PDST - Technology in Education

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January 2013

Welcome to the PDST Technology in Education email newsletter.

Our newsletter aims to provide ICT news and information to Principals, ICT coordinating teachers, teachers and all those involved in education.

Continuing Professional Development

NEW! ICT in the Post Primary MFL Classroom – an online course

CPD image A new online course has just been released and will run this spring term commencing January 31st. It is a highly interactive course containing videos, practical examples, advice and resources to assist teachers in integrating ICT effectively in the teaching and learning of modern foreign languages. This course has been developed by PDST Technology in Education (formerly NCTE), in collaboration with the PPLI and the PDST.

Enrolment opens on Monday 21st January. You will need a Teaching Council Registration Number and a Scoilnet Account to enrol. Places are limited.

Free Online Courses open for enrolment

CPD image A number of free online courses are running this spring term for primary and post primary teachers. They include the following:

Wikis & More for Learning
Blogging for Learning
Using the Interactive Whiteboard to support Literacy
Developing e-Learning in your School (Post Primary)
and the aforementioned new course: ICT in the Post Primary MFL Classroom

All of the above courses are supported by an e-Tutor, are highly interactive and are suitable for teachers with either basic or intermediate level ICT skills. Enrolment opens on Monday 21st January. You will need a Teaching Council Registration Number and a Scoilnet Account to enrol. Places are limited.

Spring schedule for face to face courses

CPD image The new spring schedule for courses commencing in January and February has now been published on the PDST Technology in Education website. Full course and venue details are also available there. Contact your local education centre to book a place. This schedule is updated regularly with new courses so please check back if you don’t see something of initial interest.

ICT don Ghaeilge Labhartha (NCTE/STDL Gaeilge)

Tabharfaidh an cúrsa seo eolas do mhúinteoirí ar an trealamh agus na hacmhainní is úsáidí atá ar fáil chun an Ghaeilge labhartha a fhorbairt agus a mheas. Foghlaimeoidh na múinteoirí conas teacht ar na hacmhainní úsáideacha seo agus iad a chur in oiriúint dá gcomhthéacs féin. Cabhróidh ábhar an chúrsa seo le múinteoirí réimse modheolaíochtaí a fhorbairt a spreagfaidh an chumarsáid agus a chabhróidh go mór leo freastal ar scoláirí le riachtanais éagsúla.

Summer Whole School Training

CPD image A quick reminder to act now if you wish to apply for a funded, whole school training ICT course to be held in your school for you and your colleagues this summer. Contact your local education centre as soon as possible to apply.

Webwise - Safer Internet Day 2013

internet safety image Safer Internet Day is part of a global drive to promote a safer Internet for all users, especially young people. The 10th Safer Internet Day will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 5th, 2013 in many countries across the world, including Ireland. Webwise has suggestions for activities and events that you can hold in your school or classroom to take part in Safer Internet Day 2013. The theme for this year will be online rights and responsibilities.

Minister Quinn announces free access for students to online encyclopaedias

scoilnet image The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., recently announced free home access to the online edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica for all school-going children. For the past three years, primary and post-primary schools have had access to the resource, and today’s roll-out is an expansion of this service.

Britannica Online School Edition is a unique and comprehensive resource designed for all levels of learning. It has four age-specific learning areas which contain various engaging teaching and learning materials, all designed to build confidence and inspire continuous discovery.

Site of the Week: Science Hooks

scoilnet image A recent Scoilnet Site of the Week, Science Hooks presents a collection of 35 videos with experiments/presentations covering a wide range of curriculum topics within Chemistry, Physics and Biology. The site is divided into three sections containing one "hook" or video per topic within that section.

Also remember to follow Scoilnet on Twitter!

Webwise - Internet Safety

Creativity and Critical Thinking: The Essential Pillars

Webwise has put together a Twitter timeline from one of the Safer Internet Forum's most engaging discussions around the new Better Internet for Children strategy.

Acceptable Use Policy advice from Webwise

webwise image Unsure of how to develop your school’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)? Don’t fear. Webwise list some prime examples of AUP documents, related permissions slips and AUP checklists.

Clarification regarding Wi-Fi in Schools

technology image A correspondence regarding the use of Wi-Fi in schools was recently issued by a third party organisation, possibly to all schools and without our prior knowledge. This has resulted in confusion among schools in relation to potential risks of using Wi-Fi and wireless networking in schools. The Department of Education and Skills would like to inform you of the up to date position from the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government (DECLG), which has a specific responsibility in this area.

Introducing Britannica

good practice image This video demonstrates how to access some of the many engaging features on offer from Britannica. It focuses on each of the three sections, primary, post primary and third level, highlighting its age-appropriateness and multimedia rich features.

CESI 4.0 - Back to our future

other news image The annual conference of the Computers in Education Society of Ireland will take place in Galway on February 22nd and 23rd, 2013. The theme for this year's conference is "CESI 4.0: Back to our Future". This is a very special conference in the story of CESI - it's their 40th birthday and they're going back to the place where CESI began: Galway. Book your place now!

DES Diversity of Patronage survey

des image The Department of Education and Skills is conducting a survey of parents in 38 areas across Ireland asking who they would like to see running primary schools. The survey closes at Midnight on 8th February.

Lasco Maths Challenge

lasco image This Annual Inter-schools charity maths competition with a prize fund of up to £5000, is open to all Primary and Post Primary Schools in Ireland. The next Challenge takes place on February 1st.

Other News

useful weblinks icon Be sure to check online for our International News, Competition News and Useful Weblinks.

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About Us

qr code PDST Technology in Education provides advice, support and information on the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in education.