‘Teaching will never be the same’ KCFE
LIKE all educational bodies Kerry College has found the last month difficult but the Tralee and Listowel based further eduction institution is doing all it can to rise to the challenge of COVID-19.
While the college’s exams haven’t been affected – as an independently run institution the college has been able to reorganise its end of year arrangements so student’s don’t lose out – there are many other issues that must considered.
As well as keeping classes going and the student community connected online there are issues like students mental health and well-being that must also be looked after.
It’s a tough task but with staff and students all rowing in – as the College Guidance Counsellor Anne Doyle explains – Kerry College is meeting the challenge head on.
“The teachers are all doing an incredible job. It’s amazing what has been achieved given that they had just a half a day’s notice,” Anne Doyle said.
“There’s an awful lot of anxiety and with all that has happened some students are finding their thoughts galloping away from them. A lot of our students might be caring for kids or their resources mightn’t be great so we’re doing all we can to look after them,” said Ms Doyle.
Examples of this dedication and extra care are many and varied. Two students, for example, had no laptops of their own to access online lessons but after a few calls between staff two teachers came forward and donated computers to the students so they could continue their studies uninterupted.
In another instance, one common to many in rural Kerry, another student had no internet access so their teacher printed off every bit of course material they needed and arranged to have it sent to them in bulk.
“Various problems arise and the situation isn’t ideal but there are ways of getting around everything,” Ms Doyle said.
While the lockdown has thrown up plenty of problems there is no difficulty that doesn’t offer up an opportunity, as Ms Doyle outlines.
“Teaching is never going to be the same again,” she says.
“It’s incredible to see how quickly students and staff have adapted. To give one example we had a group of students who needed to do ‘ hand washing’ hygiene demonstrations. They just started videoing themselves doing the demonstrations and sending them in and it has worked perfectly”.
Other previously unexpected advantages to distance learning are also emerging.
“It can suit students with special needs and requirements. There are students with specific physical needs or some who are on the spectrum that can find the classroom quite overwhelming. The playing field has been levelled now and they can work away without the anxiety they may normally feel,” said Ms Doyle.
“We also have a number of students who travel a long distance to come to us. Instead of spending hours on the bus everyday they are at home working,” she said.
“When this is all over these are all things we’ll have to examine when we look at how we deliver courses going forward,” she said.
COVID-19 may have transformed Irish society but Kerry College isn’t going to let the virus harm its high standards.
“The college is run on strict quality assurance guidelines and they haven’t changed. Every standard has to be and is being maintained. That just means working smarter and more creatively,”Anne Doyle said.
Meanwhile, preparations for next year continue and the college remains open for new admissions. All courses can be booked online at www.kerrycollege.ie and the college’s entire admissions team are working remotely to deal with any and all course related questions.
Any queries, on courses or any other matter, can be sent directly to info@kerrycollege.ie.