There’s a lot of hype around teaching children to learn computer programming but what age is a child ready to go down the road of programming. Marshall Brain thinks between 10 and 13 in the article linked above. Scratch is a language designed for children aged 8 and above. Whatever age you believe, this article gives some great links to computer programming languages and pre-programming languages for children of all ages.
News
CESI Meet in Sligo
There’s going to be a CESI Meet in the northwest! It’s on in St. Attracta’s in Tubbercurry on the 27th of April from 6.30 til 8.30. More information about cesimeets can be found on the cesi website at www.cesi.ie/cesimeet-april2012 . Registration is open so pop along here to register to go on the night so can get a better idea of numbers http://bit.ly/Ig0WUb. Anyone around the Sligo area should definitely go along to this event!
School Size doesn't equal better teaching ?
An interesting report was published last week, which is certain to stir things up in the debate around small schools. According to the report (linked above), there appears to be little difference between a school’s size and the quality of teaching. The Department of Education were quick to add that this report had nothing to do with the debate around the viability of small schools and Ruairi Quinn was quoted as saying that small schools would be a major feature in the education landscape.
Pluralism and Patronage Report
The report from the forum on patronage and pluralism in the primary sector published its findings today. It was interesting to see the media’s take on the findings. The Irish Independent focused mainly on how sacrament preparation would be removed from the school day in all schools, mentioning this in all its articles. They also … Read more
Filmstrips Project
Teachers who are nostaligia lovers will be thrilled to hear that Seomra Ranga is publishing filmstrips from old projectors from over 30 years ago. Damien Quinn, the webmaster of Seomra Ranga announced this week that after two years, he has now collated over 500 spools of film and is busy copying each side into PowerPoint format. He is now sharing these slides using SlideShare with teachers all over the world. Not only will Quinn be doing this in his own time, all this work will be available for free. Quinn, through this project, has single-handedly preserved a part of the history of the Irish Education system. This sort of selfless work often goes unrecognised in the public domain so I hope that it will be seen and celebrated in the manner it deserves.
Google Teacher Academy: Reflection
I was one of fifty lucky teachers to be accepted on Google’s Teacher Academy in London this week. Held in their offices in St. Giles’ High Street, we were treated to two days of training from some of the world’s best educators. From the second we sat down to the introductory talk, we were hit … Read more
Video-conferencing on an iPad
Tom Whitby tweeted recently about ways to video-conference on an iPad. The link above goes to the web site Apps in Education, a blog that lists iPad apps by subject. Obviously video-conferencing on an iPad requires one with a front-facing camera so iPad 1 users like myself won’t be able to take advantage. The great thing about this list is that most of the apps are completely free.
Google Teacher Academy
So what are you doing for your Easter holidays? On 3rd April, I’m packing a suitcase and heading over to London to the Google Teacher Academy. Over two days, I’m going to be trained up on everything Google and will come home with a brain full of ways to use Google in Education. My hope … Read more
ICT in Education Conference 2012
With great pleasure and anticipation, it’s coming near to the time for the ICT in Education Conference in LIT Thurles. This year’s theme is Learning Spaces. Below is the information from the LIT’s web site. If learning is to be constant, Space, Time, Technology, Pedagogy, Curriculum must be the Variables. The eighth ICT in Education … Read more
Digital Art Week is Coming
After last year’s great success, Digital Art Week will take place from 23rd – 27th April 2012. Children all over Ireland will have the opportunity to share their own creations with the world. We’ve teamed up with Éigse, Carlow’s International Arts Festival, who will be hosting all children’s work in a special digital gallery! Lots … Read more