Cracking the College Code

Talk for Senior Cycle Parents

Friday February 24th 2012 at 7:30 pm

At Gortnor Abbey

Talk for Senior Cycle Students

will be held on

Saturday February 25th from 11 am to 12:15 pm

Tea & Coffee

Followed by a Careers Path Event

12:45 pm to 3 pm

The Careers Path Event will involve past pupils of Gortnor Abbey that will give presentations on their Career paths. Students will have an opportunity to speak with the speakers individually at the Speakers' stands.

An Evening talk for Senior Cycle Parents on preparing for successful transition from second level to third level

Presented by

Catherine O'Connor: Educational Consultant

This talk is aimed to empower parents by informing them about the many issues that influence success in the first year of study post the Leaving Certificate.

Developed from a third level perspective, it looks at the changing relationships between students, teachers, parents and schools and addresses the many challenges faced by students making the transition. It also looks at the demands placed on students by the college system and questions the expectations of parents and students alike under these difficult economic times.
The following is addressed

• What is the CAO really about?
• What happens at college?
• How you can help your son or daughter to make key decisions about going to third level.
• Getting to know how the third level system works
• Want makes the student successful at college?
• Why some students withdraw from college
• What faces your son or daughter on that first week in college?
• Can you communicate with college on your son or daughter's behalf?
• The examination process at college
• Leading the student to become an independent learner
• Becoming a team player
• Managing the learning process
• How to have fun safely
• Socialising and the law
• What help is available to students at college?
• Challenges of living away from home and at home
• Study and part-time work - getting the right balance
• Parents' and Students' expectations - are they mismatched?

Catherine O'Connor works as a student Recruitment specialist at Trinity College Dublin and has over twenty years experience in education which encompasses the design, delivery, assessment, pastoral care and evaluation of educational programmes. Having lectured and tutored at Diploma, Degree and Master's level at TCD and DCU she has also researched and published within the areas of education and educational technologies.

For further information contact:
Catherine O'Connor MA (Ed): Education Consultant: 086 6017036 oconcath@gmail.com