Scoil Bhride BNS

Revised ICT plan for Scoil Bhríde 2009.

Name: Scoil Bhríde
Tullamore
Co.Offaly

Tel: 057 9321194

Roll No. 18524k.

No. Of Pupils on Roll: 174

Special Classes:1.


Principal: C. McMahon.

I.T. coordinator/Deputy Principal: J. Healy

Web address: www.scoilbhride.ie Email: scoilbhridepo@eircom.net

Current ICT status: Intermediate stage.

School Profile:
" An administrative Principal
" Seven mainstream teachers
" One special class
" Two learning support-resource teachers
" One EAL teacher
" Part-time secretary
" Three special needs assistants.
" One shared home-school -community liaison Teacher.

" 25 working computers


(1 in Principals office)
(1 in secretary's office)
(2 in EAL room)
(1 in L.S./Resource room)
(1 in R.T.T. room)
(1 in HSCL room)
(4 in L.S. room)
All other computers have been moved to the mainstream classrooms to allow for maximum usage.
" Under our previous ICT plan, a number of Win'98/Millennium edition computers were assigned to the classes. These computers have now been either recycled, or donated to a charity which recycles older computers for use in developing countries. In their place ,a more modern selection of PCs have been made available.
All computers in use in the classes have network cards and have broadband access.
Five of our older laptops have had Win XP re-installed in May 2008, as these computers had become quite slow.

" 3 digital cameras.
" 4 working printers.
" Selection of educational software.
" Full broadband connection available in The ICT room, and to all 64 network points in the building.
" 1 working scanner (in sec. Office.)
" 64 network points including:
ICT room, Secretary's office, Principal's office, Staff room, and all classrooms, with the exception of the HSCL room. This classroom was not networked, due to the distance of this room from the main switch in the building.


EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

ICT in Scoil Bhride is used to help the teachers to teach, and the pupils to learn, more effectively. This is done by:

" Fostering the awareness of print
" Encouragement of the development of reading skills.
" Supporting the development of word recognition
" Enhancing the children's understanding of textual information
" Enhancing the standard of presentation of children's work.
" Helping children with the writing process-draft, edit, redraft.
" Creating a print-rich environment.
" Monitoring progress
" As a stimulus for extra research on a particular topic of interest.
" To help to introduce the 'First steps' reading and writing programmes.
" Enriching the range of sources and information available to the children.
" Facilitating communication with the wider community via the school website.

Management and planning

One member of staff is responsible for the facilitation within the school. The ICT coordinator is currently John Healy.
The duties include:
" Update of the existing ICT plan.
" Maintenance of computers
" Ordering of software.
" Maintenance of the school network
" Troubleshooting issues in classroom computers
" Maintenance of a school website
" Publication of a school newsletter
" Development and maintenance of an Internet acceptable use policy.

No maintenance contract currently exists. Currently the ICT coordinator keeps the school network operational, and troubleshoots if necessary. Major technical work is carried out by NIS (Rahan), OCS (Tullamore) or Michael Geoghegan, Mullingar.
This is provided for a fee if required.




INFRASTRUCTURE

(a) Computers
Currently there are 25 working computers in the school. In February of 2008, the school was successfully approved for a grant of €3500 under the Dormant Accounts scheme towards the purchase of computers. Also, in February of 2008, the school applied to the Department of Education and Science for funding for networking of classrooms. This application was deemed unsuccessful in April of 2008. In 2008 the school proceeded with the purchase of five computers under the 'framework for public sector procurement' scheme .Of these, four were purchased from Sord Data systems, Dublin 18 and have Windows XP Pro.(Lenovo) as their operating systems. The other, a notebook computer, was purchased from Dell-Online. Of the remaining computers in the school, four were purchased in October '07 under the 'framework for public sector procurement' scheme. These carry XP Professional (sp 2) as their operating systems. These computers were financed by the facilitation of Summer courses and other activities within the school during the summer months. A further five computers were purchased in Sept.'05 and also have XP Professional operating systems. Two computers were obtained under the Tesco computers for schools scheme. They too have 'XP Professional' operating systems. Three of our older computers carry an 'XP Home' operating system. Three laptops have been made available to the school by SCP. Also, in January of 2009 the school completed the purchase of four computers from PC Peripherals, Sandyford, Dublin under the 'framework for public sector procurement' scheme .The cost involved was €2010.The funding for these computers was obtained through a fundraising draw prior to Christmas 2008. We also possess five older laptop computers which can be brought on and off the network as teachers wish.
The principal has a computer for office use and access to OLCS, NEWB, etc. The secretary's office also has a computer and monocolour printer for school related use-printing letters, notes, recording and storing important databases and files, etc.
Both of these computers also have broadband access and an office suite.


The school availed of Microsoft's scheme to provide software to schools with Educational Disadvantage in March of 2009 and purchased Office suites at a cost of €5 per computer.
As a consequence, all of the above computers are furnished with a Microsoft Office suite and furthermore, all have access to the network and Broadband, with content filtering.
The computers have access to a networked laser printer.

These computers are networked on a peer-to-peer basis. We currently do not have a server. The IT room contains a fuseboard and a switch. To network the classrooms, it was necessary to install two further switches in the corridors to manage the network traffic.

There are also two network points in the secretary's office, two points in the Principal's office, and two points in the staffroom.



(b) Networking of the classes

All of the classrooms in the school (with the exception of the HSCL room) were networked in 2007-8.The work was completed by Michael Gaughan, Mullingar, along with a local electrician.
The cost of this work to the school was €5200. This was raised mainly through fundraising efforts and the facilitation of summer courses within the school.


c)School website
The school participated in Broadband for schools programme 2005. This has enabled the IT coordinator to remove the school website from his home PC to a school PC to maintain the school website www.scoilbhride.ie.
Previously, the web design programme 'Dreamweaver' was used to update the site. However, the X5 programme is now primarily used.
The school participated in the Practical Enterprise Programme in 2008, as supported by Offaly county enterprise board. In this programme, the students were heavily involved in the re-design of the school website. The IT coordinator also attended a six week course on X5 web design. As a consequence, the school was allowed three years of complimentary web hosting by Navarro.

d) Other Equipment:
The school also has an external DVD rewriter drive which is used to create DVDs of special occasions and capture school life and occasional projects. The school also has a digital movie camera and tripod.
The school has three digital cameras which are used for recording school life. These pictures are displayed on the website or, more frequently, on the quarterly school newsletter or on individual teacher's displays.

The school has one Minolta colour laser printer, located in the Principal's office. The school also has a Magicolor printer which is currently out of commission due to the high cost of toner for this machine (Quoted €800 per fill).
The school also has a library of software located in the IT room for use by all classes.

In 2005-2006, all classes had timetabled access to the IT room. The time available to the classes increased in the 2007-8 academic year .However when the classrooms were networked in 2008, it became possible to move the computers from the IT room to the mainstream classes to allow for maximum use of resources. Three computers remain in the IT room , for Learning support use and update of the school website.




Staff development

Scoil Bhride has a young and vibrant staff who have good ICT skills. All staff are made aware of any courses etc which may update these skills. These courses are normally organised by NCTE/Laois Ed. Centre. For example, in 2007,five members of staff completed courses in 'ICT and the curriculum.' In 2009, four members of staff undertook the summer course organised within the school. The school has been used for the last four years as a venue for ICT summer(and other) courses.

The ICT coordinator has completed IT courses on
" ICT and the curriculum,
" Network management ,
" Macromedia Dreamweaver, web design ,
" Incomedia X5,
" Practical Enterprise Programme,
" using a digital camera and photo-editing package and
" an online course organized by INTO.

Antivirus policy

Currently the school network is virus-free. Anti-virus software has been purchased from Cara technologies and is installed on all computers with an XP home operating system(or later)This was organised by the IT coordinator in conjunction with NCTE .Further Antivirus software was also purchased for the older computers. The licence for this software is held by the IT coordinator. This software is regularly updated online(at least once monthly) by the IT coordinator. All new Teachers will be reminded that any new devices must be scanned before being used on the network. However, it is recognised by the IT coordinator that the current anti-virus software arrangement with Cara technologies will shortly terminate (Nov 2009) and another arrangement will need to be put in place.


Culture

The ICT culture is a positive one. The school website, newsletter provides a forum for the pupils work. Classroom displays are supported by computer produced content and labels.
All children have internet access.
The sixth classes 2005-2008 have participated in 'Etwinning', a European wide initiative in Learning through Ict,involving cooperation and collaboration with other schools,including schools in Spain and Poland.
Also, ICT gives many opportunities for Team-teaching. All Teachers will be made aware of these possibilities.


INTERNET AUP

The school has an 'Internet acceptable use' policy which was ratified by the BOM in 2005.This was developed by the IT coordinator in conjunction with interested parties. All newer teachers will be made aware of this policy before allowing the children in their class internet access. This policy was reviewed in 2009. No major changes were identified.

Commercial agencies

Scoil Bhríde has availed of Tesco's computers for school scheme, which has provided two computers, televisions and software to the school. We have also participated in Edalive's community software plan, which has provided the school with multi-user software. However the school community is aware of the motives of such schemes and will take informed decisions on any such schemes going forward.


Future objectives

The objectives in our 2002 plan were as follows:

1. Development of a computer room
2. Purchase of 3 new computers and 5 new printers
3. Purchase of new software
4. Development of a networked system.



These objectives have been achieved.. The IT room has been developed. New computers have been purchased. We have developed a networked system. Five printers are no longer necessary, now that our network is in place.

The objectives for our 2005 plan were:

1. Completion of the network and the broadband programme.
2. Purchase of software with network licences.
3. Development of the network throughout the school and into the mainstream classrooms-when finance allows.
4. Extension of the IT room to accommodate more desktop computers.

Implementation:
1.The network was completed in the IT room, and the broadband programme implemented.
2.Any software purchased(2005-7) carried network licences
though some office packages(single user) were purchased for use with the newer computers.
3.The network was not extended to the classes, due to financial constraints. However, the work was priced (€7-8000) and was considered a priority going forward.
4. The computer room has been extended and now accommodates four additional network points.


The objectives of our 2007 plan were:

" Extension of the network to the classes
" Purchase of a digital projector to be used in the classes
" Consider the introduction of digital whiteboards.
" Further purchase of networked software.
" To facilitate further up-skilling of Teachers and Pupils.
" Purchase of 8 computers so that all mainstream classes will have a computer in the classroom.


Implementation:
" The extension of the network was achieved, though it was a costly project. All classes now have Broadband Internet access.
" A digital projector was purchased for use in all of the classes.
" The school has yet to purchase an interactive whiteboard due to the costs involved.
" Further purchase of software-this is an ongoing project.
" Facilitation of further up-skilling of Teachers. This has been achieved and is ongoing.
" Purchase of 8 eight computers so that all classes have a computer in the classroom-All classes now have at least one computer with broadband access.

Objectives for 2009 plan:
1. To maintain Broadband availability to all classrooms and upgrade of the network if necessary
2. IT coordinator to research the possibility of moving to a server-based system.
3. To provide all classes with a permanent digital projector, with it's terminal adjacent to the data point in the classroom.
4. To cost and consider the fundraising involved in the introduction of at least one digital whiteboard.
5. To further facilitate the up-skilling of Teachers in IT.

Road-Map for IT skills acquisition for students


2n d+ 3rd class
" Turn on computer.
" Turn on monitor.
" Open a folder by double-clicking.
" Close a file/window.
" Recognise/open Internet Explorer.
" Navigate the Internet, be familiar with the 'home', 'history', tabs.
" Move a file on the desktop.
" Open a Word document.
" Use Paint programme to create a drawing.
" Save a document
" Use some content-rich software.
" Shut down computer and Monitor.
" Use Publisher programme to create cards and signs.



4th/5th/6th class

" All of the above
" Using a range of Internet search tools.
" Printing documents
" Import an image or animation into a document
" Use Microsoft publisher to create a newsletter/calendar/flyer/greeting card/brochure publication.
" Create graphic representation using Excel.
" Create a video story from text.
" Create a presentation using Microsoft Powerpoint.
" Use suitable content-rich software.
" To participate in an etwinning initiative, including email.
" To upload to school website.
To blog(on school website)

This plan is due to be updated in 2011.