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New web portal helps build ‘virtual’ learning community

An interactive website has been launched for teaching and training professionals in Northern Ireland.

The portal was launched on 28th April at the second annual conference of the Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA) Northern Ireland.

According to the LDSA, the Teaching and Learning Communities portal (TLC) will include downloadable materials for teaching and professional development and allow teachers and trainers to sign up for regular alerts specific to their subject area and interest. The site is designed to allow practitioners to communicate directly with each other and discuss issues in a secure environment.

"The TLC portal is based around sharing ideas and information,” says Trevor Carson, Director of LSDA Northern Ireland. "We think that grassroots teachers, the people who are out there doing it, are best placed to advise other teachers and help them tackle problems.

"There is already a huge amount of knowledge and expertise within Northern Ireland’s colleges that needs sharing. But what has been missing is an effective way to cross-fertilise ideas and pool knowledge. TLC will help teachers to develop their skills and help to improve the overall quality of education."

The LSDA say that TLC will be free to all further education staff working in Northern Ireland Colleges who have an active email account. Twenty-four college ‘super users’ will be trained by June 2005 to provide users with local support. A road show will start in May to introduce the new system to staff.

E-paper materials will be added to the site along with over five years of curriculum development materials from Northern Ireland from May 2005.

External link

For further information, visit: www.teachingandlearning.org.uk

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