Conversations in Adult and Further Education

Episode 18 How to deliver a QQI Module for New Tutors

In this episode, I chat with my colleague, Dr Edel Ni Ghrainne, in the Literacy Development Centre at SETU. Edel has over 20 years of experience teaching in Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in Ireland. She explains how to plan and deliver a QQI-accredited module (Quality and Qualifications Ireland), from completing the paperwork to interpreting a module descriptor.This is a great episode to listen to if you are a new tutor or are teaching a QQI-accredited module for the first time.Some useful links:The National Framework of Qualifications in Ireland: https://www.qqi.ie/what-we-do/the-qualifications-system/national-framework-of-qualificationsFurther Education Support Service: https://fess.ie/Explanation of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives from Cornell University: https://teaching.cornell.edu/resource/blooms-taxonomy

Episode 17 A Conversation on Family Literacy: From Waterford to Florida

In this episode, I am chatting with Dr. Lana McCarthy and Dr. Clare Power in the Literacy Development Centre (LDC) in the South East Technological University (SETU), Professor Jenifer Jasinski Schneider, the interim Dean in the College of Education in the University of South Florida (USF), and Dr. Rachel Hatten, the Associate Director in the David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching in USF. We chat about family literacy, how Lana and Jenifer met and the work they are doing together in the Family Literacy Community of Practice.  The Family Literacy Community of Practice is a partnership between the Literacy Development Centre in the South East Technological University (SETU LDC), NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency) and Adult Literacy for Life National Programme Office (ALL NPO).If you would like to join the Community of Practice, you can register at the following link:https://forms.office.com/e/fVan26wNsr  Links to Jenifer and Rachel’s work and the College of Education in USF:Jenifer Jasinski Schneider, PhD: https://www.usf.edu/education/faculty/faculty-profiles/jenifer-jasinski-schneider.aspxUSF College of Education: https://www.usf.edu/education/David C. Anchin Center for the Advancement of Teaching: www.usf.edu/anchin 

Episode 16 Adult Literacy for Life Strategy

In this episode, I am chatting wth Clare Power and Eleanor Neff from the Literacy Development Centre (LDC) in SETU and Paula Tiller, the Regional Adult Literacy Coordinator for Kerry, about the Adult Literacy for Life (ALL) Strategy. They explain what is in the strategy, why it was developed and what is happening to implement it. To learn more about the ALL Strategy, visit: https://www.adultliteracyforlife.ie/

Episode 15 Family Literacy

In this episode, I am chatting with Lana McCarthy about family literacy, also known as family learning. Lana has worked in this area for many years and developed the 'Hug Your Book' programme. She has recently established a Community of Practice for Family Literacy, a partnership between the Literacy Development Centre in the South East Technological University (SETU LDC), NALA (National Adult Literacy Agency) and Adult Literacy for Life National Programme Office (ALL NPO).If you would like to join the Community of Practice, you can register at the following link:https://forms.office.com/e/fVan26wNsr You can also contact Lana at Lana.McCarthy@setu.ie.If you want to check out Lana's PhD. research on Parental engagement you can do so here:McCarthy, L, (2025) `The Dance of Engagement': AConstructivist Grounded Theory Study of Parental Engagement., Trinity CollegeDublin, School of Linguistic Speech & Comm Sci, Clin Speech & LanguageStudies, https://www.tara.tcd.ie/handle/2262/110774

Episode 14 Supporting Adults with Dyslexia

In this episode, I am chatting with Aoife O'Leary, the Adult Literacy Coordinator with Dyslexia Ireland. Aoife explains what dyslexia is and how we can support students with diagnosed or undiagnosed dyslexia. She offers practical advice that we can implement in the classroom. Aoife also talks about the resources available from Dyslexia Ireland, which are available at the links below. You can contact Aoife at aoifeoleary@dyslexia.ie Dyslexia Ireland https://dyslexia.ie/ Inclusive communications guidelines: https://dyslexia.ie/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Guidelines-on-Inclusive-Communications-2022.pdf Adult Dyslexia Hub: https://adultdyslexiahub.ie/  Structured Literacy: https://adultdyslexiahub.ie/structured-literacy/ Shannon Trust: https://shop.shannontrust.org.uk/