Minister for Education Norma Foley TD today announced the opening of registration for the 2021 Online Teacher Artist Partnership continuous professional development (CPD) Summer Course and Residency Programme (TAP) for primary school teachers under the Creative Youth programme.
The 2021 Online Teacher Artist Partnership CPD Summer Course and Residency programme supports and enhances Arts education in primary schools, developing the creative potential of every child.
TAP Online 2021 is a Department of Education-approved CPD summer course for teachers, and artists working in partnership in primary schools. CPD for both teachers and artists working in schools is essential to the long-term success and sustainability of the overall Creative Youth plan.
In order to achieve the long-term objective of cultural and creative education it is necessary to build a critical mass of education and arts professionals who are versed in the theoretical frameworks of arts and creativity education and equipped with the skills and techniques for delivering programmes in partnership.
Minister Foley said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for teachers and artists to collaborate, in a way that supports and enhances Arts education in our primary schools, with the aim to develop the creative potential of every child.
“I am very pleased this free training opportunity is being provided online this summer. This exciting initiative will help teachers and schools to further enhance creativity in their classrooms. It is important that our children are allowed to express themselves and learn to adapt and collaborate. The TAP residency element of this programme will give students of all ages in primary schools the opportunity to have their TAP-trained teacher and artist working together in their classroom, facilitating the development of these essential skills for students to enjoy and explore artistic and creative expression.”
TAP provides trained teachers with the opportunity to host a fully-funded TAP Artist Residency in their school in 2021/22. This Department of Education-led initiative is a highly innovative, creative and participant-responsive programme that promotes professional learning towards partnership.
Teacher Artist Partnership (TAP) CPD will be delivered online in 2021 and offers a free online course with extra personal vacation (EPV) day approval and opportunities for participating teachers to apply for a face-to-face in-school residency in their school in the 2021/2022 academic year.
TAP Online 2021 runs from Thursday 1 July - Wednesday 7July. It is recommended that participants engage with module 1 on Thursday 1 July, Module 2 on Friday 2 July etc., to facilitate engagement with other participants and enable tutors to support participant learning.
Live Zoom options during TAP online are voluntary. Participants can join for Tea at Ten every morning and Live Creative Dance on Monday 5 July. All other parts of the course can be carried out in the participants' own time.
Teachers can now register at their local education centre website.
ENDS
A list of education centres with websites is available from this page: https://esci.ie/education-centres.html