The task of supporting teachers to integrate ICT into teaching, learning and assessment practices is as big an issue today as it ever was for Irish teachers at all levels of education. Though thousands of teachers have been “trained” many feel they are not sufficiently competent to use digital technology in their classrooms. They appear […]
Shared Professional Practice Read More »
It’s not too long to Christmas and while the shops have been full of the spirit since September, I generally wait until as close to the end of the term to mention the “C” word in school. Here are some ideas to integrate technology in your classroom for the festive season. Christmas Carol Video Conference
Going Digital this Christmas! Read More »
Last year my school invested in some Digital Signage. We bought our kit from Net Communications in Enniscorthy and took it for a test drive. In the article, I wanted to share some of the ways we’ve been using the Digital Signage and how it has added to our communication system in the school. For
Class Dojo (www.classdojo.com) is a real-time behaviour management system for teachers who have an internet-enabled computer and a projector or IWB. You start by creating an account and setting up a class by typing in the names of your students. Avatars for each student are automatically generated during this process. In class, you select a
Behaviour Management With A Little Digital Help Read More »
I am the type of person who embraces technology in all its forms. In the classroom, I am always open to new forms of technology such as interactive whiteboards, digital cameras, visualisers and anything else I can get my hands on! I also understand the importance of keeping up to date with the latest software,
A Fresh Look at an Old Reliable Read More »
The uses for the digital camera in the classroom are endless. Both the teacher and the child can easily integrate this simple piece of technology into their everyday classroom activities. As the saying goes; “A picture speaks a thousand words”, and this is certainly something that we as teachers need to exploit this in our
Digital Camera during Activity Time Read More »
Brainstorming and mind mapping are very popular teaching strategies and methodologies that can be used across a variety of curricular areas. Many will use the blackboard/whiteboard for a mind mapping/brainstorming session but what about a digital alternative? Let me introduce you to Mindmeister. Mindmeister.com is an online mind-mapping application. Users can create simple or complex
During the summer I completed the INTO Digital Bootcamp in King’s College, Dublin. From the moment we walked in the door on the first morning we were bombarded with ideas on digital learning in our own classrooms. One in particular that appealed to me as a great starting point was the animation workshop. Having only
Animation in the Classroom Read More »
Literacy and numeracy have become major issues for concern in recent times. Several reports on these topics are in the public domain and in one report, “Incidental Inspection Findings 2010”, inspectors call for “urgent school improvements” and the provision of CPD (continuous professional development) for teachers to focus on the teaching of literacy and numeracy.
Digital Storytelling Read More »
This morning I came across a tweet from the Spotlight on Digital Media and Learning website entitled, Books You Can Play With and Games You Can Read: The New Market in Young Children’s Book Apps, and it got me thinking on the implications these new devices might have on children’s literacy levels now and in
Thinking about books in a new light Read More »
