 IRELAND: Education Minister, Ruairi Quinn is asking for peoples opinions on ITC best use practice in the classroom.
The use of ITC or Information Communication Technology will make up part of the public consultation phase for new Digital Strategy for Schools. Parents, teachers, students, industry and academics are being asked for their views on how best to make use of computers and technology in the classroom. Minister Quinn launched the public consultation phase of the new strategy today. It's understood that the consultation phase will feed into the development of a new strategy on the use of ICT in teaching and learning in primary and post primary schools. This follows on from a comprehensive online survey of principals and teachers which took place earlier in the year. Strategy basis The findings from the survey, the public consultation process and focus groups to be held next year will together inform the new strategy. MInister Quinn said that the potential for using technology in the classroom was huge, but his department needed to ask important policy questions such as what sort of benefit they expect from using technology in schools and how would they measure progress? “In this consultation phase, we are particularly interested in hearing from schools, parents, industry and academics on how we can genuinely use technology to improve teaching and learning in our classrooms – but also bearing in mind the challenging financial environment that many families and schools are facing,” he said. “We already have some excellent examples of schools who are using technology to innovate in the classroom. Our challenge now is to ensure that every child in every school has the same opportunities to engage with technology across all aspects of the curriculum,” he concluded. Broadband services A key aspect to supporting the use of technology is broadband in schools. This includes the introduction of 100 Mbps broadband to all post primary schools and investment in broadband for primary schools to ensure continued improvements in connections are available. The new Digital Strategy for Schools is expected to be completed some time in 2014, and will set out how resources, policies and projects can be prioritised and organised throughout the school system for the next five years. Submissions The closing dates for submissions is 31st January 2014. Submissions can be made via www.education.gov.ie.
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