The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme has announced that six Explorers marine-themed Continuing Professional Development (CPD) five-day teacher-training courses (July 3-7) have been approved by the Department of Education and Skills and are now available to book with education centres in Galway, Kerry, West Cork, Waterford, Blackrock Dublin, as well as an online course run through Mayo Education Centre (July 3 – August 18).
Cushla Dromgool-Regan, who manages the Explorers programme, said they were extremely pleased that the Department has accepted these courses and are delighted to be working with the education centres again:
“Being able to offer teachers the opportunity to engage in different courses to learn about the ocean and the seashore helps to foster environmental awareness and ocean literacy in schools. We’re also excited to provide these courses as they enable teachers to use marine themes to develop children’s key competencies highlighted in the new Primary Curriculum Framework 2023”.
“We’re very pleased to be again running our seashore safari teachers training courses supported by Galway Education Centre; Tramore Education Centre, Kerry; West Cork Education Centre and Waterford Teachers Centre: Exploring the Seashore using creative cross curricular learning and skills development.
“These courses focus on learning about tides, exploration of the seashore, discovering the abundance of marine biodiversity on the shore, as well as exploring new ideas and activities for outdoor learning. Classes will also focus on how to bring the seashore into the classroom, completing STEM, arts and communication activities.
The seashore safari courses can be booked with the relevant education centres in each county and will be run by the Explorers outreach teams in the following locations:
- Galway - Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore and the local seashore in Galway city
- Tralee, Kerry - Spa National School & the local seashore
- Clonakilty, West Cork – Scoil na mBuachaillí, Clonakilty, West Cork & the local seashore
- Tramore, Waterford - Holy Cross, Tramore and the local seashore.
“This year we’re delighted to be introducing a new course: ‘SDGs and a healthy ocean: marine life, plastic pollution, & climate change’. We will examine the SDGs (UN Sustainable Development Goals) and how they are connected to the ocean, as well as exploring how the SDGs and marine themes can be used to develop class and school projects, such as focussing on climate change and its impact on the ocean and us, marine biodiversity, and solutions to combat plastic pollution.
To be held at the Blackrock Education Centre, the Explorers SDG course will include fun, cross-curricular activities including creative writing, walking debates, creating visual arts through different textiles, as well co-operative games,” Ms Dromgool-Regan explained.
Online Teachers Training Course
Now in its second year, Mayo Education Centre will offer the online course: Explore the Seashore. This course is delivered by pre-recording, and online support is also provided throughout the course. Teachers will get to watch a series of Explorers Wild about Wildlife on the Seashore films, where they can explore the seashore and complete a series of cross-curricular activities, learning about some of our favourite species.
Other marine themes are also introduced where tasks can be completed at home and discussions are generated through online engagement. The online course also provides independent learning where teachers can reflect on how the ocean influences our lives and how we impact the ocean.
All courses are approved for EPV certification by the Department of Education and Skills. For more information and links to the education centres booking sites see www.explorers.ie - Explorers Teachers Training courses
