EXPLORERS online CPD teachers training courses packed with new marine content
The Marine Institute’s Explorers Education Programme and Mayo Education Support Centre are delighted to include the new ‘Learning about Tides’ film in the Explorers online CPD [continued professional development] teachers training course being held this summer (1st July – 16th August).
Michael McKenzie, Director of Mayo Education Support Centre congratulated the Explorers team for providing the new content: “The new educational film is a great addition to the online course ‘Exploring the Seashore Using Cross Curricular Learning and Skills’. It is a very good example of how the Explorers team bring subjects to life and apply content to real world scenarios for teachers and children to use in class and on the shore.”
“The film features the Explorers team on the shore explaining how tides work and showing how the sun, moon and earth influence tidal changes throughout the lunar cycle. The team also use lots of fun stories to engage the viewer, such as how scientists from thousands of years ago theorised that tides were caused by the breath movement of sea monsters,” explained Mr McKenzie.
This is the third year that Mayo Education Support Centre has run the Explorers online CPD course. “It is also good to see footage of the Marine Institute’s research vessel RV Celtic Explorer heading out to sea from its home port in Galway. Watching it go through the port gates with centimetres to spare each side at high tide is spectacular to watch – and highlights the importance of knowing your tides,” he said. 
The course has been designed to make learning online a truly enjoyable experience where teachers can build on their skills by carrying out assignments covering arts and crafts, completing creative recycling ideas, and writing stories and poetry.
Dr Noirin Burke, Outreach Manager of the Explorers Programme, said she is delighted to be running this course again this year with support from Mayo Education Centre: “We have a great team who are available throughout the summer to provide support, guide online forums to explore topics with teachers and answer queries. Teachers can complete tasks from the five modules over several days or weeks at their own pace. They can also take their learning beyond the screen with hands-on assignments designed to keep exploring,” explained Dr Burke.
With growing interest in the impact the ocean has on our lives and the impact we have on the ocean – the ‘Exploring the Seashore’ online training course provides teachers with the perfect opportunity to kick start their ‘blue’ journey and to become ocean ambassadors,” Noirin further added.
For more information and bookings about this course see Mayo Education Centre: https://elearning.mayoeducationcentre.ie/
For face-to-face courses offered by the Explorers team, see Explorers website / Teachers Training
ENDS
Photo caption: Tara Noonan and Rory McAvinney from the Explorers Education Programme present a new film Learning about Tides for the summer online teachers training course. Photo Cushla Dromgool-Regan
For more information, please contact:
Cushla Dromgool-Regan
Strategic Education and Communications Manager
(Marine Institute's Explorers Education Programme)
Camden Education
Mobile: + 353 (0) 87 9185519
Email: cushla.dromgoolregan@thecamdentrust.org
Website: www.explorers.ie