Eglish NS

Digital Learning Plan

Introduction

This document records the outcomes of our current digital learning plan, including targets and the actions we will implement to meet the targets.

Mission Statement

As well as being an important educational resource, the ability to use ICT effectively is a vital life skill in modern society. “Our aim is to produce learners (pupils and teachers) who are confident and effective users of ICT, adept and proficient in using ICT to enhance Learning and Teaching”.

We intend to achieve that aim by:

1) Ensuring that ICT is incorporated into all subjects on the curriculum

2) Helping all children to use ICT with purpose and enjoyment

3) Helping all children to develop the necessary skills to use ICT for their educational purposes

4) Training children with SEN to use assistive technology where granted to enable them to access the curriculum

5) Availing of CPD opportunities for Staff Training in the area of ICT.

We are aware that,

“Teaching at all levels of the educational system must keep abreast of the potential created by the new technologies for the process of teaching and learning. It is increasingly important that a basic appreciation and understanding of the modern information and communication technologies is fostered in young people, from their early years in school up to the completion of their education’”1992 Green Paper on Education

Brief account of the use of digital technologies in the school to date:

● Digital technology is used throughout the school in teaching and learning as well as for administration. There are interactive whiteboards, a teacher laptop and sound equipment in every classroom with printing and copying facilities available in a central location. There are also 5 table-top computers, 9 iPads and 10 chrome books available for use by the children in the school which are timetabled for each class. These are used regularly in class.

The dimensions and domains from the Digital Learning Framework being selected

● Teaching and Learning: Learner Outcomes

The standards and statements from the Digital Learning Framework being selected

Standard	Statement(s)
Pupils enjoy their learning, are motivated to learn and achieve as learners	Pupils use appropriate digital technologies to foster activeengagement in attaining appropriate learning outcomes
The teacher selects and uses teaching approaches appropriate to the learning objectives and to the pupils’ learning needs	Teachers reflect on, and adapt their pedagogical strategies when using digital technologies to personalise and facilitate pupils’ ownership of their learning.

Digital Learning Action Plan

DOMAIN: (From Digital Learning Framework) Learner Outcomes

STANDARD(S): (From Digital Learning Framework) Pupils enjoy their learning, are motivated to learn and achieve as learners

STATEMENT(S): (From Digital Learning Framework) Pupils use appropriate digital technologies to foster active engagement in attaining appropriate learning outcomes

TARGETS: (What do we want to achieve?) Pupils will create and share curricular-based digital content, appropriate to their class level, once per month to demonstrate their reading

ACTIONS

(What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME

(When is it to be done by?)

PERSONS / GROUPS RESPONSIBLE

(Who is to do it?)

CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS

(What are the desired outcomes?)

RESOURCES

(What resources are needed?)

1. Teachers will engage in CPD/peer support on using digital technologies to foster reading

2. Pupils will create digital content at least once a month:

○ Infant Level (Jr Inf. From January 2020): Pupils will record themselves speaking and be supported to evaluate their presentation

○ 1^st/2^nd Class: The pupils will narrate a simple story they have covered in class (based on readers)

○ 3^rd/4^th Class: Pupils will write and narrate an ebook to showcase learning on a curricular topic

○ 5^th/6^th Class: Create and narrate a digital presentation to showcase curricular learning

3. Pupils will regularly share the digital content with their peers and get feedback on it

4. Staff will share their experiences using digital technologies in their classrooms and engage in peer support where appropriate

1. March – June 2019

2.& 3. September 2019-June 2020

4. January – June 2020

1.DT to arrange support – all staff

2. & 3. All Staff and Pupils

4. All Staff

1. By June 2019 each teacher will have used two digital tools to support the teaching, learning and assessment in their class

2. & 3. Each pupil will create curricular-based content at least once per term, and share their work with an audience of their peers

4. Sharing good practice at whole staff session/meetings from January 2020

Construct a framework documenting tools used in each class

1. Notebooks

2. Laptops

3. Digital Projectors

4. Online Tools

EVALUATION PROCEDURES:

(How are we progressing? Do we need to make adjustments? Have we achieved our targets?)

Feedback at staff meetings, Cuntais Míosúla, evidence of pupil work completed using Digital Team.

Rationale

Why does our school require ICT?

· Technology is a prominent part of our students’ lives outside school. Computers play a major role in today’s society. Therefore, it is essential that pupils are provided with the opportunity to use a computer.

· The pupils in our school need to be IT literate.

· Given the low level of School Completion (Secondary School), we aim to familiarise our students with opportunities to use technology to continue their education.

· Computers provide easy access to, and retrieval of useful information and provide a broader network of communication.

· We want to provide the best possible education for all our pupils.

· We want to provide a powerful and up-to-date teaching resource for all our teachers.

· ICT will be used for more effective administration.

· ICT will be used to help children in need of learning support and in receipt of Resource hours.

· ICT will be used to provide more effective communication with parents.

· ICT will be used to communicate with teachers and pupils in other schools, within and beyond Ireland.

· ICT will be used to prepare children for life in a technologically advanced workplace.

· We recognise the huge positive potential of ICT as a cross-curricular resource at primary level

To what use will ICT be put?

· School Administration-pupil details, standard letters, newsletters, book lists etc.

· Drill and Practice software: e.g. English, Maths, Geography

· Training in Keyboard and Word Processing skills and printing of children’s work.

· Research on the internet. Children will learn how to search the internet. Children will be taught how to skim, scan, sort, record and report information researched.

· Communication via email / messaging / Text-a-parent / Skype / Flash Meeting

· Storage of Records e.g. Micra-T & Sigma-T Results.

· Software for Special Needs pupils e.g. Word Shark, Number Shark.

· Software for more able pupils.

· Scratch and coding websites eg. code.org

· Facilitate students learning about and accessing courses available on-line that may be of interest to them.

· The mode of instruction will attempt to generate in the children, a sense of fulfilment, while experiencing the benefits of ICT to facilitate creative expression and academic achievement.

Advantages of ICT:

· The most up to date information may be accessed speedily.

· Presentation of work is greatly enhanced and choice of how to present work is facilitated.

· Pupils with special needs are greatly empowered though use of ICT.

· The Internet can be a very effective Teaching tool.

· The computer has endless patience when used for drill and practice applications.

· The computer can allow for individual differences.

· All children find computers a fascinating source of learning and they can cater to a wider range of learning styles, eg. Visual, auditory and kinaesthetic.

Summary of School Audit

Current Hardware:

· The school is equipped with 5 interactive whiteboards – 3 in mainstream classrooms and 2 in Learning Support rooms. All of these computers are networked and have broadband access to the internet.

· There are 7 computers in the school, one in the Secretary’s office with a photocopier and scanner, one in the Principal’s office, 2 in the Junior Room and 3 in the Middle Room.

· There are 4 teacher laptops and 5 laptops for students’ use.

· In September 2015, 5 additional notebooks and 6 ipads were purchased from Green IT, in September 2017, 2 ipads were added and in September 2018, 10 Chrome books were added.

· There is one mini ipad purchased in December 2014 with money fundraised by carol singing.

Current Software:

The school has acquired a comprehensive library of computer software and is consistently adding to this based on the strengths and needs of the students.

Current Usage of ICT for Pupils:

· Current usage of software includes reading work; typing skills; internet work: scanning and presentation of project work.

· Computers are used regularly as a medium of teaching and learning in all classrooms across all curriculum areas.

· Computers and appropriate software are used extensively in the Resource Rooms.

· ICT is used to connect and communicate on a monthly basis with our Erasmus + Project partner schools in Finland, UK, Spain, Italy, Poland and Romania by way of email, e-twinning, skype and flash meetings.

Special Needs:

We recognise the potential of ICT to enhance the learning opportunities for pupils with Special Needs. Children with specific writing, reading and numeracy needs are using ICT to provide alternative and complementary educational experiences.

Students who have been granted ipads through Assistive Technology use Communication Apps and relevant Literacy and Numeracy Apps.

· At present, 4 students with SEN have ipads granted to them under assistive technology.

Exceptional Students: With the advent of Broadband and an increase in the number of computers in individual classrooms we see an opportunity to use ICT to challenge and extend the educational opportunities for pupils with above average attainment.

Maintenance:

At present an external contractor carries out essential maintenance. Ideally we would like to have a maintenance contract but this is not possible at present for financial reasons. The caretaker ensures that lenses on data projectors are free of dust by cleaning them once a month.

Health and Safety Aspects:

· INTERACTIVE BOARDS, LAPTOPS, ALL PLUGS SHOULD BE PLUGGED OUT EVERY AFTERNOON BY THE TEACHER AS SOON AS HE/SHE IS FINISHED WITH EQUIPMENT. This is to avoid boards being damaged as a result of lightning/electrical fault etc.

Children are only allowed access to the WWW in supervised situations. The NCTE Broadband installation program is providing external centralised firewall. Content filters have been added to the network.
Obviously unwanted material is deleted immediately and teachers have been asked to immediately inform the ICT co-ordinator and/or write it down in the incident book in the computer room.
Children are taught from an early age that they do not give out any personal details like surnames, addresses, phone numbers etc. Every effort is made to invite a speaker speaking on the topic of ‘Cyber Bullying and Safe Use of the Internet’ to the school annually.

· Dedicated power points have been installed for all computers, and fused plugs used.

· Blacked-out blinds have been fitted in the classrooms.

· With Broadband there will be free internet access for everybody using school premises – the school has an Internet Acceptable Use Policy in place.

· Parents of students who have been granted ipads under Assistive Technology are required to sign the school’s Acceptable User policy before the technology is sent home

The Schools’ Goals Regarding ICT

Technology Integration:

Our long-term aim is that technology be used to support the teaching and learning in all areas of the curriculum and in all classrooms. We want our students to become active users and beneficiaries of technology rather than passive consumers of it. We aim

To promote a positive, masterful attitude to technology
To promote imagination and creativity
To develop problem solving skills
To facilitate cross-curricular learning
To motivate children to collect, enter and interpret data
To encourage children to communicate more effectively
To develop project management and presentation skills
To develop co-operative skills through participation in ICT projects that demand the pooling of skills and interactive development of ideas and material
To train pupils in the use of scanners and digital cameras and their software packages thus enriching their multimedia experience
To train pupils in the use of certain software packages that are directly relevant to their areas of education, from Juniors to Seniors
To motivate, engage and inspire our students to be interested in life-long learning.

Staff Professional Development

The staff is familiar with the software appropriate to their own class level. Staff have access to all software which is stored centrally in the Learning Support room. We have a very open and inclusive attitude to staff training and skills development in our school and we endeavour to provide any and all opportunities for staff development. All teachers use some of the technologies. Teachers support each other and SNAs employed in the school provide huge support.

All of our staff avail of Summer CPD courses and are encouraged and facilitated to attend relevant courses in local Education Centres: Athlone, Galway and Tuam.

In 2014-2015, all staff availed of In-School support from SESS in the area of ‘ICT and Special Needs’. Since then, members of Staff study a course on ICT every Summer and feedback to the rest of the Staff at the first Staff Meeting of the year.

What should be taught in ICT to pupils in our school?

Junior/Senior Infants:

· Names of computer parts: monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer etc.

· Basic care of a computer.

· Manipulating and controlling the mouse using software for painting games, jigsaws etc.

· Finding letters and basic words and early maths skills

· Reading programmes

· Using Apps to consolidate and reinforce learning

· Using ipads and camera to record samples of their work

1st & 2nd Class:

· Revision of computer parts.

· Turning on and off a computer.

· Opening & closing files.

· Use of space bar & return keys.

· Using shift key for Capital letters.

· Using Microsoft Word to type a few sentences.

· Changing font type and size.

· Saving to file.

· Using Clip Art, Inserting images

· Using educational software to reinforce class work.

· Using Apps to consolidate and reinforce learning

· Using ipads and camera to record samples of their work

3rd & 4th Class:

· Revision of work done in 2nd class.

· Typing practice.

· Word Processing-correcting mistakes, spellcheck, etc.

· Formatting text.

· Saving to other devises.

· Microsoft Excel: creating spreadsheets; using tab key; alphabetical order; autosum etc.

· Using appropriate educational software to reinforce class work.

· Using Microsoft Word and Powerpoint

· Using Apps to consolidate and reinforce learning

· Using ipads and camera to record samples of their work

5th & 6th Class:

· Revision of work done in middle standards.

· Formatting text-borders, margins, tables.

· Importing from Paint; Graphics.

· Using the Internet under supervision.

· Researching internet for projects

· Sending messages under supervision.

· Using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Prezi and Movie Maker.

· Using appropriate educational software to reinforce class work.

· Communicating with peers from other European countries via Skype and Flash Meeting on topics relevant to eTwinning and Erasmus + projects

Children receiving Learning Support:

· Using technology appropriately to enhance engagement and motivation in learning in a range of Curriculum areas

· Using recommended literacy & numeracy software

· How to access and use Educational Material on the Internet

· Students who require Assistive Technology will be assisted to use it

Planning Objectives and Targets

p To improve Broadband connectivity networked throughout the school

p To engage students in our Senior Room in and familiarise them with online learning opportunities in a variety of areas of interest

p To actively promote community involvement in the educational activities of the school with respect to ICT

p To maintain the high ICT profile of the school by continuing to advance the developmental work carried out over the past few years

p To continue staff development in ICT

p To add to the software and hardware base as required

p To invest in one digital camera and one mini ipad per class

p To increase the level of staff sharing of resources via School Network

Timeframe for Implementation

The area of ICT is reviewed at regular intervals by In-School Management and a short written review is furnished at the end of the school year outlining progress made.

Budgetary Provision

Purchasing of new equipment will be done by the BOM in consultation with the Principal and the ICT co-ordinator. This will be guided by the evaluation of the ICT plan and Department of Education guidelines. Advice on purchasing will be sought from various areas. Cost comparisons between different agencies will be viewed with special relevance to backup service.

School website:

The school website was set up in October 2015 as www.eglishns.com

School newsletters and other news items are regularly added.

School policies are also added to this site.

Children’s class work is published using their first name only for identification purposes.

Class photographs will be published without names.

ICT Co-ordinating teacher

The role of ICT co-ordinator is held by a post holder, Ms. Siobhán Fitzgerald. She assumes the role of ICT advisor, providing leadership in ICT throughout the school.

Ratified by School Manager in December 2015

Last reviewed from June – December 2018.

Up-dated Plan ratified by Board of Management in April 2019.

Digital Learning Strategy

The dimensions and domains from the Digital Learning Framework being selected