Today we were delighted to welcome Dr. Kevin Marhsall of Microsoft and TD Mary Mitchell O’ Connor to St. Augustine’s N.S. Clontuskert. Joe Lyons from the school’s Board of Management welcomed the guests to the school. Dr. Kevin Marshall is the Head of Education at Microsoft Ireland and Microsoft Corporation. He is a member of the Teaching Council, the NCCA and is on the Governing Body of Carlow Institute of Technology. He is also visiting research fellow at the Centre for Research in Information Technology (CRITE) located at Trinity College Dublin. Mary Mitchell O’Connor is a Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire County. She is Chairperson of the Internal Fine Gael Education and is originally from Milltown in Co. Galway. She worked for over seven years as Principal in two different schools, Scoil Cholmcille in Skryne, Co. Meath and The Harold School in Glasthule, Co. Dublin.
Joe spoke about the achievements of the teachers and students in Clontuskert and the school’s journey as a Microsoft Partners in Learning School. During the visit today Kevin and Mary had the opportunity to hear about the work using the amazing new Surface Devices. The teachers in Clontuskert are incorporating the devices in their lessons to ensure that each student has a deeper and more meaningful learning experience. The introduction of the Surface Devices in the school has opened the door to many new and exciting opportunities for students and is one that the Board of Management and Parents Association fully supports and welcomes.
A newly formed ICT Committee consisting of all teachers, students from the senior room and parents; Caitríona Murphy, Denise Campbell, Hani Colohan, Pat Curley, Noel Frehill, Stephen Scannell, Mary Kelly, John Bleahen and Teresa Lyons was formed when the Surface devices were being introduced. This committee has overseen the adaptation of the school’s Acceptable Use Policy and ICT Policy to incorporate the Surface, practical issues such as funding for covers and upgrade of our broadband speed in the school through the PDST Technology in Education Service. We are very grateful for the partnership and teamwork of all members of the committee and the Parents Association who are a huge support to the school. We would especially like to take this opportunity to thank Microsoft Ireland and especially Dr. Kevin Marshall and Steven Duggan of MS Worldwide for affording us with this opportunity.
Mrs. Murray has been involved with Microsoft Partners in Learning since 2008 and has been very lucky to have had support and mentoring from Dr. Marshall and Tom Jackson, Business and Programme Manager for Northern Ireland. Because of this mentoring she has been able to travel to Zagreb, Hong Kong, Toronto, California and London where she had opportunities to learn from other teachers and educational experts. She was part of the initial group think tank that worked on the New Pedagogies for Deep Learning Initiative. Mrs. Murray brought back these ideas and also made many lasting connections with other schools and educators, that have enabled us to do many projects, giving our students a voice and window to the world. Every two weeks as an Expert Educator Fellow she completes online webinars and training from experts in the technology and education fields where she learns about new ways to engage students from colleagues across the world. Clontuskert school and all of the teachers are members of the Microsoft Educator Network. This is a worldwide network that provides resources, professional development and global networking possibilities for teachers. It can be joined for free at the link above.
Clontuskert’s students did a presentation about the Chekhov Story Author work as part of the Literacy for Life Initiative. This is the first global project the school has engaged in using the Surface one to one devices. You can find out more about the project here and read an article from the Daily Edventures site here. The project is embedded in the Irish Primary School Curriculum and is particularly focused on the incorporation of 21st Century skills of Skilled Communication and Collaboration. As part of this the work has been documented for a 21CLD MOOC that will be live in the next few weeks. This will allow teachers from across the world to engage in professional development and learn methodologies and approaches to build literacy by creating Chekhov eBooks. Twelve Expert Educators globally have worked on this MOOC and have designed new models of learning that better prepare learners for life and work in the 21st Century. The purpose of the 21st Century Learning Design is to help educators identify and understand the opportunities that learning activities give students to build 21st century skills. These rubrics, each educator focused on, were developed and tested internationally for the Innovative Teaching and Learning Research project.
Clontuskert focuses on many technology innovations across the school and these are showcased on the school blog; www.clontuskert.scoilnet.ie
When utilising technology we use it for deep learning. This means that technology is used as a means to enhance learning and develop skills in areas such as critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. This is something that the teachers in Clontuskert are passionate about. The teaching staff of Ms. Scott, Ms. Egan and Ms. Baynes, Ms. Stokes and Clontuskert’s German teacher Ms. Graßmann have all undertaken training with Wriggle and H2 to help us use technology in a meaningful way. Parents took part in a training session in Web Safety and learned how to access and use the Surfaces. As a school community the teachers, parents and students are constantly learning and adapting.
Thank you to Kevin and Mary for visiting Clontuskert today and sharing in the excitement at the possibilities the Surface Devices will provide for students, teachers and parents alike.
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