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Contents

Section 1

Introduction St. Patrick’s is a large urban boys primary school that has fully engaged with ICT’s, continuing to change and adapt learning to avail of the new technologies as they became available. It is hoped through this plan to continue this development up to the completion date of June 2015.

Section 2

Overview Our priorities are centred on the continued integration of ICT in our curriculum, to upgrade our ICT equipment where necessary and to provide opportunities for all our staff to continue to develop their ICT skills. Action plans Our action plans and targets are centred on addressing these areas in the short and longer term.

Section 3

Conclusion

- E-Learning budget - ICT policy checklist - Sign off and date

Name of School: St. Patrick's BNS, Chapel St., Castlebar, Co. Mayo

Date of completion: 1st April 2014

Timeframe for e-Learning Plan: 2014-2016

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Overall vision and mission statement of school (from whole school plan)

“We the governors and staff of St. Patrick’s Boys’ Primary School believe the school to be a vital part of the Catholic community. We are firmly committed to the aims of catholic education. We seek to provide effective education for all our children; to develop positive and meaningful pastoral care systems and to secure close links with home, parish and the wider community”

e-Learning vision statement

To avail of e-learning facilities, where appropriate and beneficial, to assist our pupils to reach academic targets, to gain familiarity with digital technologies and software and to empower staff to utilise successfully the new technologies as they emerge.

Overview of existing school resources

Completed e-Learning audit Completed e-Learning Roadmap Separate file – database completed Feb 2011

Overview of planning process

Who is involved (e-Learning team)? Helen Grealis (Junior Classes), Caroline Sweeney (Senior Classes), Adrian Keena (Middle Classes) and Joe Carty (Principal)

Timeframe within which e-Learning Plan was drawn up: January –March 2014

Section 1 - e-Learning Plan Introduction

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++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ PRIORITIES TARGETS TASKS TIMEFRAME

Leadership and Planning Providing information for parents and staff through use of ICT.

Target 1: School Admin: To implement the use of ICT for improved school admin.

Task 1: Continued development of use of Aladdin for efficient school administration and recording of all standardised assessments, absences (and their reasons) and school rolls.

Ongoing.

Target 2: To keep parents informed on school happenings and development of ICT in our school.

Task 2: To endeavour to keep parents informed on the development of ICT in our school through a Technology Night in May of both years.

May 2014 and May 2015

Task 3: To continue to utilise PowerPoint on school screens to keep visiting parents informed on school events.

Ongoing.

Target 3: To continue to develop our presence on Twitter.

Task 4: To continue to promote our school and provide parents (and other schools) the opportunity to keep up to date with events in our school through Twitter.

Ongoing.

Target 4: To continue to develop our school website

Task 5: To continue to develop our school website and update on a weekly basis, with a particular emphasis towards providing further information for parents

Ongoing.

ICT in the curriculum Priority 1 – That students experience e-Learning activities regularly.

Target 1: Student Experience: Teachers to incorporate e-learning resources into lessons on a regular basis.

Task 1: That appropriate websites be accessed on a regular basis to assist with curriculum attainment e.g. Brainpop, teachingfractions, readtheory.org etc

Sept-December 2014

Task 2: Middle and Senior classes to undertake to create project blogs for display on our website and for presentation to parents on Technology Night.

Jan-April 2014 and Jan-April 2015

Section 2 - e-Learning Plan Overview

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Target 2: Student Experience: Students to be given specific tasks that require the use of ICT for their completion.

Task 1: Every pupil from first to third class to add clipart to their story produced using Microsoft Word.

Easter – June 2014

Task 2: Every child from fourth to sixth class to take a photo with a digital camera and add it to their story produced using Word document.

Easter – June 2014

Target 3: Student Experience: Infants

Task 1: To utilise the Computer Room facilities to afford junior classes the opportunity to improve their phonic skills through Jolly Phonic and numeracy skills through Ten Town. Task 2. To continue to work with designers of Ten Town to improve the product.. Task 2: That appropriate websites be accessed on a regular basis to assist with curriculum attainment e.g. hwb.wales.gov.uk, crickweb, bbc science, topmarks etc.

May-June 2014 March 2014 and ongoing Easter-June 2014 and ongoing

Target 4: Student Experience: Third to Sixth Classes.

Task 1: That pupils be encouraged across the school to our Budding Writers section of our school website.

Easter-June 2014 and ongoing

Professional Development Priority 1 – Teacher Confidence: That there is increased confidence among teachers in the integration of ICT.

Target 1:. Sharing of ideas on uses of Interactive Whiteboards

Task 1: Croke Park hour organised with each teacher bringing one website to share with others - division into junior/middle and senior classes if preferred.

Sept-October 2014

Target 2: Sharing of expertise on blogging using Blogger.

Task 2: Sharing of ideas on further development of class blogs through Croke Park hour.

September – October 2014

Task 2: Development of at least a blog for every age group in our school - ie Junior Infants to Sixth Class.

April – December 2014 and ongoing

Target 3: Encourage new teachers to assist with computer clubs

Task 1: Continue to afford staff the opportunity to gain valuable ICT skills by assisting with computer clubs.

Ongoing professional development that has worked very well in the past.

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e-Learning Culture

To undertake a video-conferencing project with another school.

Target 1: To seek a new partner school and embark on new ICT based project with this school

Task 1: To use Dissolving Boundaries or Twitter to source a new partner school.

January - June 2015

Task 2: To endeavour to encourage two senior classes to correspond regularly with their new partners.

April 2015-June 2015

Target 2: To involve at least two classes in video-conferencing with our partner school

Task 1: To prepare pupils participating in project for variety Christmas Concert – via Skype.

November-December 2014

Task 2: To prepare individual pupils to introduce the performers and act as MC’s for concert.

November-December 2014

ICT Infrastructure To continue to develop our school as a leading ICT school.

Target 1: To seek funding from Parents Association for much needed revamp of Computer Room.

Task 1: To replace 10 computers in Computer Room with either high spec reconditioned or new computers and install all necessary programs on same.

April 2014

Task 2: To refurbish remaining computers by reformatting, adding extra RAM and/or reinstalling all necessary software.

April 2014

Target 2: To refurbish 20 laptops and provide most for use in classrooms and some for Computer Room.

Task 1: To refurbish 20 IBM Thinkpads (provided by local company) and provide 5 of same to replace old desktop computers in Computer Room and 14 for

January-June 2014

Task 2: To offer 14 laptops as upgrades for use in classrooms with interactive whiteboards.

April-June 2014

Task 3: To refurbish one IBM Thinkpad with Ubuntu and OpenOffice and provide same for staff to become familiar with the operating system.

April 2014

Target 3: To provide new high spec server to cater for Micros 365 and cloud computing.

Task 1: To select and install a suitable server which will be used to provide facilities for implementation of Microsoft365 for all staff and pupils.

May 2014

Task 2: To provide home license for Microsoft365 and basic training for staff on cloud computing.

June 2014

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Leadership and Planning

PRIORITIES: To continue to develop the streamlining of administration and recording of test results through the use of Aladdin across our school.

Targets: 1. To encourage staff to complete all school rolls on Aladdin. 2. To utilise Aladdin for all notices to staff. 3. To record all standardised test results on Aladdin and to transfer results to Aladdin from previous five years.

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

1. To utilise Aladdin to record rolls on a daily basis and for notices to all staff

April 2014 and ongoing. Principal, Deputy Principal and all teaching staff.

Aladdin and basic training from staff members familiar with Aladdin.

Daily use of Aladdin to record attendance, absences and late arrivals and the reasons for absences and late arrivals when deemed necessary.

2. To use Aladdin for all recording of standardised test results.

April 2014 and ongoing Al teaching staff and ICT technician.

ICT technician has already transferred all Micra-T and Sigma-T to Aladdin for previous five years so making trends easy to view.

Smooth recording of all test results on Aladdin and the ability to view and contrast trends over a number of years by any staff member.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Issues with recording to Aladdin to be forwarded to ICT co-ordinator or Principal.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Any issues with the software to be dealt with by the Aladdin design team.

Section 2 – Action Plans

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ICT in the curriculum

PRIORITIES: That students experience e-Learning activities regularly.

Target: Teachers to incorporate e-learning resources into lessons on a regular basis.

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

Task 1:E-learning resource bank of web addresses regularly updated on school network. Task 2:Teachers encouraged to share tried and tested sites and IWB resources created with other staff.

Ongoing September-December 2014 - Croke Park hour used for sharing of one useful website.

Focus Groups – junior teachers, middle class teachers, senior teachers, and support teachers, get together to share and then add to resource bank. Open to all staff. Training facilitated by one of our own NCTE tutors.

Suitable websites to support all aspects of curriculum. Twitter - ideas and web addresses sought from schools linked to ours.

Suitable websites.

All classes availing of resource bank of websites Contributions by all teachers and SNAs to continued development of web resource bank.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Monitoring of network resource bank by ICT co-ordinator to ensure that web resources are available for all subject areas and all classes from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: All teachers using at least contributing one web resource in their planning.

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ICT in the curriculum

PRIORITIES: That students experience e-Learning activities regularly.

Target: Students to be given specific tasks that require the use of ICT for their completion.

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

Task 1: Every pupil from first to third class to add clipart to their story produced using Microsoft Word. Task 2: Every child from fourth to sixth class to take a photo with a digital camera and add it to their story produced using Word document.

Easter – June 2014 Easter-June 2014

All junior class mainstream teachers (assisted by learning support teachers and SNAs where possible) All senior class mainstream teachers (assisted by learning support teachers and SNAs where possible)

Internet access, Scoilnet website to Britannica clipart. Cameras – 4 to be supplied with batteries and charger – made available and maintained by ICT co-ordinator

Samples of completed stories added to our website. Samples of completed stories added to our website.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Regular updates to ICT co-ordinator on progress of targets.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Folder created on server “Shared” section with a internal folder added for each class and file saved in that folder from each pupil in class – evidence available of completed documents.

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Professional development

PRIORITIES: 1. Ongoing staff development – upskilling of staff on blogging using Blogger to create own websites. 2. Creation of bank of web resources and made available to all staff. 3. To encourage new staff members to assist in Computer Clubs and so improve their own ICT skills.

Target 1: Completion of at least one class blog by class teachers for each year group and updating of same at least once a month.

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

Task 1: Training for teachers provided as required - Croke Park hour used if required. Task 2: Creation of bank of web resources. Task 3: Encouragement for new staff to assist with Computer Clubs.

April-June 2014 April-June 2014 and ongoing Ongoing

Teachers involved in Computer Clubs provide assistance as required. All staff share their best website, how they use it and why it's their favourite. All staff but particularly those already involved in computer clubs.

Blogger - quite easy to use. Various websites - Internet connection - saved on "Teacher" section of our server and on a hidden webpage as part of our website. Our staff.

At least one blog launched on the Internet for each year in our school and linked to our main website stpatsbns.eu. Regular referrals to that particular webpage by staff and suggestions for further additions to webpage. At least one new staff member to come on board each time computer clubs are about to begin..

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Ongoing assistance to teachers provided by teachers involved in Computer Clubs to ensure difficulties with blogs are sorted.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Launching and regular updating of class blogs on Internet.

Section 2 – Action Plans

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e-Learning culture

PRIORITIES: To continue to innovate in the area of ICT. through undertaking a video-conferencing project with another school in the North of Ireland.

Target 1: To embark a video-conferencing project with a new partner school - either an Irish school or a school in Northern Ireland. Target 2: To involve at least two classes in video-conferencing with our partner school.

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

Task 1: To seek out a new partner school through usual channels or Twitter. Task 2: To endeavour to encourage two senior classes to correspond regularly with their new partners Task 3: Christmas concert undertaken by classes involved in video conferencing.

April 2014-June 2014 April 2014-June 2015 December 2014

ICT Co-ordinator ICT Co-ordinator and Senior Class teachers (either fifth or sixth) Class teachers prepare pupils for Christmas Concert via video conference.

Broadband access, Skype. Regular contact via Email/Twitter or similar. Broadband access. Musicians and singers prepared for Christmas concert online.

Project is agreed by June 2014 and begun by September 2014. Classes correspond at least once a month during 2014-2015 school year. Concert is held by video conference at Christmas.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Senior class teachers and E-Learning Team monitor to ensure that project gets up and running smoothly without technical difficulties and ensures also that an agreed plan is drawn up for the year.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Progress evaluated by participating class teachers and e-learning team on a termly basis.

Section 2 – Action Plans

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This e-Learning Plan has been written for St. Patrick's BNS and has been presented to and approved by the Board of Management.

Signed: Date:

Chairperson of Board of Management

Signed: Date:

Principal

e-Learning Budget

List the digital technologies to be procured with costings - to assist you the NCTE has provided a list of ICT equipment suitable for schools and with associated indicative pricing. This is available from www.ncte.ie/elearningplan 10 Desktop Computers – Price Range 350-450 euros per computer – Total 3500 to 4500 euros. Laser Ink Supplies (2 years) - 5 printers - 4 cartridges in each @ 50 euro = 2000 euro. 2 Visualisers – Middle Classes – 350 euros each = 700 euros 4 Interactive Whiteboard Pen Sets - 135 euros (set of two and charging unit) - 50 euro. Ongoing Maintenance and Refurbishment of Laptops – 2500 euros (computer technician)

ICT Policy Checklist

Internet Safety

Acceptable Use Policy

Health and Safety

Other ICT related policies and procedures including: homework policy behaviour policy anti-bullying policy

Section 3 - Conclusion

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ICT infrastructure

PRIORITIES: To ensure all computer room facilities are maintained to a high standard and are fit for purpose.

Target: To have computer equipment capable of providing teachers with tools to support delivery of curriculum with full ICT support.

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

Task 1: To update existing ICT equipment – to replace 10 desktop computers in Computer Room. Task 2: To provide 5 laptops to replace 5 desktops in Computer Room.

June 2014 March-April 2014

ICT Co-ordinator and Computer Technician ICT Co-ordinator, Computer Technician

Funding requested from Parents Association. Funds generated from sale of school calendars.

Suitable computers in place and fully networked. IBM Thinkpads fully refurbished, in place and fully networked with all required programs installed.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Staff to feedback at staff meetings and post holders meetings.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Staff feedback at staff meetings re problems or otherwise in computer room.

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ICT infrastructure

PRIORITIES: To ensure that ICT facilities in the classrooms are maintained to a high standard and upgraded where necessary.

Target: To have equipment in all classes to afford teachers the ICT tools to deliver the curriculum in a modern interactive way.

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

Task 3: To maintain all interactive whiteboards and to purchase replacement lamps and pens to have on standby when required. Task 4: To provide 14 refurbished IBM laptops as upgrades to current classroom laptops Task 5: To continue to provide networked printing to all classrooms. Task 5: To provide visualisers for all classrooms as funding becomes available.

Ongoing March-April 2014 Ongoing Sept-Dec 2014.

ICT technician and ICT Co-ordinator. ICT technician and ICT Co-ordinator. ICT technician and ICT Co-ordinator. ICT Co-ordinator and ICT Team.

Computer Club fees - currently pens required. Computer Club fees. Computer Club fees. Whenever funding is available.

All whiteboards fully functional and in use in every class on a daily basis to support implementation of curriculum. Refurbished laptops in full use and teachers happy with upgrade. Networked laser printers in full working order. Up to 10 visualisers available for use around the school

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Staff to feedback at staff meetings and post holders meetings.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Staff feedback at staff meetings re problems or otherwise in own class.

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Professional development

PRIORITIES: Teacher Confidence: That there is increased confidence among teachers in the integration of ICT.

Target: Sharing of ideas on uses of Interactive Whiteboards

TASK (What needs to be done?)

TIMEFRAME (When is it to be done by?)

REMITS (Who is to do it?)

RESOURCES (What resources are needed?)

SUCCESS CRITERIA (What are the desired outcomes?)

Task 1: Support session using a Croke Park hour organised with each teacher bringing one website to share with others. Task 2: Encourage new teachers to assist with computer clubs Task 3: To refurbish one IBM Thinkpad with Ubuntu and OpenOffice to provide staff with opportunity to become familiar with operating system

September – October 2014 September 2011 -April 2012 April 2014

ICT Co-ordinator and ICT team ICT Co-ordinator ICT Co-ordinator and ICT Technician.

Internet access and school network access to create new website list. School staff Laptop and software.

Staff become aware of current up to date websites to support curriculum. At least two teachers participate in computer clubs in 2014 and again in 2015 school year. Laptop in full use, being taken home by teachers to experiment with Ubuntu operating system and Open Office software.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Contribution sought from all teachers to provide at least one new website to add to our website list. Monitored by e-learning team.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: New updated website list compiled and each teacher and SNA made aware of where to access same.

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Leadership and Planning PRIORITIES: To continue to develop our school use of Aladdin for administration and recording of standardised testing and attendance.

Targets: 1. To utilise Aladdin for staff announcements. 2. To continue to use Aladdin ro keep attendance records and to inform reports on absences. 3. To record all standardised test results on Aladdin and to transfer results to Aladdin from previous five years.

Task (What needs to be done?)

Timeframe (When is it to be done by?)

Remits (Who is to do it?)

Resources (What resources are needed?)

Success Criteria (What are the desired outcomes?)

1. To utilise Aladdin to record rolls on a daily basis and for notices to all staff

April 2014 and ongoing. Principal, Deputy Principal and all teaching staff.

Aladdin and basic training from staff members familiar with Aladdin.

Daily use of Aladdin to record attendance, absences and late arrivals and the reasons for absences and late arrivals when deemed necessary.

2. To use Aladdin for all recording of standardised test results.

April 2014 and ongoing Al teaching staff and ICT technician. ICT technician has already transferred all Micra-T and Sigma-T to Aladdin for previous five years so making trends easy to view.

Smooth recording of all test results on Aladdin and the ability to view and contrast trends over a number of years by any staff member.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Issues with recording to Aladdin to be forwarded to ICT co-ordinator or Principal.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Any issues with the software to be dealt with by the Aladdin design team.

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Leadership and Planning PRIORITIES: To continue to develop and expand our school website to provide up to date information for parents and to celebrate success in our school.

Targets: 1. To continue to update our website on a weekly basis and to inform parents of updates through Twitter. 2. To provide up to date information and web links for parents. 3. To record all standardised test results on Aladdin and to transfer results to Aladdin from previous five years.

Task (What needs to be done?)

Timeframe (When is it to be done by?)

Remits (Who is to do it?)

Resources (What resources are needed?)

Success Criteria (What are the desired outcomes?)

1. To continue to update our website on a weekly basis and to inform parents of updates through Twitter.

March 2014 and ongoing. ICT Co-ordinator and ICT team. Web X5, Twitter account, updates supplied by staff on a weekly basis.

That our website has some fresh input every weekend. That the successes of our school are recorded with digital images, video or audio as appropriate.

2. To provide up to date information and web links for parents.

March 2014 and ongoing All staff - co-ordinated by ICT Co-ordinator.

Fresh input from all teachers on a weekly basis and useful websites recorded on site for parents to avail of.

Our aim has to be that parents find the website an invaluable resource for information and hints and tips to help with their child's education. We will be successful when this is the case.

Agreed Monitoring Procedures: Issues with recording to Aladdin to be forwarded to ICT co-ordinator or Principal.

Agreed Evaluation Procedures: Any issues with the software to be dealt with by the Aladdin design team.

Section 2 – Action Plans