Impact

Connect Web The priority this year has been on training community groups in web design and supporting them on an individual basis to bring their site to a sufficient quality and standard to go live. Connect School Core Support Group of 8 teachers identified and leading Peer Learning Programme. This has proved a very effective learning approach for all teachers. All teachers received their laptops in May 2006. All first year students received their laptops in Spring 2007. The majority of first year ciriculum material has been digitised and uploaded onto the VLE (virtual learning environment) Connect Centre Connect Centre is working to create a network of Community Technology Centres (Connect Centres) where people can access and learn how to use technology in their own community. Progress in this has been in the following areas: - The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government have agreed to part fund the planned extension of Jobstown Community Centre to include the creation of a digital learning centre and youth centre. - The IT and Community Services Departments are working together to identify priority Community Centres across the county for technology upgrades into Connect Centres. - The Project is working with the Volunteer Bureau to develop a pilot 'Adopt a Centre' project encouraging volunteering from IT Staff of Private Sector Companies. - We are working with the Volunteer Bureau, Tallaght Partnership and Partas to develop an online Digital Alliance Network of IT Experts and Users. - A policy proposal to create a network of WiFi in Public Buildings across the County will be presented to the relevant Strategic Policy Committee in 2007. - Close working arrangements are developing with Libraries to ensure full integration with the Libraries IT initiatives.

Track record of sharing

We are advising other secondary schools in Ireland in the use of ICT in education, specificaly in setting up virtual learning environments using Moodle.

Lessons learnt

Lesson 1 - Community and voluntary organisations can more effectively collaborate and communicate using Information and Communication Technology. Lesson 2 - The provision of technology opportunity is most effective when carried out in parallel with the provision of training in how to use technology. Lesson 3 - The educational experience of students can be improved using technology and their participation in learning will be enhanced.