Welcome! Our newsletter aims to provide digital technology news and information to Principals, ICT or Digital Learning Coordinators and Teams, teachers and all those involved in education.
The AI in Schools Hub has been updated to make it easier for schools to find practical, relevant guidance on AI. New sections for school leaders, primary teachers and post-primary teachers have been added with curated resources for each audience. The Hub also features a new FAQs section, answering common questions about the use of AI in schools.
Join Supports for Digital Learning Leaders (Webinar Series)
Are you leading digital learning in your school? Join us for a three-part webinar series exploring the supports available, including Digital Learning Planning, Digital Technology Infrastructure and emerging trends. To register for this series, click the link below and search 'digital'.
Teachers and pupils at Oxmantown National School showcase how they identified and solved local community problems through robotics, coding and hands-on learning as part of the BRICS project, a collaborative initiative between Oide, DCU and Lego Education.
In this video, Dungarvan CBS Waterford outline how they coordinated digital learning within the school, focusing on the areas of Digital Literacy and Digital Learning with the support from the Digital Learning Team at Oide Technology in Education.
The ever-changing and ubiquitous nature of AI means that all teachers need a basic understanding of AI in the school context and are aware of the considerations for schools. Our one-hour online course on AI for Schools addresses these concerns and is suitable for all primary and post-primary teachers and school leaders. It has been updated recently with practical examples of AI use in education and additional resources.
Our short online course has become even more topical since it was added to our menu of online courses last year. It introduces the topic of cybersecurity for primary and post-primary schools from a whole-school leadership perspective, outlining key cybersecurity concepts and highlighting best practices for school leaders and digital learning teams.
Short online courses on a variety of other topics related to using digital technologies in teaching and learning are also available throughout the school year. These courses cover the key areas any teacher and school leader needs to know about, for effective planning and use of digital technologies. They are free of charge, available 24/7, offer a certificate of completion and badge and could be used for Croke Park hours.
As we start the new school year, it is a good time to highlight this section of our website. Here there are a range of guidance and supports for schools including a template for schools to develop their own Cybersecurity Policy. Schools can modify and adapt the policy template to address specific details in their own school. If schools need further guidance or support, please email [email protected].
Get to know your new class and ease your pupils back into school with these fun, interactive activities on Scoilnet! From worksheets to posters to book recommendations and curriculum links - there will be something for everyone.
This resource supports teachers in helping students make a positive transition to secondary school. It brings together practical classroom materials, guidance and activities focused on friendships, social skills, wellbeing and settling into a new school environment, alongside relevant curriculum links and resources from Scoilnet, Webwise and RTÉ.
Remember, Scoilnet also issues two Newsletters of their own. Subscribe to the Primary one or Post Primary one now!
Free Online Safety Resources for the Year Ahead
Webwise provides a range of free resources for schools, covering topics such as cyberbullying, online privacy, image-sharing, digital media literacy, and more. Both digital and hard copies of these resources are available to order through Webwise.ie.
Developing or updating your school’s Acceptable Use Policy?
The free Webwise Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) Generator makes it easy to create a customised policy tailored to your school’s needs. The tool guides you through simple steps to develop an AUP covering the use of digital technologies, the internet and AI within your school environment.
Coco’s Law: New Garda Schools Programme Lesson – Information Session for Teachers
Join us on 22nd September at 7pm for a short webinar introducing a new Garda Schools Programme SPHE lesson on Coco’s Law (the Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020). Hear from Chief Superintendent Humphries and An Garda Síochána on the legal context of image-sharing, explore the new lesson, learn about the consequences of harmful digital behaviour, and ask questions.
