FREE WORKSHOP - Internationally recognized educator coming to VCC on Feb 26

Do you want to learn about digital tools to enhance your courses? 

Internationally recognized educator coming to VCC on Feb 26 
Tom Farrelly (MTU, Ireland) is a leading academic developer with extensive experience in eLearning.  He is particularly committed to supporting the transition of non-traditional learners to higher education.  

WHAT  Full-day in-person learning opportunity with Dr. Tom Farrelly, open to all VCC Faculty (staff and administrators also welcome to attend) 

WHERE  BWY B1231 

WHEN 
09:00 – 11:30  drop in session #1 
12:30 – 13:30  workshop: “Empowering Marginalized Higher Education Students” 
14:00 – 16:00  drop-in session #2 

DROP-IN SESSIONS  We will showcase some of Tom's recent digital learning work, discuss the processes he uses to create high quality eLearning, and share ideas and examples of work currently underway at VCC.  The drop-in sessions are a chance for you to bring your own questions and ideas, or just listen in and be inspired by spontaneous conversations.  Topics could include assessment, AI, OER... Join as your schedule allows, and the conversation will shift based on who drops in.   

WORKSHOP (12:30 - 13:30)  "Empowering Marginalized Higher Education Students: Learning from the Irish Experience," will explore barriers marginalized groups face in accessing and thriving in higher education. In preparing for this session, I was struck by the similar challenges experienced by Canada’s Indigenous communities.  This session aims to foster awareness and understanding of the unique issues impacting these students.  Drawing on my experience in co-designing the Mentoring in Education course, I will share the strategies used to create a supportive, inclusive educational environment, discussing transferable lessons from the design and implementation phases of the program.  Participants will engage in group discussions to reflect on potential cross-cultural parallels, with a particular focus on exploring practical strategies for empowering marginalized students in higher education. 

BIOGRAPHY 
Dr. Tom Farrelly
Munster Technological University
currently seconded to the National Technological University Transformation for Recovery and Resilience, a national EU-funded initiative aimed at transforming learning in higher education through collaboration across multiple institutions

A passionate advocate for digital education, Tom describes himself as a “critical technophile,” acknowledging technology’s potential while stressing the importance of a thoughtful, cautious approach. His academic interests include open-access publishing and examining the role of generative AI in higher education.