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Aoife Comiskey Clifford, Kerry ETB’s expert on all matters QQI, recently delivered an in-service training session to ABE tutors. It focussed on Level 2, exploring the purpose of awards at this level and how they can be delivered creatively. If you would like to see the slides from this presentation, click on the link below.

QQI Level 2 In-Service

NALAWhenever NALA host a training day, conference or seminar, they video some of the key points for those of us who cannot attend. Click here to see a selection of these videos, on topics including:

 

  • Ideas for blended learning
  • Team teaching and integrated courses
  • Family learning models
  • Tips for numeracy teachers on teaching algebra, fractions, problem solving and more

Initial Tutor Training for new volunteers:

Kerry Education and Training Board runs Initial Tutor Training for all volunteer tutors. Volunteer tutors are people who have been selected following an interview. Our Initial Tutor Training covers everything you need to know before starting to work with a learner. Topics include:

  • An introduction to adult literacy and its causes and effects
  • How to plan lessons
  • Assessment and listening skills
  • The reading process and how to teach reading skills
  • The writing process and how to teach writing skills
  • Numeracy skills
  • How to develop teaching and learning materials
  • Teaching and learning using a computer
  • Spelling

The Powerpoint presentations relating to the Initial Tutor training course are available on this page, scroll down for details.

In Service Training for volunteers and group tutors:

We offer regular in service training courses, to extend your skills and keep them up to date. If you have any questions about in-service training, or would like to request training on any topic around tutoring, contact Isabelle Dumont directly, her details can be found here.

Evaluation Time!

When you come to the end of a term, it is vital to evaluate your work with learners. Why? To find out what worked for them, what they’re taking away from the course and what they would like to do next. The answers might surprise you, and might surprise them!

It is a good idea to conduct evaluations in a few different ways (for example a group discussion, followed by some pair work and then maybe a week later a sheet for each learner) to allow for different styles and to give people time to think. Many learners are not used to reflecting on their own skills and what takes place in the classroom, so they might need a lot of help.

As for planning for what they might like to do next, that’s the really exciting part. Supporting a learner to progress is a key part of our role. That progression might be to another group at the same level, in the same subject area, or might involve some change if they’re ready for that. Check in with your organiser what’s available in your area to make sure you have up to date information for your groups. Here are some evaluation forms we have developed over the years. Feel free to adapt, but be sure to use the tutor summary sheet to feed back the information to your organiser for planning purposes.

Note: You must download the Evaluation Pack document. Then open it, and choose which pages you want to print. If you try to print from here directly without downloading first, it is a huge document. So first download, then print chosen pages in Microsoft Word. 

 Course evaluation form Tutor Summary to give you to your organiser

Evaluation Pack  with logos

Family Learning Evaluation Form 

 

Some good sites to visit relating to your skills as a tutor:

WIT Literacy Development Centre – the national centre for certified courses in the area of adult literacy.

Using Google in the classroom – 30 ways to use Google in an innovative way in your classroom

Are there any sites you find useful that should be on this list? Please email them to your organiser for submission to the Webmaster Committee

Tutor training downloads:

NALA Guidelines For Good Adult Literacy Work – essential reading for anyone working in adult literacy

Powerpoint presentations relating to previous training can be downloaded here below: