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Reflect on using digital technology to enhance student learning. Consider:
- How can digital tools create engaging and interactive learning experiences?
- Apply School Self-Evaluation Guidelines to improve your teaching.
- How does developing your use of digital technology impact your school?
- During the 2023-2026 period, schools have the autonomy to choose the focus of their School Self-Evaluation (SSE). Align your SSE with the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 for best practices.
- Use the Digital Strategy to guide decision-making, instruction, and professional development.
Write a reflective piece (150-word minimum) as a reply to this post.
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Technology has affected education immensely and has the potential to transform the learning experience of our students. When used effectively, digital tools help children not only better understand various disciplines but also provide a helping hand for teachers who sometimes find it hard to explain certain things within the boundaries of a physical classroom. The use of technology has made things more engaging and interactive. It allows children build their digital capacity and use it to empower others to become more confident, passionate users of digital technologies. Developing the use of digital learning tools in the classroom can boost student engagement, assist teachers in improving lesson plans, and enable personalised learning. In addition to that, embedding digital learning equips our students with the tools they needed to support them in their future careers. Aligning your SSE with the Digital Strategy for Schools to embed digital learning will provide meaningful learning experiences for the children and enable students to realise their full potential.
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Hi Claire,
I feel you have hit on a key point and caveat with regard to the use of digital technologies in that they must be used correctly. In order to ensure this, the teacher must have the required level of technical and pedagogical knowledge. There is so much scope to incorporate digital technologies into learning and to use them to broaden the learning experience. The virtual manipulatives available on the Toy Theatre website are amazing for maths lessons, and can really broaden and deepen understanding. As you have said, our digital technology use should lie within the domains and dimensions of LAOS and the DLF – the SSE process can be a really effective tool in getting whole school buy-in.
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Digital tools create engaging and interactive learning experiences as students have access to multimedia and interactive content, which is highly engaging and often seen as fun for students. The use of ebooks, clips, videos, games etc opens up a world beyond the classroom and can have a positive impact on students learning experiences by providing enhanced learning experiences. Students are interested in and motivated by multimedia, interactive and gamification content. Using a variety of digital tools in the classroom benefits students with different learning styles. Digital tools also encourages collaboration within the classroom by students working together or teaching eachother.
The vision of the new digital strategy is that digital technology can help to make education better for all children in schools across Ireland. It aims to support all pupils to develop digital skills and benefit from the potential of digital technology, while also staying safe and well when online. By continuing to embed technology in our teaching and learning, resourcing the digital technology infrastructure (financially and in teacher education)and staying abreast of new developments in looking to the future we can aim to make education better for all our children.
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Incorporating digital technology into education has opened new avenues for enhancing student learning. Digital tools offer the potential to create engaging and interactive learning experiences by catering to various learning styles and preferences. These tools enable multimedia presentations, simulations, and virtual labs, fostering deeper understanding and critical thinking.
Adopting the School Self-Evaluation Guidelines to enhance teaching in this digital age is paramount. Regular assessment of digital integration effectiveness helps identify strengths and areas for improvement.
Developing proficiency in digital technology not only benefits individual teachers but also transforms the school environment. A well-executed digital strategy aligns with the school’s mission and enhances administrative efficiency. It empowers students with 21st-century skills, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future and prospective employment going forward.
In the 2023-2026 period, aligning SSE with the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 offers a holistic approach. The Digital Strategy guides decision-making, instruction, and professional development, ensuring the integration of technology is intentional, purposeful, and impactful. This symbiotic relationship between SSE and the Digital Strategy accelerates educational innovation and positively influences student outcomes
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Hi David,
Thank you for your post here. Identifying the importance of regular assessment and evaluation of where you are at with digital technology use is a key part of a school’s improvement journey. I fully agree with you that a functioning digital ecosystem can make the school run more efficiently. Your post highlights an understanding of the important messages within the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 – aligning any improvement or change initiative with the principles of this will stand a school in good stead.
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<p class=”MsoNormal”>By developing the use of digital technology in our school, pupils will have the opportunity to engage in meaning learning experiences using technology. Pupils will be able to engage in collaborative activities, use their critical thinking skills and improve their digital literacy. <span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>Alongside this, using technology in a meaning way can help pupils improve their computational thinking skills, engage in coding activities which are all part of the digital strategy 2027.</p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”>I feel by combining the SSE guidelines with STEM education now that our school could be better equipped for the new curriculum where STEM education will be a curriculum topic. In particular, consideration of how ICT and computational thinking could be improved could be a key focus. <span style=”mso-spacerun: yes;”> </span>We could focus on improving ICT and computational thinking and collect evidence and analyse it to help determine how we can improve our approach. By doing this, teachers would have a clear focus on the area of improvement and we could focus on upskilling teachers so that they can be better equipped to use ICT and focus on computational thinking in the classroom. In turn, pupils experience using ICT and using computational thinking skills will improve.</p>-
Hi Sandra,
Welcome to the online element of the course. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on digital technology integration in this post. You have listed many of the 21st century skills that can be developed through the appropriate use of digital technologies. With computation thinking in particular, elements and skills like critical thinking, collaboration and skilled decision making come to the fore. Pursuing a computation thinking line of work certainly will enhance digital skills and the other 21st century skills you have listed.
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Digital tools and resources provide dynamic and exciting opportunities for our classrooms, engaging the learner and supporting our teaching. Digital technology in education helps to address the teaching and learning of 21st century skills and abilities for our learners, from problem solving, coding and creative practices. Quality Continuous Professional Development is considered in the documents within this module, it is critical that this is supported as it benefits the teacher, the learner and the whole school. This is also addressed in the SSE guidelines, in supporting the opportunities for the growth of educators and the skills development of our pupils.
The Digital Learning Framework guides the integration of digital skills into teaching and learning, promoting digital literacy across the curriculum, supporting Digital Citizenship and assessment of the learning.
The Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 provides the vision for digital technology in schools, emphasising the importance of computational thinking and coding and digital skills for our learners. The strategy also supports planning and implementation of STEM education and provides guidance for teacher development in these areas. The importance of the Digital Learning Framework, with input from all stakeholders allows each school to look at where they are and what their chosen statement of practice is and how to effectively bring digital tools to use across all curricular areas. The framework supports schools to embed digital tools and technologies into their teaching and learning, thereby providing access and opportunities to our learners. -
Digital tools in our classrooms have brought new ways to explore and enhance autonomy with the children. By having digital tools in the classroom it allows lessons to be brought further than discussion and reading about something in a book, it gives students and teachers the ability to delve deeper into topics, explore using video and also to further the computational thinking skills that students will need in the future. From virtual tours to quizzes for assessment, these tools transform passive learning into active exploration.
By me developing my use of digital technology it benefits my school as I can bring new ideas that will help create engaging and interactive learning experiences to Croke Park hours and help other teachers bring that to their classrooms.
By using the School Self-Evaluation and regularly assessing the effectiveness of digital tools in meeting learning objectives this will allow schools the ability to change their teaching strategies for better results. Aligning the SSE and the Digital Strategies for Schools to 2027 allows our decisions to become more informed, our instruction more dynamic and it gives our professional development more purpose. It bridges the gap between our in class learning and the world of technology that is rapidly growing around us. -
It is essential for all educators to stop and evaluate how digital technologies can be used to facilitate teaching and learning. There are so many digital tools available and educators need to be helped to find out about what is at there and how they can be best used to promote learning within different curricular subjects. The school self evaluation is a way for schools to identify their strengths and weaknesses and completing this around digital technologies and STEM can really help teachers to zone in on how improvements can be made. It also helps to open up discussion among staff, it aids collaboration and it helps to find expertise among teachers. Not all teachers will be hardwired to naturally embrace technologies, we all have our different strengths and weaknesses! It is also important to listen to the student and parental voice and get their input on what they view as meaningful and valuable. Having pupil interests included means they will be more invested in the learning experience and also more motivated.
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Hi Gráinne,
Welcome to the online part of this course. Thank you for your post here. I feel that you are fully correct to point out the importance of stopping to evaluate our use of digital technologies in the classroom. Indeed, you could apply this to any work we are doing. Reflective practice is essential within our profession. We would have always surveyed the parents and children as part of the SSE cycle for the very reason you have outlined. We need to be cognisant of the entire school community, rather than just the teaching staff, when thinking about change initiatives.
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How can digital tools create engaging and interactive learning experiences?
- Digital tools can bring topics to life for the children. In a world where children are growing up with technology at their fingertips, they are far more likely to become more engaged using digital tools as it is what they have become accustomed to. When students are more engage, they will in turn retain information better. Different learning styles can also be easily be accommodated using digital tools. Children can be allowed the freedom to work at their own pace.
Apply School Self-Evaluation Guidelines to improve your teaching.
- Firstly a focus would need to be established for Self evaluation- digital tool/ year group etc.. Surveys of all stakeholders should be carried out at this stage. Then evidence needs to be gathered. This would lead into the Digital plan being drawn up/ updated for the relevant focus. Once the plan is in action, it will need monitoring and evaluated and appropriate changes discussed and implemented if necessary. Using the SSE Guidelines will help to establish where we have strengths and weaknesses that need to be addressed and worked with.
How does developing your use of digital technology impact your school?
- I saw first hand how me developing my use of digital technology had a huge impact on my school this year. I undertook quite a bit of work with Dream Space this year. Through the Dream Space Ambassador programme, we set up a Digital Mentor team of students who taught coding to other classes (children and teachers) within the school. They also took on the responsibility of helping out with all things IT within the school from IPAD management to promoting Internet Safety day. As a result of me developing my use of digital technology, we had students in both 5th and 6th classes coding in Micro:bit, Minecraft Education and Make code Arcade. I also set up a coding club one evening a week for all 5th and 6th class students. I hope to use the digital mentors next year to spread more coding activities in the lower end of the school. We are also working on more integration of IT within all subject areas- the mentors will also help me with this in working with those classes. I gained a post this year in IT and have been working on our Digital Learning Plan with a team. For teachers who are not so confident with IT, it has been great to offer mentors to help set them up.
During the 2023-2026 period, schools have the autonomy to choose the focus of their School Self-Evaluation (SSE). Align your SSE with the Digital Strategy for Schools to 2027 for best practices.
- The Digital Strategy for schools aligned with our SSE will help inform and guide us to what are the best practices to choose to suit our school. It will guide us how to set up instruction and integrate it seamlessly within the curriculum. It will help us to prioritise digital learning when planning our professional development. Ultimately it will help us to decide what will provide the best outcomes for our students.
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Hi Brona,
Welcome to the online element of this course. Thank you for your comprehensive reply here where you have raised many interesting points. You have mentioned that different learning styles can be accommodated and reached through the use of digital technologies, and I am in full agreement with this. Using a learning platform, research information can be provided in audio, video or written formats (giving an element of choice in how they access the material also supports a UDL approach). Similarly, children will have the means to respond through these different medias also.
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The use of digital technologies in the classroom interests me as it can enhance student learning in two broad but very distinct ways.
Firstly, the simple incorporation of tech into classroom activities can allow children to engage in a much more “real” and meaningful way through images, videos, interactives, etc. This has positive impacts on both their attitudes towards and engagement with learning, and on what they are getting out of the activities.
Secondly, this technology use can be brought up a level to where as well as enhancing other learning, pupils are actively developing IT skills. This is digital literacy and coding – it is also STEM-based skills such as problem-solving, computational thinking, and self-evaluating.
The Digital Strategy for Schools and the Digital Learning Strategy are both effective supports in designing a skills-focused, evidence-based plan for a classroom/school to implement best practice for using tech to enhance students’ learning.
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Digital technology without a doubt enhances students learning and I’ve witnessed this first hand with my students as I had the same class level for two years consecutively where in the first year the students studied a topic (World War 2) using a textbook and completed a visual project using a scrapbook. The following year our school had purchased a trolly of Google Chromebooks this time the students studied the same topic but they used a combination of informative websites to gather information and present their new knowledge in a digital format – Google slides, Book Creator, or Animotica (video creator). The difference in learning between the 2 years was quite profound. The students using digital technology worked well collaboratively with their peers, they wanted to find the information demonstrating their excitement and enjoyment of inquiry based learning and finally they attained and retained more information regarding the topic of World War 2. They were also further their digital literacy skills, problem solving skills using technology and enhance their computional thinking skills.
I believe that the Digital Strategy for School and SSE do and will continue to work hand in hand to identify areas within our school that needs revision and improvement to further teacher’ ability to teach and student’s ability to learn.
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Digital Technology enhance student learning not only does it enable students to develop their critical thinking skills and further independent learning skills and collaborative learning.
I think the use of ICT is important in every grade level. I thought Junior Infants for two years and within this two years I also utilised ICT. I used iMovie to create movies within the classroom based on different literacy topics. The students loved seeing their own classroom on the big screen with different edits and facts. I also created numerous activities on the Book Creator which students completed independently. They were able to follow the create steps and look at the answers the got correct at the end. I also had an ICT garden in which students thoroughly enjoyed where they could scan a QR code to receive a book of their choice. Lastly this year in Second Class I asked students to design a book using google chrome books based on our topic of Space. They books they designed were amazing and they were engaged throughout the lesson. They took great pride in sharing new facts that they learned with the class. Overall I find ICT to be very beneficial within the class and I have seen first hand the increase in engagement levels when ICT is produced.
I feel that the the Digital Strategy for the school and SSE will continue to develop students ability to learn and assess areas which need to be further developed. I think school evaluation is extremely important as there are always new ways and avenues to explore to continuously keep up to date with new ways of learning.
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