AHEAD's 2021 Conference - Ireland

Event details

What: AHEAD’s annual international conference focussed on topics of inclusive practice and universal design in FET and higher education

Title of Conference: 'Reconnection: Placing Inclusion at the heart of online learning and support'

How: 100% online - Live weekly sessions every Thursday and Friday supplemented by pre-recorded ‘anytime’ sessions and other opportunities for online engagement

When: 6th April-7th May 2021 - Taking place over 5 weeks (live sessions taking place every Thursday and Friday afternoon with pre-recorded content in between)

How much: €75 for members of AHEAD, €150 for non-members, students in FET or HE in Ireland can enter free of charge. All selected contributors will receive 10% discount. 

Of interest to: Teaching and learning staff, disability support professionals, senior leadership and all staff working to deliver higher education and further education and training. Policy makers in education are also very welcome.

Format

Week 1: Welcome Everybody: UDL in the Online Classroom
In week one’s keynote address, Ann Heelan and Dr Thomas J Tobin will give a talk focused on Universal Design for Learning: ‘Connecting FET Learners, Practitioners, and the World.’
 
Week 2: “I did it my way" AT and Customised Learning
In the week two keynote address, Dr Luis Perez of CAST will speak about his experiences with Assistive Technology in his talk: ‘A Bicycle for the Mind: How Technology Can Empower All Learners for Success.’
 
Week 3: "What can I do for you?" Disability Support in Online Learning
Week three’s keynote speakers, Dónal Rice of the National Disability Authority and Accessibility Consultant  Alistair McNaught, will discuss the Web Accessibility Directive: ‘”Are we there yet?” … the long journey to accessible learning experiences.’
 
Week 4: "Home Sweet Home" College Wide Approaches to Support Inclusion
IT Sligo’s experience of Universal Design for Learning will be outlined by Maureen Haran, Dr Shelley Brady and Dr Ellen McCabe: ‘An Effective Institutional Approach to Teaching, Learning and Assessment through a Universal Design for Learning Lens.’
 
Week 5: "Let's do Lunch" Virtually Connected Teachers and Learners
Our final keynote will be delivered by Dr Andrew Hargreaves, Research Professor at Boston College. The educational change specialist will deliver the keynote: ‘The Age of Engagement, Inclusion and Identity.’

The conference will explore good practice and research on ways that staff and students in further, as well as higher education can inclusively reconnect during and post lockdown.

Further information nad registration details