27/05/2010

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Press Release Issued: 27^th May 2010

Mr. Eamon Ryan, T.D., Minister of Communications Energy & Natural Resources will launch the Connect School evaluation report in the presence of the Mayor, Mick Duff in the Big Picture exhibition centre on Friday 28^th May @ 1.00pm.

The Connect School - St Aidan’s Community School, Brookfield, Tallaght uses technology to develop student centred learning. The five year project started in 2006 with the provision of laptops for teachers and first year students, the development of a virtual learning environment and the support of an eChampion provided by South Dublin County Council. Students from 1^st to 5^th year in St Aidan’s now have laptops for daily use, there is 100Mb wireless internet, throughout the school and the development of a virtual learning environment is ongoing.

The project partners include Department of Education & Skills, NCTE, IT Tallaght, Dublin West Education Centre, South Dublin County Council and St Aidan’s Community School.

The Connect school project evaluation was commissioned by South Dublin County Council on behalf of the project partners and was undertaken by FGS Consulting in conjunction with Dr Conor Galvin of the UCD School of Education. The evaluation was funded by NCTE and South Dublin County Council.

The report highlights the key themes emerging and its finding will guide the project in the future and contribute to the development of the use of ICT in second level education in Ireland.