E-Learning Plan

School Profile

Computer Room 1

” 26 networked computers in a computer room 1 ( all with internet access) plus data projector
” 2 printers
” 1 scanner
” Software Store

Computer Room 2

” 30 networked computers in a computer room 2 ( all with internet access) plus data projector
” 2 printers
” 1 scanner

Subject Areas

” Library-1 computer
” Career Guidance and Counselling (Two Rooms)-1 computer, 1 printer in each
” Science Department- Room 5: 1 computer and printer. Rm. 9: 1 computer and printer. Rm5/9 shared laptop and data projector. Room 66/67: shared laptop and data projector and printer
” Art Room-1 computer in Art Room,
” Home Economics Room -1 computer , I printer
” Music Room- 1 computer and printer
” P.E.- 1 data projector

Learning Support Room

6 PC
I laptop
I printer/scanner/copier
I flatbed scanner
1 set of headphones
6 LAN connections

Special Needs Resource Room:

I computer,
I printer,
I scanner.
2 student laptops

Staff Work Area

” 3 computers
” printer
” laptop and data projector (portable)

Budget :

The ICT Department receives an annual budget each year following the normal school procedure of submitting a budget request to the Finance Department. The budget goes towards covering the cost of: rolling replacement, toners and maintenance.
Maintenance: A special duties post of responsibility ICT coordinator deals with first line maintenance and an outside company is engaged to deal with more serious problems.

ICT & the Curriculum
First and Second Year

Students in First and Second Year are provided with one computer class per week for half the year.

Fifth Year

Fifth year students have one computer class per week throughout the school year.
The agreed aim of computer teachers in the formal classes is to make students comfortable around the Technology while capitalising on individual teacher’s expertise, in a curricular context, e.g. a business teacher will incorporate business uses of the computer and an art teacher will incorporate aspects of CAD. In Fifth Year students reinforce their word processing and desk top publishing skills as well as using the internet to search career options and complete their CVs.

Sixth Years

Timetabled Guidance class in the Computer Room with access to careers computer packages, Qualifax careers portal, various careers websites etc.

L.C.V.P.

LCVP classes are timetabled for a double period in the Computer Room where they have the full range of Office programs and internet access to research and complete their portfolios.

Transition Year

Transition Year students have three double classes and one single each week throughout the school year. Two of these periods are assigned to the Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing Programme, which provides graded exercises and regular feedback on their typing progress. The aim of the TY course is to facilitate the development of the following skills: understand the basic concepts of ICT, word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, managing files, the use of internet and email and their practical application in the workplace. Every TY student has the opportunity to complete the “ECDL Start” Programme.

Learning Support/Resource

Students use the computer to access the internet for curriculum studies. They also use CD ROMs which are specifically targeted at students with special needs – thinking skills, literacy skills and numeracy skills. Students also use the computer to carry out/continue project work for state exams.
Integration and Access
Educational software can be accessed by students during LS sessions to support literacy, numeracy and life-skills programmes, On – line resources and assistive software is available to support students with special needs in accessing their curricular needs e.g. extra notes, scanning, screen reading, making mind-maps etc. Interactive suites for subject areas available on line e.g. Business, French, and Maths
Future needs depend on students needs as they occur but would include the provision of laptop(s), headphones, voice systems, adaptive mouse control and additional PCs

Facilities develop outside the specialist rooms in the use of ICT in situations where a resource teacher sees an opportunity to further support student learning.

Software:

A range of educational software
Read, Write, Gold – screen reader, etc
EasiTeach-for interactive whiteboard

Online Resources:

Access to various online educational sites

Other Subject Areas

ICT is used in a number of subject areas, such as French and German, History, Geography, Art, Maths, Business, Home Economics, Science, P.E., S.P.H.E., Irish, Career and R.E. This is facilitated by the availability of data projectors in each of the computer rooms, in the Guidance Room, P.E., the Science Department and a portable data projector is available for classroom use with a laptop.

The web is availed of to enhance subject learning in a number of subject areas.
Email is used by TY students and students engaged in transnational projects. The school has participated in Comenius projects and the Dissolving Boundaries project where ICT was integral to the programmes. TY students engaged in the annual exchange
use email to develop their partnerships.

ICT PLANNING
Current Context

The Board of Management has committed to a rolling programme of hardware upgrade. Individual department requests for new PCs has been responded to positively – Guidance, Music, Learning Support, Staff Work Area etc.

An ICT plan was first developed in 2004 and having benefited from national schemes which enhanced the access to ICT in the school and to the internet throughout the school and the provision of a second computer room, it was considered opportune to look at how the available technology will enhance the teaching and learning environment for both teachers and students.

A new ICT committee was constituted in 2006 to review and progress the school’s plans for ICT

Committee Members:
Ms. Geraldine Croke, Principal,
Mr. John Mc Cormack, who has a role in the maintenance of the computers in the school,
Mr Donal O’Carroll, Art Teacher
Mr. Donal McCarthy, Teacher of English and History

The process of identifying the needs of subject areas (including special needs) has up to now been based on individual teachers or subject areas requesting funding for specific software. The advantage of this approach has been that software solutions have been through a process of assessment by the requesting teachers. Requests for additional software have been positively responded to by the Board of Management.

The extent and level of ICT use is decided by each subject department and requests for the provision of additional hardware for individual departments have been met over the recent past.

The focus of attention has been on the provision of computer facilities, network enhanced classrooms and subject specific software. The School has an Internet Acceptable User Policy.

Staff Development

Most of the staff has participated in basic skills training through NCTE Phase I and Phase II courses. Staff are aware of training opportunities : the Co Wexford Education Centre’s ICT courses are advertised on the staff notice board and a number of members of staff are NCTE Tutors in their subject areas : the Board has facilitated staff members by releasing them for training. A member of staff has served as the ICT co-coordinator in the Education Centre and is a strong supporter of ICT development in the school.

Planning for the Future

Greater Integration of ICT in Teaching and Learning

Staff Survey:

In Jan 2007 a survey of staff in this school on ICT needs was conducted. This assessed the current level of usage of ICT. Teachers were invited to suggest how their teaching might be enhanced by the provision of further hardware and software and the level of interest in further training on site.

Recommendations:

” The installation of permanent projection facilities in a minimum of three classrooms
” Continued upgrading of older computers and printers
” Training on Site
” Relocate and upgrade original computer room
” Move towards interactive white boards
” Learning Support/Resource: future needs depend on students needs as they occur but would include the provision of laptop(s), headphones, voice systems, adaptive mouse control, data projector and additional PCs.

Extract from the report of the Minister’s Strategy Group on ICT in Schools: Investing effectively in Information and Communications Technology in Schools, 2008-2013.

4.8 Desirable levels of ICT for schools

It is recognized that schools will vary in their requirements for and expectations of ICT. In identifying desirable baseline levels of ICT provision and equipment for schools, the Strategy Group recommends that schools adopt the following recommended ICT configurations in the development of e-learning strategies and their future implementation.
” All classrooms should be networked to include between 5 and 8 serviced points of access (2 at the teacher’s desk and 4-6 for students). Ideally, schools should work towards an eventual 5:1 pupil to computer ratio (PCR) in classrooms.
” To facilitate greater ICT integration at primary level, computers should be located in classrooms rather than in dedicated computer rooms. Larger primary schools may choose to maintain their computer rooms. At post-primary level a mix of locations is appropriate and should include both classroom computers and computer rooms.
” All classrooms should have a fixed digital projector and teaching computer with a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse.
” All computers in the schools should be networked and broadband enabled.
” Ready access should be available to a range of digital devices such as digital cameras and digital video (DV) cameras.
” Access should be available to a mobile laptop trolley supporting between 10-30 laptops capable of linking to the school network and the internet (i for a small school and 2 for a larger school).
” There should be a mobile multimedia station in every school with integrated digital media features to enable content creation, editing and production, recording and duplication.
” Resource rooms and learning support areas should be equipped with networked, internet-ready computers and digital projectors where appropriate.
These recommendations have been set by the Strategy Group in the context of government funding being made available to support their implementation. They are being used here only as a guide to the direction our school might take.

Immediate Plan for 2008/2009 and onwards

” Continued annual provision in the ICT Computer Rooms budget to replace 3 computers annually in the computer rooms
” Immediate installation of one permanent suspended projector in the “old” building in the Demonstration Room and one in the “new” building in one 6th. Year classroom.
” Provision to be made in future budgetary planning to cater for one further suspended projector per year until each year group has one projector in at least one classroom, commencing with 5th. Year group in 2009/2010.
” Parents’ Council to support the provision of classroom projectors annually as funds allow
” Provision to be made in future budgetary planning to cater for the provision/ replacement of one computer annually in areas other than the computer rooms, on the recommendation of the ICT coordinator
” Software needs to be applied for through subject budgets

Long Term Plan

In the event of government funds being made available, the recommendations from the staff survey and those in “Investing Effectively” will be revisited in line with the needs of the school.