Created on: 31 Mar 2026 | Last modified: 29 Apr 2026
A GTCS Professional Learning Day will be hosted on Friday, 8th May at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow with the EIS Professional Learning Co-ordinator and Education & Equality department.
The event is open for all EIS-FELA members, whether you are currently GTCS registered or not. All attendees can use these Professional Learning workshops to count towards Professional Learning hours and those who are registered may wish to consider using them as part of Professional Update.
Participation in this Professional Learning day will allow for collegiate discussion of good practice, enhanced connectivity with colleagues, and allow for lecturers' professionalism to be celebrated and recognised, in a peer-supported space.
A draft outline of the day is below:
9.30am - Registration
10am – Welcome and Introductions with Chris Boyce, EIS-FELA Branch Secretary at Ayrshire College and National Representative from FELA Executive
10:30am – Plenary session on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Scotland's Colleges with EIS National Officer for Education, Andy Harvey.
With the rapid development of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems, and anecdotal reports of widespread usage in Scotland's schools and colleges, it is felt necessary to offer input on safe and ethical use of these systems. The EIS is clear that human-centred, relational approaches are key to delivering sound learning and that the use of technology in education should support rather than replace these approaches. The rise in AI technologies has cross-cutting implications for teaching and learning, both for teaching staff and learners. Following an agreement reached with the EIS at the International Summit of the Teaching Profession, the Scottish Government has recently published guidance and guardrails on the safe, ethical usage of AI within schools. EIS-FELA members have increasingly reported concerns over the use of AI in Scotland's colleges, and the impact this usage has on teaching and learning. It is hoped that the impact of this plenary session will be that FELA members develop an increased awareness of the EIS's position on the use of AI in teaching and learning, and how to ensure their own professionalism is upheld whilst using these systems in their teaching practice.
11am – First round of workshops
An introduction to emotions coaching/behaviour management with Nicky Shaw, an experienced CPL Trainer and Early Years Coach, Mentor, Lecturer and Consultant.
This workshop provides participants with the knowledge and practical tools to better understand and respond to their own and others’ emotions and behaviours. Grounded in current research, it explores how stress and emotions drive behaviour.
Differentiated teaching and Additional Support Needs for adult learners in the further education environment.
This workshop will discuss what differentiated teaching practices and additional support needs mean for college lecturers working within a further education (FE) environment. It will present the key legislative backdrop that underpins our duty to provide equitable education for all. This will be followed by a brief overview of ASN within the Scottish context. The workshop will conclude by discussing inclusive pedagogy and the role of the environment in learning and the value and relevance of humanistic and relational pedagogies, which has been shown to characterise the most effective educators and to contribute to the flourishing of learners with ASN. Leanne McNeill is a Teaching Fellow on the Masters in Autism courses at the University of Strathclyde, with over 20 years’ experience in autism and disability support across Scotland and Australia. Her career includes leadership and management roles with organisations such as the National Autistic Society, HOPE for Autism, and wider disability services, as well as work alongside individual families.
Theories of teaching and learning with Dr Amey Westwell Tait.
Find out about traditions of democratic education in Scotland, Mozambique and Grenada. Learn about teaching techniques which promote collective rather than individual learning, and how to apply Paulo Freire's theories in practice. This session will demonstrate some techniques of learning together.
12:30 – Lunch
1:30pm – Second round of workshops
3pm – GTCS Professional Standards session with Jim Moore, Teaching Standards Education Officer with GTCS.
This session outlines the GTCS standards and invites members to think about they can best reflect those standards in their teaching practice.
3:45pm – Feedback
4pm – Close
If you are interested in attending, please register here as soon as possible in order that we can gauge numbers. Please ensure you seek the time off from your employer to attend.