Presented by: Sinead Tuohy & Fred Boss
This is a short (20 min) presentation: The Junior Cycle Digital Media Literacy (DML) and Coding short courses were first published and made available to schools in 2016. Since then, they have become the most popular short courses for schools to choose with 119 schools offering DML and 116 offer Coding (PPOD statistics for school year 2021-22). In 2023, NCCA undertook an early enactment review process of both short courses, which saw the specifications revised by December 2024. These revised specifications will be published shortly and offer an exciting opportunity for schools to broaden their digital curriculum at junior cycle.
Presenter Biography:
Sinéad Tuohy is an Acting Director with National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA). She has worked as a post-primary teacher for 12 years and also been part of the support services for post-primary, involved in initial teacher education and an Education Officer with NCCA. Sinéad has been involved in a number of digital-related European projects and has a particular interest in the development of student key competencies and the diversity of literacies required to thrive and survive in the digital world.
Fred Boss is an Education Officer with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment. Previously, a post primary Art teacher and CPD officer with PDST Technology in Education, Fred led the development of the Junior Cycle Visual Art and Leaving Certificate Art subject specifications in Ireland as well as finalising the Junior Cycle Coding specification, which has recently been updated. He is also trained to Coaching Level in the Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) methodology. Fred has used VTS to help integrate student voice into the Visual Art curriculum, and VTS has been since been demonstrated to all Art teachers as part of their CPD over the last number of years.