I have recently started a lunch time Minecraft club in my school for 1st and 2nd year students. The aim of the club is to set up teams to enter the Dreamspace SEAcrets of the Deep competition. See more info about that here: The W5 Blog｜The Latest News At W5 | W5 Belfast Since setting […]
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Second-level teachers have raised significant concerns about the permitted use of artificial intelligence (AI) in project work for the Leaving Certificate. This follows the release of new guidelines by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) recently. These guidelines apply to subjects such as chemistry, biology, physics, and business and address the implementation of
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The king is dead; long live the king. This blog post is both an ode to Twitter and a suggestion for somewhere new. When reflecting on your career in education, you often consider where you’ve made an impact within the wider educational community. Some teachers might have coached an All-Ireland-winning team, others may have directed
From the Ex-Bird to the Butterfly Read More »
Writing is a journey, and like any journey, it becomes easier with the right tools and guidance. Artificial intelligence (AI), in particular Generative AI, is one such tool that can transform how we support students during the writing process. By integrating AI thoughtfully, teachers can save time, develop creativity and enhance learning outcomes. Let’s take
Using AI to Support the Writing Process Read More »
Reading is a cornerstone of learning, and fostering a love for books is key to developing lifelong learners. For upper primary classrooms, Epic offers a dynamic, engaging platform to support literacy development. With its vast library and intuitive features, Epic can transform how students approach reading. I have often found it challenging to motivate and
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Throughout my career in education, I’ve witnessed numerous technological advancements that were initially viewed as potential threats to the teaching profession. From video players to YouTube, these innovations never replaced teachers but instead became valuable tools in our classrooms and beyond. Today, I feel that we face a similar situation with Artificial Intelligence (AI) in
Embracing AI in Education: A Deputy Principal’s Journey Read More »
In today’s rapidly evolving digital age, digital literacy has become a fundamental skill, just as important as reading and writing. Digital literacy is no longer an option, but more of a necessity to prepare students for everyday life. What is Digital Literacy?Despite the fact that the term “digital literacy” is widely used in today’s vocabulary,
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Following last month’s AI in Primary Podcast, we’re shifting our focus to the potential of generative AI in Irish Post Primary classrooms. Pat Brennan is joined by Sarah Gibbons, Deputy Principal, and Cailin Foy, Science and Maths teacher from Old Bawn Community School in Tallaght, Dublin. They discuss how they are using Microsoft’s Copilot and
#17 AI in Post Primary Podcast Read More »
Consider your approach to student wellbeing and digital engagement towards reducing cognitive load. Imagine this: a student sits down at their desk, ready to tackle an assignment. One tab has a list of PDF articles, another holds a playlist of YouTube videos, a third is open to an online quiz, and a fourth expands to
Lost Without a Map, Where Can I Find Directions? Read More »
As a teacher and AI CPD host, I see firsthand how artificial intelligence is reshaping education—and not just through ChatGPT. Our students are already deeply immersed in AI, particularly through tools they access daily like Snapchat’s MyAI. A 2020 survey revealed Snapchat as the most-used platform among Irish teenagers, with 55% of 13-14 year olds
Meet the AI That’s in Your Students’ Pockets… Read More »
