Trinity College Dublin launches innovative new postgraduate certificate course in 21st Century Teaching and Learning

John Herlihy, VP International SME Sales and Head of Google in Ireland said; “Building teacher capacity to leverage technology in creating active, engaged classrooms will support Ireland’s next generation of technology leaders.   The success of Irish students at the Google Science Fair and the European Union Contest for Young Scientists in recent weeks is fantastic and demonstrates in a very tangible way the role teachers play in inspiring their students.  I congratulate all the teachers and schools who are taking the lead and participating in this new 21st Century Teaching & Learning programme.”

Google is a long term supporter of educational innovation in Ireland through its support of the Science Gallery, TAP and Bridge21.   It has also provided funding to the Centre of Academic Achievement which provides free after-school classes in science, math and engineering subjects for primary school students from disadvantaged areas.

Lord Puttnam, Ireland’s Digital Champion commented; “My warmest congratulations to everyone involved in conceiving, negotiating and delivering this important initiative. This is great news; great news for Trinity, for Google and for Ireland.  As the country’s Digital Champion, this is exactly the type of imaginative partnership I’ve been arguing for – and I’m certain the results will speak for themselves”.

Teachers interested in learning more about the Trinity College postgraduate certificate in 21st Century Teaching and Learning can contact info@ta21.ie

About Trinity Access 21
The Trinity Access 21 network comprises the Trinity Access Programmes (TAP) and Bridge21.  TAP celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2013 and has a long track record of developing innovative educational projects, courses and entry routes for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds.  Bridge21 has a strong recent presence in this area, challenging conventional models of teaching and seeking to change the second level classroom so that students are empowered to teach and learn through technology and team work, and the teacher adopts the role of an orchestrator of learning.

About Google in Ireland
Google established in Dublin in 2003 with just five employees and today its Europe, Middle East and Africa Headquarters employs over 2,500 at its campus on Barrow Street.  The company transacts business with more than 67 countries, helping them to transact online.

About School of Education, Trinity College Dublin
The School of Education is one of the largest professional schools in the University. It addresses educational issues at a number of levels: in initial teacher education, postgraduate teacher education, continuing professional development, and through engagement in high quality research. There is a long tradition in the School of Education of educating high quality teachers to cover the full range of educational provision in the State, and of further supporting them during their career through the provision of targeted and specialised in-career and postgraduate programmes ranging from certificate to doctoral level.

About School of Computer Science & Statistics, Trinity College Dublin
The School of Computer Science and Statistics comprises a community of 500 undergraduates, 480 postgraduates and in excess of 150 members of staff and it offers a wide range of courses encompassing computer science, statistics, management science, information systems, business, linguistics, European languages, computer engineering, electronic engineering and mathematics. Apart from its significant research output members of the School has been pivotal  in the formation of multi-million Euro companies such as Havok and the first Irish company to be floated on the NASDAQ, Iona Technologies. Recent School start-ups to look out for in the future include Impartio, Treocht and Glanta Ltd.

###

Contributors hope the new course will help teachers and their students develop skills in STEM disciplines.