“It was intended that first-year students, in particular, would benefit from hearing the advice of more advanced students”, said final-year student, Breda O’Kane, one of the event’s organisers. “However, it was a great opportunity for everyone to share their experiences and advice with one another. St Mary’s students are doing such brilliant work out in the schools, they deserve a chance to have a showcase like this for their efforts.”
The event was introduced by keynote speaker, Mr Jarlath Burns, Principal of St Paul’s High School. In celebrating the idea of a TeachMeet, as well as the students’ initiative, he noted, “The ability to share good practice is one of the key indicators of an excellent practitioner. A good idea is something that positively impacts on pupil outcomes and is good news; therefore, it should be spread. There is no room for an ‘arm around the homework’ approach in schools because this goes against the child-centred philosophy of a Catholic school. The excellent teacher will be affirmed, not by how the idea reflects positively on him or her, but how it impacts on the pupils.”
Mr Jarlath Burns delivers the TeachMeet keynote.
A number of sponsors donated prizes to support the event including Daly’s Hyundai, Belfast; Teacups and Trinkets, Downpatrick; Jeanpiece, Banbridge; The Fly, Belfast; and Shakespeak, an Educational IT company based in Holland.
Many of the presentations will be preserved online in a recorded format as part of a “St Mary’s Student TeachMeet Library” which future students will be able to turn to for advice and inspiration.
Final Year Religious Studies student, Jake Magill, presents his work on
helping pupils to understand the Passion Narrative
Final Year Maths student, Mary Conlon, discusses the use of Quick Response Codes
as a teaching resource in the classroom
as a teaching resource in the classroom