Important: Last year this course was called Gníomhaíochtaí Gasta Topics 1-5 of the Curriculum
This online summer course, which is worth 3 EPV days, is aimed at primary school teachers who are teaching classes 3–6 and is based on Gníomhaíochtaí Gasta, a book of communication activities for primary school teachers. It is suitable for teachers who want to learn more about the principles and structure of communicative lessons. Each module contains sample lessons based on themes 1–5 of the curriculum. In these lessons, there is a focus on the communicative approach to teaching, and activities for pre-communication, real communication and post-communication are included.
The main objectives of the course are:
This course was written by Siobhán Patten, who is originally from Achill, County Mayo. She spent several years working as a primary school teacher before being employed by Gaelchultúr, first as a tutor and then as Specialised Courses Manager.
Siobhán has extensive experience in developing syllabuses, teaching materials and lessons plans for learners of Irish of various ages and at various levels of competency.
Gaelchultúr published her first book, Gníomhaíochtaí Gasta, in 2013. That book contains 60 communication activities, aimed at primary school teachers who teach classes 3–6 in both T1 and T2 schools.
There are five modules in this course and each module contains a mixture of grammatical explanation, useful vocabulary and exercises.
All the exercises are interactive. Once you have completed an exercise, you can then click on the ‘Seol’ (Send) button and receive feedback immediately. You’ll be told which answers were correct and which were incorrect, and you’ll be given the correct answers and a score.
At the beginning of each module, you’re told what the focus of that module is.
In order to move from one screen to another, all you have to do is click on the arrows which appear on the left-hand side (to go back) or on the right-hand side (to go forward), at the top and bottom of each screen. You can also click on any line of text under the words UNIT PLAN on the left-hand side of the screen in order to access another part of the module.
On the last page of each module, called the Closing page, you’re given an overview of the work that you’ve done in that module and your total score for the module. You’re given several choices as well: to continue to the next module, to redo the module you’ve just completed, or go back to the very beginning of the course.
A discussion forum will be provided for Gníomhaíochtaí Gasta 1: Topics 1–5 of the Curriculum. In this forum, teachers will answer the interactive question at the end of each module, as well as the reflective question at the very end of the course.
Those registered for the course will also have an opportunity to contact other teachers through the discussion forum. They will be able to send messages, ask and discuss questions, and express ideas.
There are interactive exercises in each module, and once you’ve completed an exercise you can then click on the Seol (Send) button and receive feedback immediately. While you’re given a score for these exercises, they’re not assessed for the purposes of the award of EPV days; their aim is to stimulate the user’s interaction with the course content, and to give him/her the opportunity to practise what he/she has learned.
Participation in the online debate forum is an obligatory part of each module. Learners must participate in the forum by sharing ideas with the other participants and by completing written tasks.
At the end of the course, the participants must answer a reflective question. This question will confirm that you’ve engaged with the course content, and it’ll give you the opportunity to reflect on the implementation of the course content in the classroom.
Assessment of your work is based predominantly on the standard of your written work, but a record will also be kept of the amount of time you spent working on the course.
In order to earn 3 EPV days, the course must be completed between 3 July 2017 and 25 August 2017. During that period, it’s up to you to decide when to study the course content.
Department of Education and Skills criteria for online courses stipulate that participants may complete one online course for the awarding of 3 EPV days, two online courses for 4 EPV days and three online courses for 5 EPV days.
Immediately!
Any time from the beginning of July onwards. In order to earn 3 EPV days, the course must be completed between 3 July 2017 and 25 August 2017.
By 25 August 2017. In order to earn 3 EPV days, the course must be completed some time between 3 July 2017 and 25 August 2017. During that period it’s up to you to decide when to study the course content.
You will have to read the material in the module and do all the interactive exercises.
When you have done all that work, you will have to answer the interactive question at the end of the module. You must post this answer on the course forum.
You must publish at least one post per module in the forums aside from answering the interactive questions.
At the very end of the course, you must answer the reflective question. Again, you must post your answer on the course forum.
Approximately 20 hours.
The course is bilingual - each sentence in Irish is translated into English.
No. We would encourage you to use as much Irish as possible in your answers, but you can use English if you need to.
Most of ranganna.com can be used on smartphones and tablet computers, however the site’s multimedia content does not work on all devices. It would be advisable, therefore, to try a sample unit of the course you’re interested in on the device before registering for that course.
Write it on the forum or write to your course facilitator.
If you have any difficulties with the site, call (01) 484 5220 or write to eolas@ranganna.com.
Absolutely! Department of Education and Skills criteria for online courses stipulate that participants may complete one online course for the awarding of 3 EPV days, two online courses for 4 EPV days and three online courses for 5 EPV days.
You will have completed the course when:
- you have spent approximately 20 hours working on the course material
- you have answered the five interactive questions as well as the reflective question
- you have published at least one post per module in the forums aside from answering the interactive questions
- the course facilitator is happy that your work is of a suitably high standard.
You will receive your certificate and CPD record within two working days of having completed the course. It takes a little while to compile the answers, and to prepare the certificate and record.
‘This course has given some very practical and fun ideas for using new vocabulary and grammar in a variety of contexts.’ - KO’C
‘The content of the course was very organised, and the layout gave me ideas on how to approach teaching different areas of Gaeilge.’ - SJK
‘The course content will help me enormously in the classroom. The course provided lots of colourful and appealing pictures that can be used to teach vocabulary, as well as fun games that can be used in the classroom. Each game included pictures which will greatly help pupils who find Irish difficult. The course also provided lots of simple useful phrases that I will teach in the classroom.’ - ER
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