Coláiste Bríde and e-Portal

Profile

Students 840 Students Non DEIS School 30 Nationalities

– 93 International Students 64 Travellers 122 Special Needs Mixed Working Class Area

Staff 78 Teaching Staff Mixed Age Profile

2008 completed transition from old to new building

Planning

We knew we would have new infrastructure due to new build. Expectation of change already there-Investment in forward planning Committees set up to make decisions on all aspects of the new school-

Ownership given to staff ICT Committee was open to all staff- ICT co-ordinator is not a post

holder Used NCTE advisors Met with other schools who had been through the process Research carried out at Principals’ conferences

Held off on spending until all research complete

Funding for e-Portal did not come from new build budget Presentation to Board of Management and parents council, who approved the

investment

School Needs

Principal/Vice Principal

Improved Efficiency Higher Productivity Reduced time loss and duplication of work Upskilling of staff-Teaching and Administrative More accountability- teacher/Student tracking and

profiling Improved communication

e-Portal delivered on all

School Needs

Teacher Ease of access to student records-less time spent at

reception Ease of access to student results and attendance

records- form a picture of new student early in the year

More efficient roll call- less paperwork Minimise class interruptions re lates etc.

e-Portal delivered on all

Roll Out Plan

ICT committee gave leadership through a planned approach to training and implementation

– General IT training given before introduction- dispelled fear of technology

– Audit of existing staff ICT skills grouped staff into levels- no one felt overwhelmed

– Internal and external trainers, Group training as well as one to one training

– More proficient staff members became trainers themselves

Roll Out: Phase 1

September return to work- One full days training using all above methods

– Trainers made available for one to one training for the first week-focus on staff who needed more

Targets for achievement- small steps– September- First period registration– October All tutors to take roll call – Christmas Every class registration

Reports with exam results

– Summer Removal of Dual System

Roll Out Reality

Targets achieved well in advance- by Christmas manual rolls were not in use for most teachers

Success Factors:

– Pace of training– Staff felt supported not overwhelmed– Whole Staff buy in– End of year skills audit- staff requested training in other computer

applications

Teachers who were opposed to change, now demanding!

Roll Out Plan Phase 2

Year 2- ICT training on return to work week:– Student Events-committee set up to specify– Locating Teachers/Students– Viewing Profiles/Timetables– Taking roles for other teachers when supervising a class

Manual system of registration now completely removed Focus for the year on attendance and punctuality- linked to post

holders- no longer ICT co-ordinator Consolidation and full integration- now only new and returning

staff need training

Two years on- Benefits

Principal/Vice Principal:– Parent meetings- student profile readily available-

attendance and punctuality pie chart, student events ( positive and negative), results

– Reduction of interruptions at reception– Improved communication- notice board– Ease of access and storage for records– Staff comfortable with PC on the desk- have all

adapted

Two years on- Benefits

Teachers Time saving

– ease of access to student/parent/teacher details– Less time at reception– Reports completed in your own time- not waiting for other

teachers to finish with paper copies– Registration much quicker– Truancy spotted immediately

Class management– Patterns established quickly– Students aware they are being monitored

Conclusion

Our improved administrative systems mean we can focus on teaching and learning

Staff have a greater understanding of timetable issues and department reports- NEWB, September/ October returns

We have created a culture of ICT promotion and staff are integrating technology into the classroom as well as going on to do further study in ICT