The programme will help participants:
• Implement simple practices to strengthen trust and rapport in the classroom
• Understand how your emotional wellbeing and classroom presence  shape student engagement and outcomes

Create inclusive routines and communications that support student participation and wellbeing

Say goodbye to isolated grammar drills! This webinar explores how to teach grammar in meaningful, engaging contexts that actually stick. Learn what types of grammar lessons work best for students, how to use your own notes efficiently, and where to find high-quality online resources that save you time without sacrificing quality.

Ricky's Bio:

His workshops are known for their clarity, humour, and real-world applicability, making him a trusted voice among teachers at all stages of their careers.

Ricky is also deeply committed to digital innovation in education. A firm believer in the power of technology to enhance teaching and learning, he champions the ethical and impactful use of AI and edtech tools in the classroom. His work includes mentoring and supporting educators who are navigating the evolving digital landscape, helping them build confidence and creativity in their practice.

Driven by a genuine love for teaching, Ricky brings energy, inclusivity, and insight to everything he does. His webinars leave teachers not only informed, but inspired to reimagine what’s possible in their classrooms.

Working in education is meaningful and rewarding—but it also demands a lot of emotional energy. This webinar offers practical tools to help you protect your energy, stay focused on what matters, and build habits that support long-term wellbeing.

By setting clear boundaries and using simple daily practices, you can create more space for calm, connection, and confidence in your work.

Get ideas for effective action projects that you can carry out in your school. These projects will foster conversations and critical thinking. Students and staff alike see that action is happening and this inspires excitement and hope.