Teaching Statement / Ráiteas Teagaisc

 

My focus has been on building a predominantly constructivist method of teaching practice and admire many of Vygotsky's educational theories. I have had a continuous interest and passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion in education, including SEN students, students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, students with minority ethnic, cultural, and/or religious backgrounds and/or LGBT+ students. In my first year of the PME I was also part-time 'Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion' officer in the Technological University of the Shannon. 

 

Student confidence and self-efficacy remains an area of interest which I will continue to develop as I have noticed it as a relevant affliction on student creativity throughout both my placements. Use of scaffolding and differentiation are key methods of maintaining and growing their confidence and ability, along with reflecting on learning through self- and peer-assessment and feedback techniques that use clear and accurate language and structure. For differentiation I also like to keep in mind that people learn in different ways and some SEN students may not have a formal diagnosis so we may not be aware of specific supports that they could need. Due to this, I like to try to implement a variety of ways of presenting information, visual, verbal, and written in a clear and concise format. Using relevant good-quality visual references is also essential to art education as a whole.

 

Due to it's roots in inclusion and sustainability, I am currently looking towards eco-pedagogical approaches from educator and philosopher, Paulo Freire, and Assistant Prof. Greg William Misiaszek. 

I am also a member of the Art Teacher's Association of Ireland, and attend their meetings and workshops. 

 

I look forward to developing as a teacher through the Droichead and Cosán frameworks. 

 

Dhírigh m'aird ar mhodh cleachtais teagaisc atá cuiditheach den chuid is mó a thógáil agus is mór agam go leor teoiricí oideachais Vygotsky. Bhí suim agus paisean leanúnach agam do chothromas, éagsúlacht agus cuimsiú san oideachas, lena n-áirítear mic léinn SEN, mic léinn ó chúlraí socheacnamaíocha faoi mhíbhuntáiste, mic léinn le cúlraí mionlaigh eitneacha, cultúrtha agus/nó creidimh agus/nó mic léinn LADT+. I mo chéad bhliain den PME bhí mé freisin mar oifigeach páirtaimseartha 'Comhionannas, Éagsúlacht agus Cuimsiú' in Ollscoil Teicneolaíochta na Sionainne.

 

Is réimse spéise fós é muinín agus féin-éifeachtúlacht na mac léinn a leanfaidh mé ag forbairt mar gur thug mé faoi deara é mar aimhleas ábhartha ar chruthaitheacht na mac léinn le linn mo dhá shocrúchán. Is príomhbhealaí iad úsáid scafall agus difreála chun a muinín agus a gcumas a chothú agus a mhéadú, chomh maith le machnamh a dhéanamh ar an bhfoghlaim trí theicnící féinmheasúnaithe agus piarmheasúnaithe agus aiseolais a úsáideann teanga agus struchtúr atá soiléir agus cruinn. Ar mhaithe le hidirdhealú is maith liom a mheabhrú freisin go bhfoghlaimíonn daoine ar bhealaí éagsúla agus go bhféadfadh sé nach mbeadh diagnóis fhoirmiúil ag roinnt daltaí le SEN agus mar sin b’fhéidir nach mbeadh a fhios againn faoi thacaíochtaí sonracha a d’fhéadfadh a bheith ag teastáil uathu. Mar gheall air seo, is maith liom iarracht a dhéanamh bealaí éagsúla a chur i bhfeidhm chun faisnéis a chur i láthair, amhairc, briathartha, agus scríofa i bhformáid shoiléir agus gonta. Tá sé ríthábhachtach freisin úsáid a bhaint as tagairtí amhairc ardchaighdeáin ábhartha don oideachas ealaíne ina iomláine.

 

Mar gheall ar a fhréamhacha sa chuimsiú agus san inbhuanaitheacht, táim ag féachaint faoi láthair i dtreo cuir chuige éic-oideolaíochta ón oideachasóir agus bhfealsamh, Paulo Freire, agus an tOllamh Cúnta Greg William Misiaszek.

Is ball mé freisin de Chumann Múinteoirí Ealaíne na hÉireann, agus freastalaíonn mé ar a gcruinnithe agus ar a gceardlanna.

 

Táim ag tnúth le forbairt mar mhúinteoir trí chreataí Droichead agus Cosán.