NCTE (National Centre for Technology in Education) - Integrating ICT in the primary curriculum

Integrating ICT in the Primary Curriculum

Who better to explain how ICT enriches classwork and makes learning fun and enjoyable than pupils themselves?

	Digital Video in the Classroom See how the 5th class boys of St. Joseph’s National School use digital video technology in presenting their work. They explain how they shot and edited their movie and why they enjoy creating and learning with digital media.
	FÍS Lego Technology Watch the boys and girls of Ballyadams NS, Athy, explain with ease how they created a film for the FÍS Film Festival using Lego, animation and digital video. They developed the storyboard, wrote the script, designed and built the scenes and props and programmed using Lego Mindstorms. They like everything about it they say,” it’s a lot more fun than ‘normal’ work in your copies!”
	Bird Watching See these 3rd Class boys class explain how with the aid of an infra red camera in the school’s bird nesting box and a digital projector they can ‘learn much, so much more’. ICT has brought nature into their classroom; it’s like being in the bird’s living room they say

Maths and Irish are fun when we use ICT!

	Infants and ICT Watch the Junior Infants in Fiona Hogan’s class having fun with an early Maths activity while the Senior Infants in Barbara Craine’s class deftly use the wireless mouse in learning how to spell. Both teachers explain how easy it is to engage a whole class of infants using the computer, a Visualiser, wireless keyboard and wireless mouse. All are absorbed and interested. The teachers can’t imagine classrooms without technology.
	Irish Resources 3rd Class teacher Colm O’Riain and his pupils explain how using multimedia applications in learning Irish encourages the pupils to use the technology not just to create their slideshows but to speak the language. Colm explains how through using multimedia they are now speaking Irish -- It has become a living language for the boys. The boys are so motivated they work on at home and upload their digital creations to the school’s virtual learning environment.
	Using ICT in Maths Learning Maths is fun when we use the computer say the boys of 2nd Class in St. Joseph’s NS. Teacher Carmel Durkan explains how using ICT adds a new dimension to learning and teaching. The interactivity and multi modal elements make learning enjoyable, it complements the class teacher’s work and easily reinforces concepts already taught. It’s a fun interactive way to keep the children engaged. The ICT Coordinator explains about the Resource Index they have created which lists useful websites and other digital content under various curriculum areas and the different strands, making it easy for teachers to find age appropriate digital resources.

Planning for ICT integration and developing an e-Learning Plan is key to successful change.

Leadership & Planning
Primary and Post Primary Principals speak about their vision for e-learning in their schools and the importance of establishing an e-culture throughout the school. Principal, Kathleen O’Connor, explains that children expect to experience technology in the classroom, they want to use it and are not afraid to use it. Principal Matt Hume traces the development of ICT in St. Joseph’s NS from 1987 to today. Involving the Board of Management and establishing an ICT Coordinator were important elements of his plan. Declan Donnelly, the ICT Coordinator, outlines his role in achieving the plan to embed ICT learning and teaching in the school. They installed a wireless network throughout the school; each classroom has a teaching laptop, data projector, wireless keyboard and wireless mouse to allow the children to use it at their desks. Realising their vision for ICT has also involved information evenings for parents and whole school continuing professional development for the teachers.

ICT is a great support to the Learning Support Teacher

Using ICT in Learning Support
Jan Molloy, Learning Support Teacher finds numerous advantages to using ICT . Jan highlights the four different learning aids and explains the advantages of having diagnostic computer based tests. Pupils from 2nd to 6th class love the immediacy of response the computer allows them, they enjoy the game elements of many of the programmes and having fun while learning.

Holding the attention of class full of infants is easy with the new reader being displayed on the Visualiser.

Visualiser New Book
Sammy Snake words are easily spotted by these infants as they learn the new words in their new reader with the help of the Digital Visualiser.

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