Core to the curriculum in St. Kilian’s/Eurocampus is the integration of IT into the teaching and learning process. We aim to enhance and develop students’ IT skills through compulsory IT classes and the active encouragement to use IT in the communication of core subject information and homework.
Significant investment over the last number of years has enhanced the ICT-infrastructure in the school and underpins the integration of ICT into teaching and learning. Classrooms are equipped with interactive whiteboards, laptops and beamers. Currently moves are afoot to introduce I-Pads on a phased basis from January 2013. It is intended to pilot this project in the subject areas English, French, German and Science.
All students in Junior Cycle have one compulsory IT class per week which up to now has focused on the minimum benchmark of ECDL standard. From this year the IT programme will begin to incorporate coding and programming as part of the core curriculum. It is our aim to offer a short course in coding and programming from September 2013 as part of the reformed Junior Certificate programme.
Tranisiton Year students commence a course in coding and programming for two periods per week aimed at extending their IT skills beyond the benchmark of ECDL. Added to this they will have the opportunity to complete a six modular course in photo-shop and web design. Photo-shop is a course which aims to teach students how to design or create a functional web-site linked to the cross-curricular activities of the school.
The school’s Extracurricular Programme also supports the importance of IT and enhanced IT skills as an educational objective.
The Coder Dojo Club exists to support students with advanced Computer skills and challenge them to develop and expand those skills further.
In Transition Year the Sage-Accounting-Package will be introduced in September 2012 and class 11 will work with e-Books in Geography and Business from the beginning of the new school year. However, this is by no means a complete list of the ongoing work with regard to ICT in teaching and learning at St. Kilian’s. The school will continue to promote staff training and up-skilling to further consolidate the use of ICT in their classrooms and beyond.
