The SmartClass initiative is an innovative approach to delivering the school curriculum for Junior Certificate students digitally, all on one PC, with associate IT infrastructure. The prize consists of a laptop for each student entering 1st year, with the entire Junior Cycle curriculum content pre-loaded onto it, including books and workbooks. It also includes all required technical support to facilitate the students completing the Junior Certificate at home and at school, through the mechanism of integrated computer technology. A wireless local area network will also be provided for the school and CASTeL at Dublin City University will provide on-going professional development to the teachers and will promote the integration of this technology across all Junior Cycle Science subjects.
Intel Ireland’s Mr Brendan Cannon commented that “Intel is committed to supporting education transformation – helping students and educators move from a content-based to a skills-based learning and teaching model, which will help learners acquire 21st century skills such as critical thinking, collaborative learning, problem solving, communications and creativity. These skills will help students become the innovators and job creators of tomorrow. ICT is a key enabler of this strategy”.
Commenting at the prize giving today, Greg Tierney from Steljes, says “This solution provides an economic way for teachers and parents to provide a one-to-one eLearning environment for students. What we are offering here is a complete solution – a laptop designed specifically for the education market coupled with classroom control for the teacher and on-line access to the Junior Certificate curriculum”.
Julie Glennon from The Educational Company of Ireland, who are content partners in this new and exciting initiative says, “Edco is leading the way towards the digital classroom with the launch of their new e-book range. We have been working closely with developers, designers, teachers and pupils to roll out this new offering, and have been involved with a selection of pilot schemes throughout the country to classroom and technology test the new e-book offering, which is suitable for both school and home use”.
Dr. Odilla Finlayson from CASTeL at Dublin City University says “It’s important to provide ongoing support and professional development to the teachers in Loreto Community College for the three years of this award so that the full potential of one-to one learning can be realized for the benefits of both the teachers and their students”.