The 2009 Eircom Junior Golden Spider Awards are up and running and looking for nominations. The new Irish Student Internet Awards will celebrate innovation in web development and design by students with a grand awards ceremony in Dublin on 18th December. There are a number of categories including best concept, best web application and best […]
Junior Golden Spider Awards Read More »
So as the school year draws to a close what were the highs and lows for ICT in learning? I think we should all take stock of what has been a disappointing year for schools wanting to improve their integration of technology into the classroom. We are all aware of the lack of funding, policy
Looking Back, Looking Forward Read More »
Last week, Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger told schoolkids to throw away their textbooks to help the state avoid bankruptcy. He referred to textbooks as being “outdated” and too expensive. California currently spends more than $400m annually on school textbooks. Instead of textbooks, the Californian Learning Resource Network will evaluate and list free and commercial online
Towards the Paperless Classroom Read More »
Last week, I had the pleasure of visiting the New York iSchool (thanks to Teachers Network for organising it). It was great to see 21st Century skills in a learning reality. This unique high school was established last Summer by the NYC Department of Education as part of their New Vision for Public Schools initiative.
NYC iSchool: A Model for 21st Century Learning Read More »
On the day when the Minister for Education and Science announced further cutbacks in schools which will target the most vulnerable children it is hard to be upbeat unless you are a banker getting bailout money today. The goodwill of teachers and their care for the children they teach is being preyed upon as the
Educational Cutbacks Read More »
With the mobile phone now at saturation point in society how are we as educators addressing the potential these devices have for new digital learning opportunities? It is common for school authorities to place a ban of mobile phones in school and this policy is generally based on what is perceived as the potential for
Mobile Phones for Learning? Read More »
100 primary schools in the DEIS Urban band 1 received letters from the NCTE inviting them to apply for dormant accounts funding to assist them achieve digital schools status. The invited schools have to complete the self evaluation on the Digital Schools website, submit their school ICT plan and complete the application form with details
Dormant Accounts to Assist Primary DEIS Urban Band 1 Read More »
The Budget brought many unseen cutbacks to our schools which have left me stunned. How a Minister for Education can allow Ireland to slip to last in Europe on the issue of class size defies belief. When Ireland was one of the wealthiest nations on the planet we should have been investing in education to
The Budget and Education Read More »
www.pppst.com This is a website (Pete’s Power Point Station) I came across that was recommended to readers of another teacher’s blog. The site has a vast number of free Powerpoint presentations which can be downloaded by teachers for their own use. It is suitable for both primary and secondary schools and the teacher can amend
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