ICT to be fully embedded in teaching across the curriculum by 2013, says Minister Hanafin
Hardware & Equipment | 10 Sep 2007 :
Government will spend €250M to develop e-learning culture in schools
Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin T.D., opened a conference on Teaching and learning in the 21st Century at Dunshaughlin Community College in Co Meath this week by announcing the Irish government will spend €250M on school technology, ICT training and professional development for teachers over the next five years.
Microsoft co-hosted the ‘Innovative Schools’ Conference for post primary school staff at Dunshaughlin Community College, one of only twelve schools around the world chosen by Microsoft as a ‘School of the Future’. The conference was designed to help teachers explore the ways in which technology can help them manage the changes facing them.
Opening the conference, Minister Hanafin said: “It is an outstanding achievement for Dunshaughlin Community College to be selected as one of only 12 schools worldwide to take part in Microsoft's Innovative Schools Programme. This means the school will be at the cutting edge of international best practice and developments in learning through technology, moving beyond the limits of the classroom and traditional learning models.
“Developing an e-learning culture in all schools, where ICT is fully embedded in teaching and learning across the curriculum is a major priority for this Government. Between now and 2013 over €250 million will be provided for investment in infrastructure, professional development and technical support.”
The conference’s keynote speaker was John West-Burnham, one of the world’s foremost change experts in education. He told the conference that “The school as we know it today is essentially a product of the 19th Century. Lots of good things came out of the 19th Century, but most of them we have abandoned or updated, apart from schools.
"The traditional model no longer applies and we need to move to a model of personalised learning where a school’s resources ensure that a learner is able, with support, to decide what they learn, how they learn, when they learn it and who they learn with.”
In January, Bill Gates announced that Dunshaughlin Community College, would be developed as a ‘School of the Future’ by Microsoft through its ‘School of the Future’ programme, which assigned John West-Burnham as the school’s educational mentor. Pradraig Browne, the School Principal said, “Through the School of the Future initiative we will be exposed to the best practice and experience from schools across the globe. The experience to date has been fascinating and has allowed us to share our ideas and put some new processes and infrastructure in place which will benefit both our teachers and students. This experience has been made possible through the mentorship of John West-Burnham who brings unique experience to each task we are undertaking. Not only does he share our vision, in most cases, he has already helped other schools to get there. We are looking forward to embracing this process of change and development in the months and years ahead.”
Seamus Ryan, the School’s former principal, who is now an Education Officer, for County Meath VEC, recently travelled to the US, with his team where they met with other 'Schools of the Future' from around the world.
Microsoft gave details of other work being done by “Innovative Schools” worldwide. Dr. Marshall, Microsoft’s Academic Programme Manager, said: "Our vision is simple - the development of a worldwide community of students, teachers and lifelong learners, who can continue to realise their potential any time, any place, on any device, with the aid of technology. The School of the Future programme is making this vision a reality and we hope that the experience of Dunshaughlin Community College will inspire other schools throughout Ireland.”
Innovative Schools and School of the Future are part of Microsoft’s wider Partners in Learning Programme (PiL), which aims to empower schools to significantly raise the level of ICT literacy among their staff and to support schools in developing an internal culture of innovation and lifelong learning. In addition to the provision of software at a significantly reduced cost, the programme also aims to facilitate the use of refurbished PCs in schools and focuses on the provision of teacher training, through the Innovative Teachers initiative.