The 3rd national team teaching seminar was co-hosted by the Department of Education Maynooth University and the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) in Maynooth on Monday 13th February 2017. The seminar marked the culmination of a research project involving Year 2 PME student teachers and experienced teachers in partner schools. Participants had engaged in a series of workshops on team teaching in autumn 2016 in Maynooth, Dublin, Navan and Carlow.
The national seminar was attended by close to 200 delegates, including student teachers, experienced teachers, principals and deputy principals, support services, policy makers and HEI representatives. Following the opening remarks by Prof Sharon Todd (Head of the Department of Education MU) and PDST national Director Ms Ciara O’Donnell, presentations throughout the afternoon provided a comprehensive picture of team teaching in post primary schools. The presentations included an overview of this project between Maynooth University and the PDST, presented on behalf of the team by Dr Thomas Walsh (MU) and Ms Phil Fox (PDST); insights from a team teaching partnership of PME student Ms Claire Cunnane and experienced teacher Mr Michael Finnegan from Wilson’s Hospital School, Multyfarnham. The centre piece of the seminar was a poster session with posters from over 60 student teachers and experienced teachers that distilled their key learning and insights gained from involvement in team teaching activities which provided an opportunity for delegates to discuss these experiences informally. The keynote address was given by Dr Colette Murphy of Trinity College Dublin while Dr Finn Ó Murchú (MIC) concluded the afternoon’s presentations. Further information on the project and access to the poster presentations can be found at http://www.pdst.ie/teamteaching/MU/2017.