The introduction of information and communications technologies (ICT) to post primary schools has been somewhat haphazard to date. Schools have had little support in the form of strategies for the introduction of ICTs or the resources to introduce ICTs. As a result many post primary schools have obtained hardware and software from within their own resources and have devised approaches and strategies to the introduction of ICTs on their own initiative.

On November 28th 1997 An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern T.D. and Minister for Education and Science, Michéal Martin, T.D. in the presence of Alfie Kane, Chief Executive of Telecom Éireann, launched the Schools IT 2000 programme, in St Aidans CBS Dublin.

At the launch, An Taoiseach said

The Minister said:

The IT2000 programme was to be divided into a number of initiatives. In the first phase, the Technology Integration Initiative, the Department of Education and Science grant aided the provision of hardware to schools. Telecom Éireann undertook to provide a multimedia PC and Internet link to every school. The second phase of the programme, the Teaching Skills Initiative, is at present providing basic skills training to teachers through the Education Centres. The third phase is the Software Integration Programme (SIP).

In January 1998 St Aidan’s began developing a school plan for ICTs. A number of key challenges were identified:

• To date computers have been used in schools to teach computers. However, the primary occupation of schools is teaching subjects and ICT is not one of these subjects. It appears that ICTs are peripheral to most teachers.
• Commercially available software (courseware) is generally not adapted to the Irish market and as a result is not particularly useful.

The Internet provides a useful metaphor for teaching subject areas but it has its own problems.

• Appropriate content is often difficult to find, so we are dependent on what others make available on the Internet.
• Access speed is a problem, and this will continue to be the case until broadband technologies are rolled out.

The Setanta project was initiated to address these challenges.

The Computer Applications department at DCU has spearheaded a number of initiatives to promote the use of information and communications technologies (ICTs)

in schools. The Irish Tech Corps was formed with the objective of providing an infrastructure to support the widespread use of information technology at primary and secondary level. The Tech Corps initiative involved co-operation between industry and third level to provide schools with technical advice and support and to supply schools in the Greater Dublin area with computer equipment. The work of the Tech Corps is now being carried on by the National Council for Educational Technology (NCTE) which is supporting schools at a national level. The Centre for Teaching Computing managed and co-ordinated the activities of the Tech Corps and supported a number of ICT Special Interest Groups. Since 1996, the Centre organised the annual conference on the Integration of Information Technology in the Curriculum. Teachers from across Europe attended the conferences, which consisted of workshops, presentations, discussions and exhibitions. Furthermore, the Department continues to offer a Masters Degree in Computer Applications for Education. The aim of this programme is to provide professional educators from different backgrounds with the knowledge and skills required for the effective use of computing technology in teaching and learning.

At the 1998 Teachers conference, Tom O' Dwyer, Director-General for Education, Training and Youth, European Commission delivered the keynote speech. In his address, he referred to the numerous studies which showed the educational benefits of ICT, and then outlined the recognised obstacles to the use of educational multimedia in schools:

• Lack of user-friendly multimedia equipment and software for teachers and pupils;
• Insufficient quantity of equipment, which is often technically obsolete, sometimes insufficiently used and rarely connected to telecommunications network;
• Insufficient quality and quantity of educational software adapted to the needs of users;
• Difficulty of integrating educational multimedia into teachers' educational practice; and
• Lack of teacher training and information.

Through the Setanta Project we hope to address these problems. We intend to do this by developing a school based Intranet for the support of teaching and learning materials.

• The Setanta project draws on the skills, teaching interests and needs of the students and staff of St Aidan’s school and merges these with the expertise, research interests and needs of the staff and students at Dublin City University School of Computer Applications.

The Setanta project will draw together

• the multimedia skills and technologies available in the School of Computer Applications.
• the programming and development skills of the undergraduate students in the School of Computer Applications.
• the pedagogic and curriculum knowledge of St Aidan’s teachers.

To meet the needs of St Aidan’s School for real, usable applications of ICT using the internet in its teaching and the needs of Computer Applications for real world projects for its undergraduate students.

This project uses the strengths of both institutions to meet their various needs.

• The School of Computer Applications have skills, experience and research interests in the areas of Multimedia, Internet and Intranet technologies in their teaching.
• Undergraduate students in Computer Applications do projects and the increasing numbers of students mean a greater demand for project specifications. The projects, in this proposal, have the advantage of being real and focussed.
• St Aidan’s school has a long record in innovating, promoting and developing technologies in post-primary education.
• St Aidan’s teaching staff have strong pedagogic and curriculum experience.
• St Aidan’s needs advanced multimedia and Internet and Intranet support and advice to continue its innovation.
• The concept of a subject based Intranet meets the requirements of relevant and interesting course materials with the advantages of no dial-up costs and quick access.

• To develop a model for a school based intranet for the teaching of second level school subjects.
• The model will include a description of the necessary hardware, software and human resources required to implement a system.
• To use the model in school and evaluate its strengths and weaknesses.
• To make the technology available to other schools.

Initial phase - 1 year. 3 years for full implementation

The development of an Intranet which will provide appropriate materials for the teaching and learning of current school subjects. In the initial phase aspects of Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate Art, Junior Certificate Science will be the main focus. In the second phase this will be extended to Business Studies and Irish. These materials will offer the content and standard required in school. The materials will be available to full class groups in the computer room or as demonstration aids in furnished classrooms.

• The use of Intranet to teach courses across a wide range of subjects in post primary school.
• Teachers will, in time, regard the Intranet as another method in the teaching of course material.
• Post primary teachers will gain skills in using the Intranet as a tool.
• Post primary students will gain skills in the use of the Intranet.
• Post primary students will find a more meaningful way of learning.
• Post primary teachers will develop and adapt courseware to the changing needs of the curriculum and students.
• Post primary students will come to regard the internet and ICT for its true and full value as a learning tool and resource.
• Provision of post-graduate research projects at DCU.
• Provision of undergraduate research projects at DCU.
• Provision of a focus for research interests of Faculty at DCU.
• A partnership with the School of Computer Applications which, hopefully, will be ongoing after the School Integration Project (SIP). SIP is one of the IT2000 initiatives, which we outlined on page 2 of this report.
• Provision of project specification for undergraduate students.
• Development of research work for post graduates.
• Focus for staff research interests.

• A successful project will provide a model for the use of ICTs in school within specific subject areas.
• A successful project will have a significant contribution to make policy on the provision of ICT resources and the use of those resources within specific schools.

In his address to the Third European Conference on ICTs in the Curriculum, David Katz (3Com Director, Global Education Markets) highlighted a number of key factors required for a successful ICT project, one was the development of specific content by students. A group of 20 students from St Aidan’s will be participant contributors in this project. Following training they will be involved in developing content for the Intranet and maintaining the network. This will be accomplished by:

1. Training in Web authoring.
2. Training in setting up laptops, data projectors and connecting to the network.
3. Organising task groups to carry out particular functions.

This will empower students to use ICT, it will increase their understanding of the technological world they live in and encourage ongoing participation in technological developments.

The scale of the project

Co-operation of DCU, Post-graduate and undergraduate students with St Aidans teachers.

Support of Industry partners.

Both St Aidans and DCU have a history of co-operation with each other and with other bodies, e.g.

• In November 1998 the North-South Schools link was launched by An Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair in St. Aidan’s CBS. The launch involved students from four schools taking part in a video conference question and answer session with the two prime ministers. The schools involved were Omagh Grammar School, Limavady Grammar School, Carrigaline Community School and St. Aidans CBS. These schools have maintained contact and a number of video conferences have taken place. These included students in Omagh conferencing with students in St. Aidans through the medium of Irish. St. Aidan’s students provided students from Omagh with the opportunity of putting questions to Mr. Proinsias de Rossa TD and Mr. Ben Briscoe TD during the European elections in May 1999. This was a first for the students - it was also a first for the two public representatives, they had never taken part in a video conference before!

• St Aidan’s is involved in an EU supported project which links two schools in Slovakia, one in Spain and St Aidan’s. Students in the four schools compare their lives and communities through project work. These projects are shared by e-mail, web sites, videoconferencing and post. A highlight of the project was a meeting of teachers involved in the projects in Dublin in May 1999. These involved a number of videoconferencing with teachers in the North of Ireland and in Sweden.

• Presentations between Computer Applications and University of Bath as part of an Action Research Conference at Trinity College, Dublin 1998.
• Collaborating on use of technologies North Carolina teachers and teachers doing Masters Degree in Computer Applications for Education at DCU 1998/99.
• Joint presentations between Computer Applications and North Carolina University at the 7^th International Conference on the teaching of Computing at University of Ulster and the Chicago Information Technology Conference 1999.
• Ongoing collaboration between Computer Applications and other Universities on the use of Internet technology in teaching and learning.