Keeping tabs on the plethora of themed education weeks happening this time of year is no easy feat, we’ve got Space, Maths, EU Code, Science, HourofCode and more, respective weeks all scheduled between now and Christmas but just in case you hadn’t enough to be getting on with…new to the academic calendar for 2022 is Ireland’s first-ever Computer Science Week launched by Minister for Education, Norma Foley last month. Taking place next week, October 8-15, Computer Science Week is designed to showcase the benefits and cutting-edge opportunities of Computer Science for students.
Computer Science Week is being organised by the Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) who have planned a packed programme across the week including a one-day, in-person National Conference in Athlone on Wednesday. Student workshops on the day include “getting Creative with Lego Spike’ ‘Computational Thinking with Drones’ and ‘Human Centred Artificial Intelligence’. There will also be exhibitions from industry, as well as project exhibits from primary and post-primary schools. The keynote address at the conference will be delivered by Lorraine Underwood, maker, author and senior teaching associate at Lancaster University. This free event is now open to for booking and all are welcome to attend with sub-cover (Up to 150 days) provided for teachers, but places are limited so register on Eventbrite now.
Other notable events on the programme (Outside of the National Conference) are highlighted in the graphic right and include live workshops for schools to be delivered by subject experts and webinars hosted by industry heavyweights (incl. Microsoft, Google, IBM and Cisco) aimed at parents, guidance counsellors, principals, students and anyone interested in finding out more about computer science. As Ireland’s Computer Science week coincides with EU Code Week, October 8-23, those organising Computer Science week events are being asked to register their events at codeweek.eu.
Computer Science became a Senior Cycle subject in schools in 2018 and is growing in popularity, with 1,604 students sitting the Leaving Certificate Computer Science examination in 2022 and this weeklong event has been designed to provide students with stimulating, interactive opportunities to experience computer science and provide information to interested students, teachers and parents. For up-to-date event information see the PDST computer science twitter account, @PDSTcs…