Why Art Teaching?

The inspiration to pursue my fervour for visual arts professionally was compounded at an early age by the encouragement and
faith offered by my own grandparents who were both Art and Religion teachers. I was also fortunate to have my own inspirational
art teacher Ms Flynn who strove to draw out the best from all her students. Her dedication to providing students with a solid
understanding of the formal elements in art and design was coupled with a keenness to relate those elements to the world outside.
Taking us on regular outings to museums and galleries and entering students’ work into exhibitions gave me the sense that what we
were doing in the classroom was part of a wider cultural tradition and of value in our society. This is a principle on which I try to
model my own practice as an educator.

 
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ST. CLARES COMPREHENSIVE, Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, Ireland.

Art & Design Teacher

Designed and instructed creative schemes of work in Art History, Printing, Analytical and Life Drawing, Sculpture, Painting and Graphic Design for all year groups including Art at Junior and Leaving Certificate Honours level.
• Taught students core areas of SPHE to 1st & 2nd year groups.
• Designed & co-ordinated backdrops and props for School Musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.
• Organised & promoted Student work in Art & Woodwork exhibition in Leitrim Sculpture Centre.

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CASTLEBAR COLLEGE OF FURTHER EDUCATION Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland.

Graphic Design & I.T. Tutor

Designed and instructed creative lesson plans for FETAC Level 5 PLC course in Graphic Design. Also responsible for delivering Modules in FETAC Level 5 Media Studies and FETAC Level 5 Business Administration. Modules included Desktop Publishing, Technical Skills for Journalism, Word Processing & Spreadsheets.

  • Taught students core modules in FETAC Level 5 Graphic Design course which consisted of; Image processing, Computer Illustration, Graphics, Drawing, Advertising, Appreciation of Art, Craft and Design, Digital Photography, Pre-press Techniques, Typography, Communications, Web Design, Desktop Publishing and Work Experience.
  • Provided planned learning tasks to explore and understand software packages and their limitations. Core software applications included Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Dreamweaver and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Planned for instructional activities including demonstration of classroom activities and projects using a variety of media and methods.
  • Directed Final College Art Exhibition showcasing students project work which was launched by ‘The Hardy Bucks’.
  • Identified students’ requirements and abilities through assignments, lesson planning, and continual assessments.
  • Assigned as a Internal Assessor during end of year College Internal verification of student exam work/projects.
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SPAFIELD FAMILY RESOUrcE CENTRE LTD., Cashel, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.

Graphic/Web Tutor & Course Co-ordinator

  • Co-ordinated & delivered course modules for FETAC Level 5 Graphic Design Course; Design Skills, Drawing, Image Processing, Desktop Publishing, Illustrated Graphics, Teambuilding and Work Experience.
  • Planned Cashel Arts Festival Poster & leaflet competition in association with Cashel Arts. Where by students created/designed an innovative concept that met with the clients requirements.
  • Directed Final Graphic Art Exhibition showcasing students project work which was launched in Cashel Town Library.
  • Directed and Co-ordinated with students a Fundraising campaign to raise funds for Spafield Family Resource Centre. Students worked in teams to present their best product to the marketing panel. All Year Round Colouring Book won and raised much needed funds for the centre.