Projects Update
Integrating the use of innovative technologies in education
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*      April 2009     *

Welcome

This month has been dominated by LEGO. Four schools took part in the 11th Annual Empowering Minds LEGO Roboshow in St. Patrick’s College and Michael Tully, Director of The Infinity Project (DIT), has just started a pilot programme that makes maths and science fun by using the LEGO Mindstorms Robot. In the update we also have a really good example of podcasting and short items on:

iFestival

Empowering_Minds_-_Roboshow

Infinity

Podcasting

MLE

Star Site

Beyond 2000

Summer Course

SMART Technologies

Useful Links

iFestival

Every school should now have received information on the iFestival exhibition. Remember your ICT Projects could win you prizes for your school (classroom equipment from SMART Technologies), your Principal and ICT Coordinator (a free trip to BETT), yourself (restaurant or electrical vouchers) and your pupils (software, vouchers, tokens and certificates).

The exhibition will contain comics. 3D designs, digital pictures and photo journals as well as an interactive screen for showing multimedia projects from participating schools.

The closing date for material is Friday 15th May. Details entry requirements is available on the second page of the iFestival booklet.

We have updated the top ten iFestival table. Figures are based on LEGO classes that we know are occurring in schools. If we have missed your school please let us know.

Material submitted before Christmas will be accepted for iFestival 2009 upon completion of an entry form. You don't need to send in the work again if you gave us a CD or DVD already but we will need the completed form.

iFestival booklet

iFestival Entry Form
 

Empowering Minds - Roboshow

Congratulations to the pupils from St. Paul's C.B.S. Primary, George's Hill, St. Laurence O'Tooles BNS and St. Audoen's NS who participated in this year's Empowering Minds Roboshow in St. Pats Drumcondra on Tuesday 31st March. The standard of work was really high. Thanks  especially to the teachers who worked really hard to make the day possible. The children got to explain the procedures involved in making their LEGO machines work. The show also provided a great opportunity for the boys and girls to view LEGO school projects from all around the country.

Click on image to view video
 

Infinity

Can maths and science really be fun? Yes – if they are taught through interesting applications!

Michael Tully, Director of The Infinity Project (DIT), began a pilot programme in February in a number of Primary Schools which uses the LEGO Mindstorms Robot for this purpose.

Fourth and fifth class students are learning about sound, light, decimals, fractions, geometry and other areas of maths and science which are traditionally difficult for pupils to understand, while writing programmes for the robot.
 

Michael Tully with fourth class pupils from Georges Hill NS and St Pauls Primary School.
 

Podcasting

Dulra O'Riordain makes regular podcasts with her class in St. Patrick's GNS, Ringsend. Podcasting is a very useful tool in the classroom as it demands good levels of communication from pupils which helps them improve their vocabulary and language skills. Dulra has kindly given us two examples from the class to share with you. They were made on an excursion to the Dodder river where the Eastern Regional Fisheries Board brought them on a journey that investigated the river's ecological corridor and showed them the plants and animals that live along the river. They got to see electric fishing and got hands on experience of various fish species including brown trout. We are sure you'll enjoy them.

                          Catching Fish                                                         Holding Fish                     

MLE

Congratulations to Success Idemundia from Scoil Mhuire’s Iosaf GNS who won email of the week on the MLE for a second time! Success wrote a great piece about what it is like living in Dublin as a Nigerian girl. The email is published on the MLE and you can also view it on the school website at www.scoilmhuireiosafgns.ie . Well done Success!

Star Site

St. Laurence O'Toole's C.B.S. website was last month chosen as a Scoilnet Star Site. The site is maintained by the staff, teachers and boys. There is always something new and interesting to see. Congratulations to everyone involved.

Summer Course

Our summer course is entitled "Classroom ICT Projects". Over the five days the following areas of ICT will be introduced:

• PhotoStory and iMovie/Movie Maker

• Clay animation and Crazy Talk

• WeDo Lego

• Sketchup

• Creating interactive content using Task Magic

Please contact us as soon as possible if you are interested in attending.