Creativity in Action - panel discussion
Location: Main hall
Louise Cantillon
Host
Chloe Kavanagh
Post-primary student
Annmarie Collins
Primary teacher
Nora Trench Bowles
Head of Lifelong Learning, Skills and Quality at the Irish Universities Association
Gary Granville
Emeritus Professor of Education at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD)
Shane Casey
Post-primary teacher and Assistant Principal
“Creativity in Action” is the central theme for our festival of education and learning this year. The theme was chosen in light of the extraordinary success and achievements that Irish film and Irish actors experienced earlier in the year. Ireland has a rich cultural heritage and a history of contributing to various creative fields including literature, music, visual arts, theatre and much more.
However, the concept of creativity is not exclusive to the arts. It is far more wide reaching. It can be seen in the sciences, business, technology and everyday occurrences within classrooms.
Creativity is how new ideas are generated. It’s the mechanism through which innovative ideas are harnessed to tackle challenges, whether in problem solving or exploring new methods or techniques.
This panel discussion will explore creativity within the Irish education system. The panel will discuss how current policies shape professional practices, teacher agency in the classroom, and fostering a creative mindset for teaching and learning.
“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” – W.B. Yeats
NQT-tea
Are you preparing for your first parent-teacher meeting? Reflecting on the first month of school, focusing on the next? Do you have a question about Droichead? Are you a mentor or school leader seeking to support NQTs in your school? Then come along to the NQT-tea space and join the conversation!
Conversations are at the heart of FÉILTE: The NQT-tea is a safe space where Newly Qualified Teachers can celebrate success stories to date, tease out any issues that they might have encountered, and network with other NQTs, Professional Support Team members, Principals, members of the Oide team and The Teaching Council.
The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Come along and share the story of your teaching journey over a cup of tea!
Laois Creative Hub
Fáilte go FÉILTE na Laoise!
The Laois Creative Hub will exhibit the creative innovations that have taken place in Laois schools this year. Drop by to witness the creativity flourishing within Laois schools. With teachers travelling from Boherbue to Ballybofey to gather in Portlaoise, this is a unique opportunity to network, inspire and connect with your colleagues in Laois, while witnessing the excellent teaching and learning taking place in their schools, with students on hand to explain the process.
Gasta
We are delighted that Dr Tom Farrelly, the Gasta Master, will host our first ever Gasta session at FÉILTE. We have invited nine exciting presenters to share their story on the day as part of this lively session.
What is Gasta?
Gasta is a fun and engaging way for presenters to share information with the audience. Gasta differs from other sessions as the presentation must be done within in a five-minute time limit. Tom, as Gasta Master, will invite the audience to count to five in Irish and shout Gasta which starts the five-minute session. With 10 seconds to go, Tom will again ask the audience to join in and count to five again in Irish and shout stád/stop Which signals the end of a speaker’s time. This ensures that every speaker has the same amount of speaking time.
Presentations on offer:
Gasta title: The gifted learner: how to help
Presented by: Fidelma Healy Eames, PhD, MSc, BEd.
Theme: Inclusion
Gasta title: Improving adult digital literacy through innovative gamified blended learning
Presented by: Anita Higgins
Theme: Digital
Gasta title: Creativity as a tool for LGBT+ inclusive classrooms
Presented by: Cecelia Gavigan
Theme: Inclusion
Gasta title: The story so far: A critical reflection upon literacy learning in a DEIS school by children using Arts Based and Narrative Methods
Presented by: Rachel Nolan
Theme: Languages
Gasta title: Travis the Community Dog
Presented by: Donncha McCarrick
Theme: Wellbeing
Gasta title: Engaged research in the school environment
Presented by: Dr Amy Fahy
Theme: Collaborative practice
Gasta title: Gross motor skills in the Special Education Classroom
Presented by: Sarah Christian
Theme: Teaching methodologies
Gasta title: EDNIP – resources that support integration and inclusion
Presented by: Lisa Martin
Theme: Inclusion
Gasta title: Teacher peer observation
Presented by: Eamonn Moynihan
Theme: Collaborative practice
Event navigation
Main Hall
- Welcome and opening talks.
- FÉILTE entertainment.
- Creativity in action panel discussion.
- Morning closing talks.
Junior School
- Showcases.
- Workshops.
- Gasta Session.
- Catering and Networking.
- FÉILTE closing talks.
Senior School
- Showcases.
- Workshops.
- NQT-tea chat space.
- Laois creative hub.
- FÉILTE closing talks.
Event schedule
Time: 9 am
Details: Registration
Location: Junior School lobby and Senior School lobby
Time: 9 am
Details: Breakfast refreshments/FÉILTE showcase opens
Location: Junior School hall and Senior School hall
Time: 10 am
Details: Welcome, opening talks and guest speakers with FÉILTE host Louise Cantillon
Area: Main stage
Location: Main hall
Time: 10:15 am
Details: FÉILTE entertainment
Area: Main stage
Location: Main hall
Time: 10:30 am
Details: Creativity in action panel discussion hosted by Louise Cantillon
Area: Main stage
Location: Main hall
Time: 11:25 am
Details: Morning closing remarks
Area: Main stage
Location: Main hall
Time: 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Details: Laois creative hub
Area: Library room A
Location: Senior School
Time: 11:45 am – 1:00 pm
Details: NQT-Tea chat space
Area: Library room B
Location: Senior School
Workshops
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Title: Fís and Film Making in the Primary Classroom
Hosted by: Niall Larkin and Siobhán McAndrews
Area: Classroom 7
Location: Senior School
Details:
The Fís Film Project is a dynamic and innovative film education program that aims to empower primary school teachers to integrate film-making into their classroom curriculum. This workshop will provide educators with an overview of the Fís Film Project and explore how film-making can be used as a powerful tool to engage students and enhance their creativity, critical thinking, and digital literacy skills in the primary classroom.
Participants will learn about the Fís Film Project, a comprehensive film education program that provides teachers with access to a diverse collection of Film Introductions (Fís) – short, engaging, and curriculum-aligned films that serve as a catalyst for classroom discussions and film-making projects. The workshop will delve into the practical aspects of using Fís in the classroom, including selecting appropriate topics, designing film-making projects, and guiding students through the film-making process.
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Title: Getting Students to Ask the Right Questions- The Question Formulation Technique (QFT)
Hosted by: Paul Nugent
Area: Classroom B10
Location: Junior School
Details:
There has been a lot of emphasis on teacher questioning, but the skill of students asking questions is essential — yet often overlooked. It allows students to think critically, become more confident and become life-long learners.
Developed by the non-profit Right Question Institute, https://rightquestion.org/
The Question Formulation Technique, (QFT), is a structured method for generating and improving students’ questions. It distils sophisticated forms of divergent, convergent, and metacognitive thinking into a deceptively simple, accessible, and reproducible technique. It is currently used by 300 000 teachers worldwide.
The strategy gives each and every student an opportunity to contribute to the class room discussion. This strengthening of the students’ voice, promotes inclusion, diversity and wellbeing.
The framework was been adopted by many multi-national companies to accompany the decision-making process.
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45
Title: Neurodiversity is everyone
Hosted by: Joan McDonald
Area: Classroom 7A
Location: Senior School
Details:
There is an increasing focus on the needs of neurodivergent students.
Less clear is who is neurotypical.
Assumptions are made everyday around the environments we live and work in- we often don’t consider if our social, sensory, physical, timeline set ups actually work for many people.
The aim of this workshop is to show that everyone’s needs are different. Each participant will complete an Access Rider to consider their own needs. We will discuss how truly inclusive and schools can consider and respond to everyone’s needs whether staff or student.
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Title: EAL: How to create an inclusive classroom for EAL learners
Hosted by: Evan Kearns
Area: Classroom B09
Location: Junior School
Details:
This workshop will give an overview of how we as a school community adapted and enhanced our EAL base in order to greater integrate our EAL learners in the school
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Title: Unlocking the Power of AI in Education through Collaboration and creativity
Hosted by: Patrick Hickey
Area: Classroom B07
Location: Junior School
Details:
Benefits of AI in education for ALL partners in education : Personalised learning, adaptability, efficient grading and feedback.
Responsible use of AI: Ethical considerations, transparency, and privacy concerns
Best practices for implementing AI in the classroom: Selecting appropriate tools, ensuring accessibility, and addressing concerns around privacy and security
Strategies for teaching students about the responsible use of AI: Incorporating AI education in the curriculum and preparing students for a technology-driven future
Case studies and examples of successful AI implementations in education.
Hands-on activities and exercises to demonstrate the potential of AI in education
Discussion and reflection on the future of AI in education, and how educators can continue to incorporate AI effectively and responsibly in their teaching practices.
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45
Title: Applications of Creative Thinking
Hosted by: The Big Idea
Area: Classroom 8
Location: Senior School
Details:
The workshop will explore the application of design and creative thinking methodologies to innovate and solve problems across multiple subject disciplines. The workshop will reference and activate learning and skills developed through The B!G Idea, a creative education programme, the Big Idea creative education programme.
The Big idea is a 14-week programme running from Jan-May 2023 with over 3500 transition year students, from 42 schools, across 20 counties including NI and a Youthreach pilot programme. Through the programme, students respond to a socially conscious brief, and learn and apply creative and systems thinking strategies to work their Big idea from concept to solution.
This immersive workshop will present a modified Big Idea teacher experience. Teachers, from every subject discipline, will be presented with an everyday problem and will experience a range of creative thinking methodologies and then propose solutions.
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Title: UDL Strategies as Recommended by Members of a UDL Professional Learning Network (PLN) in FET
Hosted by: Angela McElhinney, Treasa McGinley
Area: Classroom 9
Location: Senior School
Details:
This workshop will look at Universal Design for Learning (UDL) through the lens of recommended strategies that have been contributed by FET teachers in Donegal ETB through a Professional Learning Network (PLN). The UDL PLN was set up Feb 2022 with a vision to support members implementing UDL in their work & to help practitioners gain a deeper understanding of UDL.
The PLN provides a space for networking, collaboration & increases the visibility of UDL within the organisation & encourages staff to embrace UDL in their practice. The workshop will recommend the use of PLNs & explore tried & tested teaching & learning strategies put forward by members of the PLN. Participants will be actively engaging with a strategy from each of the three principles. We will also be providing them with links to access all PLN videos which will explain the strategies & how they could be used within their own teaching.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: Active use of Blooms taxonomy (analyse and apply) in the classroom
Hosted by: Rachel Kearns and Laura Crawford
Area: Classroom B07
Location: Junior School
Details:
This workshop will explore two lessons where students complete a task to revise Maslow’s hierarchy of needs as a theory of motivation. Students choose a business, take an M&M and identify examples of how their chosen business satisfies their employee’s needs based on the colour key corresponding with the M&Ms. The second aspect is a geography lesson which gives students various stages of rivers and then ask them to discuss the image and write down all the key words in relation to the land form in the image. Each group had images and diagrams from three different stages of a river. Once time is up they ghost walk and return to their group and had to improve their own work based on what others had written. A discussion is held using higher and lower order questioning.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: Applications of Creative Thinking
Hosted by: The Big Idea
Area: Classroom 9
Location: Senior School
Details:
The workshop will explore the application of design and creative thinking methodologies to innovate and solve problems across multiple subject disciplines. The workshop will reference and activate learning and skills developed through The B!G Idea, a creative education programme, the Big Idea creative education programme.
The Big idea is a 14-week programme running from Jan-May 2023 with over 3500 transition year students, from 42 schools, across 20 counties including NI and a Youthreach pilot programme. Through the programme, students respond to a socially conscious brief, and learn and apply creative and systems thinking strategies to work their Big idea from concept to solution.
This immersive workshop will present a modified Big Idea teacher experience. Teachers, from every subject discipline, will be presented with an everyday problem and will experience a range of creative thinking methodologies and then propose solutions.
Time: 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm
Title: Plant a planet campaign
Hosted by: Patrick Kirwan
Area: Classroom B08
Location: Junior School
Details:
The Environmental Influencer Course helps students to realise their own power to influence others to make better environmental choices. We explore the link between the media, public opinion, politics, and government policy. Students understand how social change happens. The course can be run as an 8 week module in wellbeing, CSPE, SPHE, and it can also be adapted for senior primary.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: Instructional Leadership-Creative Teachers, Creative Classrooms-Unlocking the Potential of Innovative Methodologies
Hosted by: Sandra Larkin, Linda O’Meara
Area: Classroom B08
Location: Junior School
Details:
Our workshop will familiarise teachers with the Instructional Leadership Programme. The programme was developed by Prof. Barrie Bennett, University of Toronto and facilitated by ETBI. It has been successfully implemented in post-primary schools since 2008 and has been described as a programme which leads to ‘a transformation in teaching and learning’ across the country. It aims to develop teachers’ pedagogical practice by enhancing their skills and developing their knowledge and understanding of tactics and strategies to enhance student learning and promote inclusion. Our workshop aims to bring these benefits to primary teachers across Ireland.
The workshop will firstly be situated within the Cosán – Framework for teachers’ learning. In particular, during the interactive workshop, teachers will experience active learning methodologies that underpin effective and inclusive learning. They will leave the workshop with a toolkit of creative and practical learning ideas that can be applied across many curricular areas in the primary classroom.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: Scoileanna Ildánacha / Creative Schools
Hosted by: Catherine Boothman
Area: Classroom 8
Location: Senior School
Details:
Teachers will gain; an appreciation of the creativity they bring to their teaching practice; a confidence and practical ideas for artistic and creative methodologies to facilitate youth voice in arts and creative activity in their schools; ideas about linking creativity learning to diverse subjects, cross-curricular learning, and to wellness and day-to-day school life.
Teachers will learn about the DCU evaluation of Creative Schools, supporting their knowledge of the impact of arts and creativity on teaching and learning.
Teachers will learn how to apply to get involved in Creative Schools, and how to remain connected if they have already completed the initial programme. They will be able to avail of information about arts, heritage and cultural organisations and artists/creative practitioners who have been working with schools. This will provide teachers with ideas and practical information about other arts and cultural opportunities and partnerships potentially available to them and their schools.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: The benefits of esports as an extracurricular in post-primary schools
Hosted by: Eamonn O’Brien
Area: Classroom 7
Location: Senior School
Details:
This workshop will give a brief overview of esports and its merits, provide hands on experience with a potential esports system and point attendees in the direction of further resources such as a free, online CPD in partnership with UCD School of Education.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: Neurodiversity is everyone (Repeat of morning workshop)
Hosted by: Joan McDonald
Area: Classroom 7A
Location: Senior School
Details:
There is an increasing focus on the needs of neurodivergent students.
Less clear is who is neurotypical.
Assumptions are made everyday around the environments we live and work in- we often don’t consider if our social, sensory, physical, timeline set ups actually work for many people.
The aim of this workshop is to show that everyone’s needs are different. Each participant will complete an Access Rider to consider their own needs. We will discuss how truly inclusive and schools can consider and respond to everyone’s needs whether staff or student.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: Developing a whole school systematic approach to meeting the needs of our pupils
Hosted by: Maria Geaney
Area: Classroom B09
Location: Junior School
Details:
A space for teachers to explore the challenges that we face as SETs/SENCOs/class teachers in supporting children with additional needs. This will take the form of small group work and a whole group discussion followed by a presentation which involves me sharing some key resources for assessment, organisation within the role etc.
The resources that will be shared will include the SENCO calendar which outlines key steps and dates for SENCOS & SETs each month in primary schools. A Q&A will also be facilitated at the end of the session.
Time: 1:15 pm – 2 pm
Title: Inspiring creativity: Learning from the world of coaching
Hosted by: Ciarán Collins
Area: Classroom B10
Location: Junior School
Details:
This experiential workshop will provide a taster of coaching techniques and strategies to enhance creativity and creative thinking.
Time: 1 pm – 2 pm
Details: Gasta session hosted by Dr Tom Farrelly: Gasta is a fun and engaging way for presenters to share information with their audience in a five-minute time limit
Area: Computer Room
Location: Junior School
Time: 2:15 pm – 2:20 pm
Details: Closing messages
Location: Junior School Hall/Senior School Hall
Showcases
Senior School, Holy Family School
Session number: S1
Showcase title: An siopa údar
Theme: Languages
Session number: S2
Showcase title: The Boston professional learning tour project
Theme: Collaborative practice
Session number: S3
Showcase title: Bees and data science (BUDS) – developing authentic STEM experiences
Theme: Collaborative practice
Session number: S4
Showcase title: Lead the way podcast
Theme: Collaborative practice
Session number: S6
Showcase title: National small schools project: Gort cluster
Theme: Collaborative practice
Session number: S7
Showcase title: The AI revolution is here – don’t miss it
Theme: Teaching methodologies
Session number: S8
Showcase title: Take your plick – Tracking formative assessment
Theme: Teaching methodologies
Session number: S9
Showcase title: Collaborative practices, facilitating quality teaching and learning
Theme: Teaching methodologies
Session number: S10
Showcase title: Embracing Diversity, Nurturing Inclusion Project (EDNIP)
Theme: Inclusion
Session number: S11
Showcase title: An tairseach agus mol mata – suíomhanna tagaisc nua ó COGG
Theme: Digital
Session number: S12
Showcase title: Improving adult digital literacy through innovative gamified blended learning
Theme: Digital
Session number: S13
Showcase title: Pride in education: promoting LGBT inclusion in schools
Theme: Inclusion
Session number: S14
Showcase title: The journey of rang realta
Theme: Inclusion
Session number: S15
Showcase title: Participatory methods for development of educational augmented reality software
Theme: STEM
Session number: S16
Showcase title: Facilitating engaged research for societal improvement with primary and post-primary teachers
Theme: STEM
Session number: S17
Showcase title: WEAVE Project: developing computational thinking skills with primary school teachers
Theme: STEM
Session number: S18
Showcase title: Effective student ownership of learning
Theme: Collaborative practice
Session number: S19
Showcase title: A Lust for Life schools programme
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S20
Showcase title: Travis the community dog
Theme: Wellbeing
Junior School, Holy Family School
Session number: S21
Showcase title: Developing a creative mindset
Theme: Cross curricular
Session number: S22
Showcase title: Collaborative creativity – creative youth in action
Theme: Cross curricular
Session number: S23
Showcase title: Positive behaviour for learning – subject specific postcards
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S24
Showcase title: NCCA: primary curriculum developments
Theme: Cross curricular
Session number: S25
Showcase title: Developing a coaching and mentoring culture in schools
Theme: Collaborative Practice
Session number: S26
Showcase title: Meet the Teaching Council
Theme: Teaching Council
Session number: S27
Showcase title: An outdoor nature wonderland of love, learning and sustainable practices
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S28
Showcase title: Caring for our ocean, using creativity to connect and inspire
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S29
Showcase title: Oide – primary health and wellbeing
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S30
Showcase title: SUPERWELL: school university partnership in education research – bridging the research practice gap
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S31
Showcase title: Building strengths and creativity – positive psychology for learning and living
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S32
Showcase title: My-Psychology: promoting mental health and wellbeing in youth through psychology
Theme: Wellbeing
Session number: S33
Showcase title: Young social innovators
Theme: Digital
Session number: S34
Showcase title: Irish orthography: dual language word study for English medium schools
Theme: Languages
Session number: S35
Showcase title: Creativity in Syllabus design in Leaving Certificate English
Theme: Languages
Session number: S36
Showcase title: Examiner recruitment and retention
Theme: State Examinations
Session number: S37
Showcase title: Greening your curriculum: enhance your engineering knowledge and develop your STEM skills
Theme: STEM
Session number: S38
Showcase title: Leading digital learning in your school with Oide
Theme: Digital
Attendee FAQs
Where and when is FÉILTE 2023?
FÉILTE 2023 takes place on Saturday, 7 October and takes place in Holy Family Schools, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
The FÉILTE Main stage will be broadcasted live on the Teaching Council Facebook page.
How do I register for FÉILTE 2023?
You can register for FÉILTE on the Eventbrite page.
How do I access FÉILTE 2023?
After you register, your PDF ticket will be emailed to you.
Is parking available at FÉILTE 2023?
Yes, free parking is available at Holy Family Schools, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
Portlaoise is also well-served by rail and bus routes. See transportforireland.ie to plan your journey to FÉILTE.
Is there a charge for attending FÉILTE?
Tickets to FÉILTE are free, however a deposit of €10 will be charged to you and refunded after you attend FÉILTE 2023.
How do I register for workshops?
Workshop registration is located in the Junior and Senior School halls on event day. Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
For additional queries please contact the FÉILTE Team at feilte@realnation.ie.
We look forward to seeing you at FÉILTE 2023 on Saturday, 7 October!
We wish to acknowledge and thank the work of the FÉILTE Working Group for their input into shaping FÉILTE 2023. The members of the group are:
Catherine Doolan (ATECI Nominee), Barbara Mulvihill (Oide), Pearl Heneghan (Oide), Patrick Whitlow (PDST), Áine Lynch (NPC – P/Teaching Council Member), Mai Fanning (NPC- PP), Paul Crone (NAPD), Maria Doyle (IPPN), Finn Ó Murchú (HEI representative), Michelle Keane (Teaching Council Chair), Ann Mulcahy (Teaching Council Deputy Chair), Eamonn Shaughnessy (Teaching Council member), Niall Duddy (Teaching Council member), Lynn Ramsey (Director of the Teaching Council), Phil Fox (Deputy Director of the Teaching Council), Avril Lennon (HEO, Teaching Council Communications Unit), Siobhán Timmons (CO), Teaching Council Communications Unit), Thomas Moloney (Teaching Council Associate)