Modeligo National School Digital Learning Strategy 2020
Introduction
The staff of Scoil Mhuire Má Dheilge formulated this Digital Learning Framework in consultation with our Board of Management.
In this document, we record the outcomes of our current Digital Learning Plan, including targets and the actions we will implement to meet these targets.
Vision
Scoil Mhuire Má Dheilge endeavour, through the use of digital learning strategies, to open up new pathways of learning, communicating and assessment for the pupils in our school. We aim to provide opportunities for active learning, problem solving, creativity and innovation, which is inclusive of all children from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
Digital Technologies Available
- Smartboard — Interactive white board in each classroom
- Laptop — per teacher
- 8 Laptops — 4 in senior room, 4 in middle room
- 2 iPads
- Ladybug — Visualiser
- Digital Camera
- Dictaphone
- School Blog
Focus of our Digital Learning Plan
We undertook a digital learning evaluation in our school during the period November–December 2019. We identified the standards below as our areas of focus for our digital learning plan.
Teaching and Learning — Domain Two: Learner Experiences
Standards: Pupils engage purposefully in meaningful learning activities.
Statements of Effective Practice: Pupils use digital technologies for sourcing and exchanging information to develop understanding and support basic knowledge creation.
Statements of Highly Effective Practice: Pupils use a variety of digital technologies for knowledge creation to source, critique and manage information and to reflect on their learning.
Leadership and Management — Domain Three: Leading School Development
Standards: Build and maintain relationships with parents, with other schools and with the community.
Statements of Effective Practice: The school has an explicit communication strategy in place, which identifies and uses websites and social networks to communicate effectively with the whole school community.
Statements of Highly Effective Practice: The school has a dynamic digital presence which is updated regularly and used by the school and school community to leverage online collaboration, sharing, communication and learning.
Evidence
We evaluated our progress using the following sources of evidence:
Whole Staff — Class Teachers and SET: We discussed the various ways that:
- the children source and exchange information
- we, as teachers, further develop understanding
- we, as teachers, support learning in the classroom
We also highlighted the role that digital learning has to play in our classroom e.g. use/lack of use of white boards, laptops and iPads, camera etc. We also outlined the digital learning resources available for use in the classroom.
School Leaders — Principal and Deputy Principal: We reflected on:
- how we, as a school, communicate with parents and school community
- our use of the school blog and online text service and the effectiveness of same
Our Strengths
- 4 laptops for use in the middle and senior classrooms
- 2 iPads for use in the classroom
- 1 iPad for use in the Learning Support room
- Smartboards
- School Blog
- Digital Camera
- Wireless Printer
Actions and Timeframe
| Action | Timeframe |
|---|---|
| Purchasing more tablets/iPads to include use in the junior room | Jan 2020 ✓ |
| Creating school email accounts for teachers | Jan 2020 ✓ |
| Updating all school laptops to Windows 10 | June 2020 |
| Downloading one app for use in each classroom with a key focus on Literacy | April 2020 |
| Explicitly teaching word processing skills (capital letters, full stops, space bar, new line) to enable children to type up one piece of their own writing, linked to our SSE — The Writing Process | June 2021 |
| Using laptops/iPads/tablets to source information for research and projects (3rd–6th): use appropriate search engines; fact checking through sites such as Wikipedia | June 2021 |
| Update school blog during each half term with photographs and text, to include examples of children's learning using digital technology | Ongoing |
| Add policies, school plans and other important documentation to the school blog as they are ratified | Ongoing |
| Engage with Parents Association and encourage PA use of blog for communication | Ongoing |
Evaluation Procedures
- Teacher Reflection/Discussion during each Staff Meeting
- Teacher Questionnaire
- Teacher Observation
- School Blog — to include samples of children's work
Success Criteria
Through assessment, staff reflection and discussion we will clearly decipher whether or not we as a whole school have achieved the targets outlined above.
Roles and Responsibilities
Scoil Mhuire Má Dheilge believes that the school community must be involved to successfully implement this Digital Learning Plan. Therefore, the teaching staff will implement this plan with the support of the Board of Management, Parents and the Local Community.
Ratification
The Board of Management of Scoil Mhuire Má Dheilge ratified this whole school plan on 27 February 2020.
Chairperson of Board of Management: Sr. Veronica Casey Date: 27 February 2020
Signed copy available to view in school on request.