A couple of months ago, I decided to try and make a mobile phone app for my school. Apps are considered quite the fashion accessory and most well-known companies have their own app to showcase their products. For a school, I thought it would be a good idea to be able to give parents the […]
Our School’s Smartphone App Read More »
Primary Games Arena is a website I came across in September when looking for games that would help my Junior Infant class with their mouse control skills. It has subsequently become one of our most visited websites in the class. It is operated by Primary Technology which is a UK based company that provides ICT
Apple has led the way in the tablet market since the launch of their iPad in the USA in April 2010. It is hard to believe that the iPad has only been on the market in Ireland for just 16 months since its launch here on the 23rd July 2010. Today, a number of schools
Thinking about a tablet for yourself or your school? Read More »
Brainstorming and mind mapping are very popular teaching strategies and methodologies that can be used across a variety of curricular areas. Many will use the blackboard/whiteboard for a mind mapping/brainstorming session but what about a digital alternative? Let me introduce you to Mindmeister. Mindmeister.com is an online mind-mapping application. Users can create simple or complex
During the summer I completed the INTO Digital Bootcamp in King’s College, Dublin. From the moment we walked in the door on the first morning we were bombarded with ideas on digital learning in our own classrooms. One in particular that appealed to me as a great starting point was the animation workshop. Having only
Animation in the Classroom Read More »
The SENTeacher http://www.senteacher.org website is a long time favourite of mine for accessing quick, easy to use, adaptable printable resources in Literacy and Numeracy. With a renewed focus on Literacy and Numeracy in all our schools it is an opportune time to visit SENTeacher and take a look at what it offers busy teachers. While
Last month, I was quoted in the Irish Examiner saying that this would be the year of the teacher blog. In the last year, I have noticed that there has been a steady increase in the number of teachers who have decided to blog about teaching and learning and I believe that there are going
The Year of the Teacher Blog? Read More »
Literacy and numeracy have become major issues for concern in recent times. Several reports on these topics are in the public domain and in one report, “Incidental Inspection Findings 2010”, inspectors call for “urgent school improvements” and the provision of CPD (continuous professional development) for teachers to focus on the teaching of literacy and numeracy.
Digital Storytelling Read More »
This spring a fourth class teacher within our school decided to teach her pupils about the Life Cycle of a Hen. Blackrock Educational Centre were so impressed by the project that they assisted her in creating an information video for other teachers on how to undertake the project within their own classrooms. Check out the
The Life Cycle of a Hen Read More »
Over the past year, schools have received additional grants for computer equipment to update the ICT infrastructure within schools. In TeachNet, we believe that in addition to funding ICT equipment, teachers need high quality professional development to help them realise the potential of this investment. The international research clearly indicates that quality CPD is essential
Online Summer Courses for Primary Teachers Read More »