The document discusses integrating social software and ICT into teaching at Portmarnock Community School, focusing on improving student engagement and learning outcomes through collaborative technology. It highlights the challenges and expectations from policymakers regarding the use of digital tools in education, suggesting the need for both teacher and student training. Additionally, examples from platforms like Scoilnet and World Book are provided, illustrating the potential of online resources for enhancing curriculum delivery.

1. Some ‘online’ ideas … Portmarnock Community School September 2009

2. … my research question … some policy … research with pupils in the school … a response to the policymakers … Scoilnet…Worldbook … Digital school-book publishing … YouTube…iTunesU … safety

3. My research question How can I improve teaching and learning through engaging with the communicative, creative and collaborative nature of social software?

4. Social Software … technologies that are easy to access and relatively straightforward to use. They allow people to connect with each other using a variety of media. The term social-software was first used in 2002 Twitter, FaceBook, YouTube, Discussion boards on Sports sites etc., Blogs, Flickr etc

5. Action Research … a form of self-reflective enquiry undertaken by participants in social situations in order to improve the rationality and justice of their own practices, their understanding of these practices, and the situations in which the practices are carried out (Carr and Kemmis 1986).

6. Action Research can be messy, can call for inventiveness, is unique to the particular area that is researched A study of singularity Carried out over cycles of research – continues over and over…

7. Some policy – National Council for Curriculum and Assessment Benefits in using ICT in teaching and learning Student’s active involvement in learning development of higher order thinking skills learning in authentic environments

8. Benefits in using ICT in teaching and learning interest and engagement in learning differentiated learning collaborative learning assessment of and for learning (NCCA 2007).

9. NCCA - ICT Framework of four headings

10. Learning opportunities Creating, Communicating and Collaborating Developing foundational knowledge, skills and concepts Thinking critically and creatively Understanding the social and personal impact of ICT

11. But who is to do this? The ICT teacher? Or The subject teacher?

12. The subject teacher …is doing this as they teach their own English, Maths, Gaeilge, Science etc. class… …ICT not as an extra subject (though it still can be) but as integrated into everyday teaching and learning

13. …huge expectation from policymakers …that expectation now beginning to appear at …school-level policymaking

14. The e-Learning Plan Integrating ICT into everyday teaching and learning

15. National Centre for Technology and Education

16. NCTE good practice in using ICT for teaching and learning Examples on their website - Integrating ICT across the post primary curriculum

17. Some ‘online’ ideas … Some practical research

18. 10X…as a subject teacher Timetabled for 3 History Classes per week Two in BX, one in HX by arrangement A lot of distractions: Passwords: school and moodle Students email addresses Web filtering by the NCTE not allowing certain actions to be carried out in relation to Web 2.0 Safety – the need to stop and teach about issues as they arose e.g. tagging (and geo-tagging)

19. Specific issues Using the HTML editor in Moodle Uploading / copying / pasting photos Various levels of confidence using ICT

20. Plagiarism Wikipedia Good search practices Writing in your own words

21. Outcomes All can use Moodle e.g. class glossaries, simple discussion forums Attempted a project using Babberize to create a talking picture Created 2 history websites each using Google sites

22. 20X a new cycle of research Blogging…see where it takes us! [WordPress].

23. NCCA

24. How realistic are policymakers expectations? BX: Laptop / data-projector / broadband / speakers HX: Fully equipped computer room Supportive principal, parents and colleagues

25. How realistic are policymakers expectations? Teacher Training Student training ICT and pedagogy Digital literacy Wanting to do it - enthusiasm With every class?

26. This is done during your three class periods per week!

27. Some ‘online’ ideas … Scoilnet/World book

28. Scoilnet Department of Education and Science portal for primary and secondary level

29. Digital content World Book The World Book Online which is available to schools contains the entire text of the 22-volume Encyclopaedia, plus illustrations, video clips, 3D panoramic views, and sound files. Articles bring together a complete story with multimedia content, as well as research aids and links to related information.

30. Digital school-book publishing In a digital future textbooks are history NY Times EdCo

31. Digital content – YouTube and iTunesU YouTube YouTube-EDU Apple and Education iTunes iTunes Podcasts iTunesU

32. Being sensible! Stay within the school’s network – robust Need to educate…need to monitor… Children and time spent online Tagging, tag-clouds and geotagging

33. Tagging – words to define yourself by

34. Tag-cloud: the word content of a site

35. Geotagging Geotagging is the process of adding geographical identification to various media such as photographs….