[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Tara,

Thank you for sharing your notebook with us. You have utilised many of the features of One Note, such as embedding PDF files. The inclusion of a series of worksheets also shows how this could form a core school plan for junior infants that could be shared and passed from teacher to teacher. Each page could be based on a topic, with the required resources enclosed. In terms of student use, it is certainly more suitable for older primary children, and then onto second level. Its use can greatly reduce the need for textbooks and is assured to bring down the school’s photocopying bill.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Noirin,

Thank you for your post and for your comprehensive overview of using the Immersive Reader to assist a child with maths word problems. When we think of the Immersive Reader, we automatically think it is best suited to a reading or SESE lesson. However, you have clearly outlined its usefulness in attacking word problems. Often, children who may struggle with literacy (but are quite competent in numeracy), start to find maths difficult in senior classes. The inclusion of particularly ‘wordy’ problems can cause anxiety and cause a loss of confidence on the subject area. An assistive tool like this could be transformative in maintaining positive dispositions towards the subject.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Leanne,

Welcome to the course! I suppose we hit somewhat of a perfect storm in relation to the integration of digital technologies in primary education in recent years. The funding from the 2015 Digital Strategy, the adoption of the Digital Learning Framework and the arrival of Covid all sent us in the direction of digital. There is huge scope for the use of digital technologies in SET settings – the SETT Framework is really effective at getting you to focus on the learning and map the tool that will best suit them and their environment. It should feed into the Student Support Plan, and reflect actions towards a particular target.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Seán,

Complex problem-solving skill development certainly requires a mixture between online and offline tools. It is quite relevant to all curricular areas, and is a key skill in modern workplaces. I love how you have linked this skill to the assignment of open-ended task where children would have the autonomy to respond using the Workspace tool that they feel is the most appropriate. This is a great way of empowering children, and allowing them to use their strengths to tackle the task or problem at hand.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Colin,

Welcome to the course. Thank you for your detailed contribution here. I really like how you have focus on ‘personal learning experiences’. The use of online platforms such as Google Workspace enables us to create these learning experiences that bit easier. There is more scope for students to take ownership of their own learning, and elements of it could be categorised as self-directed. Your choice of Google Expeditions is anther excellent one. It is amazing to get that first hand experience of landmark locations around the world – there is only a small selection at present but we can only hope that more locations are added over time.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Fionnuala,

Thank you for your contribution here. The caseload you speak of (and their specific needs) are well suited to a myriad of assistive technology tools, many of which will have been referenced in this course. It’s fantastic that you have been experimenting with assistive technologies in recent years, and that you have found Dictate useful. Immersive Reader will complement this, and in my view, it is the most comprehensive assistive technology out there for children with literacy difficulties. The fact that you are all pulling in the same direction in terms of making small steps towards digital integration and transformation is amazing, and is a journey that will be very worthwhile.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Deirdre,

Thank you for your post. It’s amazing to hear of your experience teaching in America. From what I have been told, Google is really the dominant platform in American schools (whereas a power struggle exists between Google and Microsoft in Europe). The beauty of the Google Workspace tools is that they are continually evolving and small alterations and additions happen a couple of times a year. You have mentioned the ease at which differentiation can occur – one of the things I love most is how discrete the differentiation is and how it can very much be focused on the particular task.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Myriam,

Thanks for your post. The 21st century skills you listed there are central to our work and development in schools. In some ways, we should be looking at how technology can be used as a vehicle in developing skills such as communication and collaboration. I feel you have touched upon an important point when you mention how digital technologies can be used to support busy teachers and, essentially, make their lives easier. The onset of AI and Chat GPT can be used in this regard. Using technology ethically and smartly can certainly reduce unnecessary workload and help you to manage your class in a more streamlined fashion.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Margaret,

Thank you for your post. The uses of digital technology in a school setting, from teaching and learning to office administration, really are endless. You have succinctly summarised some of the features of digital technology we use most often. SSE and the Digital Learning Framework are very effective vehicles through which digital transformation can be brought about. You have hit on one of the most important points when it comes to technology in education within your post – the teacher must have the pedagogical knowledge and skill to know how and when to use the technology most appropriately.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Seán,

Welcome to the course. The choice of resource here is a strong entry point into the writing process. The process is presented in an engaging manner, with various templates there to structure the work for both teacher and children. This provides a sort of scaffold for those reluctant writers and can be used very effectively for differentiation. There is also the scope there to allow more competent writers to extend their writing through various prompts and questioning. All in all, the Applied Digital Skills website is an excellent source for engaging classroom content.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi James,

Thank you for your post. The Office 365 suite has so much potential for use in the school setting, both in the classroom and for office administration. PowerPoint and Sway are great presentation tools, and can be used by the teachers to share information with pupils. They can also be used by pupils as a medium to respond to certain learning activities. ‘Seesaw’ is a really useful learning platform, and I have loved using it with the younger classes. However, it is quite limited as you move up the school and there are not as many opportunities for pupils to delve deeper into their learning. Using Microsoft (or Google) platforms allows pupils the chance to take greater ownership of their own learning.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Tara,

Welcome to the course! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on both Sway and Forms. As you have mentioned, Sway goes further than simply allowing children to show off their attainment of learning objectives – it allows them to express themselves and be creative in their response to a given task. Forms (again, as you have said) is really effective when used as an AoL and AfL tool – very often people simply think its main purpose is to gather attainment at the end of a unit of work. However, it is possible to use it as an ongoing assessment tool through the use of exit tickets, which helps gather feedback and inform your planning for the next stage of the lesson/unit.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Catherine,

Welcome to the course. Thank you for your post and for sharing your Form and Sway. I have seen some schools using Sway to create their newsletters, and it really does create a nice, polished finish. As you have said, it is cost effective and included as part of your school’s Office 365 license. Having the names recorded is a great feature of Forms, and can be so effective in tracking progress across various learning outcomes over time. As principal, Forms can be a great tool for gathering staff feedback on initiatives, or getting them to log tickets on any issues or problems they’re having.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Alan,

Welcome to the course. Thank you for your post and for sharing your earlier Forms quiz. Sway is such a versatile and interactive tool that can be used to great effect in school administration, and teaching and learning. Children have the opportunity to creatively respond to tasks and showcase their imagination when using Sway. The addition of audio recordings provides another medium through which students can respond, and supports a UDL approach. Forms is a super assessment tool, and you seem to have mastered the central features of it, from looking at your geography quiz.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Katie,

I fully agree with you regarding the class stream. While it is a useful tool, there are probably too many potential negatives to offset any small positive benefits its use can bring about. Classroom has such an accessible interface, and experience with various other social platforms will certainly be beneficial. Classroom would be well suited to children at 4th class level – they are at an age where they will benefit from the additional depth in tasks that Classroom, and its related tools, lends itself to.

[Author]

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