Cumann Rìomh-Oideachais na h-Éireann | Voluntarily supporting ICT in Education since 1973

Primary Level

Using a blog in a primary classroom: see how both pupils and teachers can use a classroom blog to enhance teaching and learning.

Presented by: 
Kieran Kelly

Blogging is a simple and easy way to create and update a website. With the aid of a digital camera and a microphone a teacher or pupil can easily and quickly insert photos, audio clips or video clips onto the blog. These ICT tools can be used within the classroom to enhance teaching and learning in any curriculum subject. This presentation explores how a blog is being used in a fifth class. The blog is updated regularly by pupils and the class teacher. Every pupil has a unique pseudo username and password and they are able to update the blog on a computer at the back of the classroom.

Kieran Kelly teaches fifth class at St Clares PS in Harolds Cross. He is currently completing aMasters in Education in St Patrick’s College. His research topic is based on whether the integration of ICT tools into primary science changes children’s attitudes towards science.

Day/Time: 
Saturday, 14.40 - 15.10

Extending teaching and learning beyond the walls of our school

Presented by: 
Patricia Ward, John Englishby & Pippa Brady

This presentation will examine a range of issues, which will inform those who interested in the use of virtual learning environments, in primary & secondary education. It will briefly explore: Setting up a virtual school Design of Frontpage, images, sound and video Creation & development of learning paths Access rights for staff and students Assessment – creation & storage of results Expanding the classroom

Patricia Ward is a class teacher in St Brigid’s School (special school for students with mild general learning difficulties) Dundalk.  St Brigid’s school seeks to enhance the teaching & learning environment with the integration of technology throughout the school.  Patricia has been an NCTE tutor since 2001 and has been involved in the development of the modules for:
* The Internet a teaching & learning tool
* Website design and development for learning
* ICT and SEN – Visual Impairment
She previously taught adults with multiple disabilities in the Rehabilitation Institute, where she was actively involved in supporting teachers using technology.
John Englishby is a Maths and Physics teacher with 30 years experience in St. Mary’s College, Dundalk. He is currently TY coordinator and ICT coordinating teacher in the school. The school is involved in promoting the integration of ICT in learning and teaching on a whole school basis. Previous computer experience includes NCTE tutor for Phase 1 and Phase 2 and ECDL Coordinator. As ICT coordinating teacher he has become quite adept at solving minor computer problems of all types!
Pippa Brady is an English and RE teacher in St Mary’s College, Dundalk since 1994. Part of Pippa’s role as an T.Y. English teacher is to promote multi-media use through film-work, animation and sound-editing in her TY class. Pippa stresses the fact that none of her ICT education has been from formal training but that an interest in integrating ICT into the classroom has led to a seeking out of ways and means to enhance teaching and learning within her classroom and within the whole school.

Day/Time: 
Saturday, 11.30 - 1200

ICT and Language Teaching

Presented by: 
Brendan Duignan

The NCTE and MLPSI (Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative) have come together to deliver a two-evening course on ICT and Language Teaching. The aim of the course is to enable teachers of all ICT abilities to develop and enhance their ICT skills in relation to the teaching of languages in the classroom. This will encompass modern languages as well as EAL and Irish.  This workshop will be an introduction to the course and will give some practical ideas for using ICT in the Language Classroom in areas such as using images, audio, storytelling and many more.

Brendan Duignan is Regional Project Leader with the Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative and has a keen interest in the area of ICT and Language Teaching.  He has taught at primary-level in England and France, as well as Our Lady of Victories BNS, Ballymun Rd and Lisaniska NS, Knockmore, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Brendan has an M.Ed from St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra.

Day/Time: 
Saturday, 12.10 - 12.40

Pre-Service Student Teachers “Vision” of ICT in their future classrooms

Presented by: 
Alison Egan

Results of a study undertaken in Marino Institute of Education, with preservice teachers who attended a 4 week course on Web 2.0 and its application in a classroom setting.  Results indicate that student teachers have a very limited vision of using IT in their classrooms, and despite such an intensive course, at the end they still prefer the “chalk and talk” methodology. Target audience is primary school teachers who think Web 2.0 is the future, whereas research would indicate that “digital natives” don’t see it that way.

Alison Egan is Director of ICT & ELearning Marino Institute of Education, Griffith Avenue, Dublin 3. Alison has completed her M.Sc in IT and Education at TCD, and has won an ICT Excellence Award in 2006.

Day/Time: 
Saturday, 10.45 - 11.15