Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2013
214. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Education and Skills the measures undertaken by his Department to develop and improve the ICT skills of students at primary and secondary level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53944/13]
View answerSince 1998, the national ICT in Schools programme has focused on building capacity across the schools system for integrating ICT into teaching and learning and developing pupils' digital literacy, The ICT in Schools programme must address new policy challenges and opportunities arising from major developments in curricular reform, digital publishing, digital content dissemination tools generally, cloud services, portable computing and student devices, and the deployment of high speed broadband at post-primary level. In relation to curricular reform the new junior cycle in post-primary schools outlines eight key skills required for successful learning by students across the curriculum and for learning beyond school. The key skills in the Framework for Junior Cycle all include as elements the use of digital technology. One of the Statements of Learning in the Framework provides for the use by students of technology and digital media tools to learn, communicate, work and think collaboratively and creatively. As new specifications for the Junior Cycle are being prepared, the use of ICT will become integrated across learning areas. In addition, new short courses in Digital Media literacy and in Programming and Coding will be available to schools from September 2014. A draft of it will be available shortly from the NCCA for consultation. The first step in developing a new strategy for the use of ICT in teaching and learning is the completion of an ICT census in schools. The census results are currently being analysed and the results will provide a sound research base which will in turn inform key policy decisions relating to integrating ICT in teaching and learning over the next three to five years. In the past the ICT census of schools focussed on the level of infrastructure in schools. The current census addresses a broad range of themes including:
- The impact of ICT in teaching and learning and assessment
-School-wide planning for integration of ICT in teaching and learning
-Continuing ICT related Professional Development (CPD) for teachers
-Curriculum-relevant digital content and software resources
-exploring views on the opportunities presented by integration of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment,
-Obstacles to ICT integration and how they could be overcome In addition there will be an extensive consultation process with stakeholders and the wider public. As part of this process, the ICT industry will be consulted in relation to technological developments. Feedback from this process and the results of the school census will provide a sound research base to inform policy decisions on the further integration of ICT in teaching and learning over the next five years.
