New booklet details schools’ approaches to ICT

PRIMARY school inspector Gerry Kearney recently launched the booklet, Curriculum and Technology – Twelve Schools – Twelve Approaches, at the Clare Education Centre, Ennis.
This project began in January, when all primary schools affiliated with the Clare Education Centre were invited to demonstrate how they were effectively and innovatively using ICT to support and challenge pupils in their learning. From this initial process, 12 schools expressed an interest in sharing their practices with the wider educational community in the region.
All interested parties were invited to the Clare Education Centre in early 2013 to discuss, develop and begin to document innovative practices from their classroom. Advisors encouraged schools to share their practice through group discussion and dialogue. Furthermore, advisors demonstrated ICT resources, with schools then being invited to trial these resources in their own classrooms. This process continued with visits to schools to assist the project from local Professional Development Service for Teachers (PDST) regional advisors, David McMahon and Michael James Malone and further evening sessions in Clare Education Centre to complete the project.
At the launch, Mr McMahon and Mr Malone acknowledged all the schools for their hard work and imagination. School inspector Gerry Kearney said this type of innovation is something that the centre is ideally suited to developing and he also paid tribute to the schools and advisors for their interest and dedication.
Director of Clare Education Centre, Pat Hanrahan, expressed delight at how well the schools and advisors worked together and suggested this type of support could be developed further in the new school year.
The 12 schools who participated in this project were Ennis National School; Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire, Newmarket-on-Fergus; Scoil Chríost Rí, Ennis; Barefield National School; Querrin National School; Ballina National School; St Joseph’s National School, Miltown Malbay; St Conaire’s National School, Shannon; Clarecastle National School; Boher National School; Clohanes National School, Doonbeg and Corofin National School.
Copies of the booklet are available from Clare Education Centre and interested schools can contact the centre at 065 6845500.