Multiplier Event

A SET 2 CLIL Multiplier Event was held at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick, Ireland on Thursday 17th August 2017 from 16:00 – 18:00.

This event was a great success with 35 participants registered and attending the evening. The participants were from a wide variety of organisations and networks with a strong representation from the education sector i.e. Adult and Further Education (F.E.), Vocational Education and the Department of Education, Continuous Professional Development and Entrepreneurial Education in Higher Education and Career Guidance Teacher Association.

Other organisations represented were from the local authority, social enterprises, employment services, a variety of community and community development groups, the Life Long Learning Sector (UNESCO) and other academic institutions.

The evening began with a networking session over tea and coffee. The participants during this time had the opportunity to browse the exhibition of SET 2 CLIL Newsletters and Information Sheets. They were also shown the SET 2 CLIL Website using a variety of portable tablet devices where they became familiar with the site and browsed it together in groups.

Niamh Armstrong, Maeve Liston and Rebecca Purcell from Mary Immaculate College, provided an overview of the SET2CLIL Project i.e. the Aims of the project; Methodology: Social Entrepreneurship, CLIL, Multiple Intelligence, IT-Enhanced tools and Intellectual Outputs: Curriculum, SET2CLIL e-repository and SET2CLIL Trainer Guide.

After presenting an overview of the project, the participants were given time and the opportunity in their groups to study the aims of the project and methodologies used. A Q & A session with the MIC Partners then took place to clarify any queries regarding the project and methodologies used. The majority of questions from the audience related to CLIL methodology and the design of the E-Repository and navigating through the repository.

Niamh Armstrong, Maeve Liston and Rebecca then went through the curriculum layout, structure and accompanying kits. The participants were given a copy of the curriculum overview. They then engaged in discussions on the overall design, layout and content of the SET2CLIL curriculum and kits. Firstly they had discussions within their smaller groups and then with the whole group of participants and MIC partners. The discussions revolved around the successful design of the modules i.e. spiral approach to the curriculum, learning outcomes (knowledge, skills and attitudes) and teaching methodologies incorporating CLIL and IT enhanced tools (e-portfolios, case studies, videos etc.).

Rebecca Purcell from Mary Immaculate College then went through the layout of the Trainers Guide. The participants engaged in discussions on the overall design, layout and content of the SET2CLIL Trainers Guide. Firstly they had discussions within their smaller groups and then with the whole group of participants and MIC partners. They discussed the usefulness of such a guide to inform the trainers on the teaching methodologies incorporated within the curriculum and to get an overview of the aims and objectives, targeted skills for CLIL teachers and trainers in social entrepreneurship and benefits of integrating Social Entrepreneurship, CLIL and IT into a curriculum.

Niamh Armstrong went through the SET2CLIL e-repository with the groups. They were then allowed the opportunity to browse the SET2CLIL e-repository on portable tablets. The participants gave very positive feedback with regard the appropriateness of the activities and resources to the level of competencies and language skills of the learners the project was targeting. They commented on the ease in which they can navigate from one module and kit to another. They also felt the variety of activities and resources catered for all types of learners of a wide-ranging abilities and intelligences.

Over all it was a very positive experience and all the participants stated that they will inform others in their organisations and their network of the resources as they felt they were very transferrable to many different situations and training groups. They also would like to keep in contact and keep up to date with the progress of the project and follow up projects in the future.