ICT and the Curriculum
Integrating ICT into the school curriculum in a meaningful and creative way is a challenge for all schools. Comprehensive ICT integration takes time and necessitates appropriate school planning in order for the process to take place in a truly co-ordinated and developmental way. ICT integration is a never-ending journey rather than a once-off activity.
Schools may sometimes feel that, by spending a number of months developing an ICT plan, they have successfully addressed the issue. However, the reality is that new ICT developments are constantly being unveiled and any or all of these developments can have a significant impact in the classroom, both from the perspective of the teacher and the learner.
The whole issue of ICT and the curriculum can be examined from two perspectives - what is the school's overall ICT policy and what is the school's approach to staff development in the area of ICT? Both of these elements contribute to true ICT integration and it could be said that they are interdependent. Some fundamental questions regarding ICT policy and staff professional development are presented below and schools should aim to address these questions, regardless of their current ICT status, in order to achieve the best possible level of ICT integration over the coming years.
Integrating ICT across the Post-Primary Curriculum
A number of teachers in St. Mary’s College, Dundalk show how they and their students use ICT in their classrooms.
