Richard Bruton
Question:183 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of computers provided to, or acquired for, schools under the IT 2000 initiative to date in 1998. [22293/98]
Written Answers. - Computerisation Programme.
In May of this year I announced the provision of £15 million in direct grant-aid to schools for the purchase of computers under the Technology Integration Initiative of Schools IT 2000. All schools in the free education system received grants as follows:
Ordinary Schools: A basic grant of £2,000 plus £5 per pupil.
Special Schools: A basic grant of £3,000 plus £20 per pupil.
All ordinary schools with one or more special classes received an additional grant of £1,500 plus £20 per pupil in the special class or classes. I have also made provision for a special allocation of £250,000 to provide ICT hardware for individual children with special needs in mainstream classes,
Under the Telecom Éireann information age schools initiative, every school in the State has received a multimedia Internet-ready computer. Telecom Éireann has provided a total of 4,200 computers under this initiative.
I am also aware that, in many cases, the grant provided by my Department has been added to significantly by local groups, companies and businesses. It is not possible to give a precise figure for the number of computers acquired by schools to date as some schools are still in the process of purchasing ICT equipment from the grant-aid provided. However, taking all of these factors into account, I would estimate that there will be at the very least 15,000 additional computers in our schools by the end of 1998.
Richard Bruton
Question:184 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of teachers trained to date in 1998 in the use of IT in the classroom; and the number of hours, on average, of training provided. [22294/98]
To date 8,920 teachers have been trained in the use of ICTs in the classroom. All courses offered have been of 20 hours duration.
Richard Bruton
Question:185 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the course content of in-service training of teachers for the use of IT in the classroom indicating the subjects to be covered and the approximate hours of training planned in each topic. [22295/98]
ICT courses for primary teachers titled, "Introductory Phase I", were developed by the NCTE in May 1998 in collaboration with education partner interests. In August-September the NCTE developed a further programme titled, "Introductory Phase II", in ICT for primary teachers.
Introductory Phase I&II courses in ICTs for post primary teachers were developed in collaboration with the University of Limerick.
The summer 1998 schedule of courses included an ICT Introductory Phase I course for primary teachers; and ICT Introductory courses Phase I and II for post primary teachers.
Course content and time allocations are detailed as follows:
|
Course title |
Duration (Hours) |
Topics covered |
Time allocation |
|
ICT Introductory Course Phase 1 for Primary Teachers |
20 |
* Use of Keyboard and Mouse |
2 |
|
* Introduction to Word Processing |
6 |
||
|
* Introduction to Educational Software |
6 |
||
|
* Introduction to Internet and E-Mail |
4 |
||
|
* Discretionary Topic |
2 |
||
|
ICT Introductory Course Phase 2 for Primary Teachers |
20 |
* Word Processing |
8 |
|
* Educational Software |
|||
|
* Early learning |
1 |
||
|
Special Needs |
1 |
||
|
Software evaluation |
3 |
||
|
* Classroom Management |
1 |
||
|
* Internet and E-Mail |
4 |
||
|
* Basic First Line Maintenance |
2 |
||
|
ICT Introductory Course Phase 1 for Post Primary Teachers |
20 |
* Windows '95 |
1.5 |
|
* Concept of hardware and software |
1.5 |
||
|
* Use of Keyboard and Mouse |
2.5 |
||
|
* Introduction to Word Processing |
6 |
||
|
* Introduction to Internet |
1.5 |
||
|
* Presentation skills for the classroom |
7 |
||
|
ICT Introductory Course Phase 2 for Post Primary Teachers |
20 |
* Database |
5.5 |
|
* Spreadsheet |
6 |
||
|
|
1.5 |
||
|
* Desk Top Publishing |
7 |
|
Course Title |
Time Allocation |
|
Specialised discrete course - fully developed and part of Autumn schedule |
|
|
* The Internet: (Internet Explorer), (Netscape Navigator) |
10 |
|
* First Line Maintenance (cross platform) |
10 |
|
* The use of ICT in the Teaching of Mathematics |
20 |
|
Courses in advanced stages of development |
|
|
* Network Management (Windows NT) |
20 |
|
* Network Management (Windows 95) |
20 |
|
* Multimedia Authoring (Hyperstudio) |
10 |
|
* Internet and Web Desing (MS Word) |
10 |
|
Claris Works |
10 |
|
* Powerpoint |
6 |
|
* Principals and ICT |
20 |
|
* ICT Coordinating Teachers |
20 |
|
* School Management Authorities and ICT |
6 |
|
* Parents Groups and ICT |
6 |
Richard Bruton
Question:186 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the new computer laboratory in St Patrick's Training College, Dublin 9, has still to be equipped with computers; if so, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22296/98]
In October the Higher Education Authority, as a first step, allocated £29,092 to the college specifically for the purchase of computers. In addition, the college has received a further allocation of £259,000 to meet refurbishment costs associated with the increased student intake for 1998-99. A further allocation of £210,000 to meet other costs, including computers, associated with the increased student intake has also been sanctioned for the college. All of this is over and above the normal recurrent grant which the college has received in 1998.
Distribution of resources within the college is a matter for the college authorities.