Learning to code is a popular topic in educational circles these days and rightly so I think. When young people code their own apps, games, stories, or websites they have a chance to think critically, troubleshoot, problem solve, and collaborate. It’s a way to create something real that can be seen and used […]
Tynkering With Code Read More »
Having returned from my annual pilgrimage to the BETT Show I was asked by numerous people to share my BETT highlight. The show was dominated this year by a wide array of tablet devices, computer programming resources, data analytics and much more besides. Though it has moved down to the Excel arena it continues to
What was your BETT highlight? Read More »
[vimeo]https://vimeo.com/84669555[/vimeo] Safer Internet Day (SID) is a global campaign that promotes a healthy Internet for everyone. It will be celebrated on Tuesday 11th February 2014. This international annual event takes place every February to promote safe and responsible use of the internet and mobile phone technologies, especially amongst children and young people. Safer Internet Day is organised
Have a Safer Internet Day! Read More »
Before I trained to be a teacher, there was a huge shortage of qualified teachers in Ireland; so much so that when I finished my science degree in 2001, just in time for the dot com bubble to burst, I was able to get a teaching position in a school in Tallaght in Dublin. By
Remember Opus Illuminatus? Read More »
We have been using Skype in our school for video conferences between classes in our own school and classes in partner classes in two Comenius projects that we have engaged in with other European schools. In the early days we found that the technology wasn’t at all as reliable as it is today, connections often failed,
Skype in the Classroom Read More »
This is the question schools typically ask when they are considering investing in tablet devices for their schools. However, all too often this is not the right question to start with. A recent report (PDF) commissioned by the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools (ACCS) and compiled by H2 Learning recommends that schools consider why
So what tablet should I buy? Read More »
Create beautiful tutorials with the tap of your finger. The ShowMe application is a dynamic presentation and creation application available on both iPad and Android tablets. ShowMe provides an iPad app and a web-based interface for accessing the ShowMe database as well as your own presentations. It is a free download from Android and App
ShowMe – A Dynamic Teaching Tool Read More »
Over the last number of years we have been working at improving different aspects of literacy in our school. In the area of writing, we have used First Steps Writing, in reading we have adopted First Steps Reading and have purchased subscriptions to Reading Eggspress for pupils in fourth to sixth class. To assist us
Vocabulary Spelling City Read More »
According to Wikipedia the term Web 2.0 was coined by Darcy DiNucci in 1999 and it was popularised by Tim O’Reilly at a conference in 2004. Teachers use Web 2.0 tools to engage pupils, to share their work with their peers and to present pupil work to a global audience. To a certain extent, Web
Exploring some cool Web 2.0 tools Read More »
Recently the OECD published their OECD’s Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) results. A key product of the PIACC was the Survey of Adult Skills and it was designed to provide insights into the availability of some of the key skills in society and how they are used at work and at
Learning doesn’t stop when school finishes Read More »
