In my opinion: Video games can be big winner in classroom environment [Independent.ie]
- Published: 18 May 2011
While eyebrows may be raised at the thought of using video games for learning, they are a popular and engaging medium that can be put to good use in classrooms from primary to third level education. After all, TV, video and the Internet faced similar challenges when first used as educational tools rather than for entertainment.
Although game-based learning (GBL) is increasingly popular across Europe, I strongly believe that more Irish schools and universities need to embrace this new method.
In an educational context, the fun and interactive elements of gaming are used to help students "experience" the topic they are studying in a virtual world.
While you may have an image of gaming and gamers being isolated, this is not the case in an educational environment as games are used within the wider context of teaching. They engage students, motivate them to 'learn-by-doing' and develop collaborative skills along with a deeper understanding of the topic.
For example, while a teacher can describe the ice age and the formation of mountains, valleys and rivers to their students, taking part in a video game could allow them to 'walk' through these areas, see and experience life in that time and solve problems and puzzles along the way.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Diary of a schoolteacher: Mean boys and girls become mean men and women [Independent.ie]
- Published: 18 May 2011
There are so many nasty people in the world that hone their cynical skills while in school. We all know that bullying in schools is a very serious problem and that even if we think it doesn't happen in our school, it almost definitely does.
We teachers bear the onerous responsibility of having to fight the insidious culture of bullying in our schools as a child on the receiving end can be scarred for life. If we don't get it right, little bullies will grow up into big bullies.
Mean Boys and Girls at school become Mean Men and Women. I know an overgrown Mean Boy who is in his forties and delights in intimidating his seriously ill neighbour every time he thinks the neighbour somehow infringes upon his rights as a property owner.
It seems to me that Mean Boy hasn't developed much since he was probably the Meanest Boy in the Class, 30 years ago.
I'd lay a bet that he went to the local boys' rugby school where on the pitch and then in class he was encouraged to speak up for himself and not let anyone get in his way. I know the school in question hasn't changed much down the years because I've seen how their yearbooks never fail to praise macho achievements in business and sport but never mention former pupils who have become successful musicians, writers or actors.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Early school play is the key to a higher standard in young adults [Independent.ie]
- Published: 18 May 2011
For decades it was the poor relation of Irish education. In the public mind, the country's pre-school sector was regarded as little more than a glorified babysitting service.
Now there is growing awareness in education circles that good quality nursery schools can play a crucial role in raising standards right through the education system.
OECD surveys suggest that 15-year-old students who have attended pre-school education tend do better in Maths and literacy tests than those who did not, even allowing for different social backgrounds.
The recent Draft National Plan To Improve Literacy and Numeracy in Schools suggested that problems have to be addressed long before children arrive in school.
The national plan said: "Research has consistently shown that three- and four-year-olds who attend high quality pre-school are more successful in primary school and beyond -- both academically and socially.''
Calling for the upskilling of staff in the sector, the report said: "Children who are at risk of school failure are strongly influenced by the quality of early childhood education.''
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Teacher's Pet [IrishTimes]
- Published: 18 May 2011
An insider's guide to education
“Taxigate’’ - as the expenses controversy at Waterford Institute of Technology (WIT) has already been labelled – is not over yet.
It appears Prof Kieran Byrne (right) is set to challenge that decision by the WIT board to refuse him a second term - even though he was nominated by a selection committee earlier this year.
Last week, Byrne was always on the back foot after those revelations about €139,000 on taxis and couriers, the €134,000 on fine art and close to €300,000 in hospitality. Minister for Educaiton, Ruairí Quinn and department secretary general Brigid McManus were briefed on the affair last Tuesday just before details became public. Their judgement? Byrne had to go. Said one senior figure: “The idea of Byrne or his crew being chauffered back and forth to Dublin really sticks in the craw.’’
The problem was that neither the department nor the Higher Education Authority could interfere in the appointments process. But the WIT board was left in no doubt about what the minister wanted.
On Wednesday of last week , Byrne was asked to fall on his sword during a meeting with a senior education official. But he was still digging in.
More behind the scenes contacts are underway this week to persuade Byrne that he should drop all this talk of a legal challenge. Some in the education sector would relish a legal challenge, seeing it as an opportunity to expose the “culture of entitlement’’ in some third-level colleges. The question now? Are there more Taxigate-like scandals lurking in other third-level colleges?
Peter McMenamin, the head of the Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) should be counting down to his retirement later this year in a relaxed, freewheeling way.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Schools hit hard with special needs cap [Independent.ie]
- Published: 18 May 2011
THE number of pupils with special needs in mainstream schools has soared to more than 84,000 as the Government puts a cap on teachers available to provide extra support.
The staggering figures represent about one in 10 of the pupil population in our primary and secondary schools.
There are 66,629 pupils in primary schools with special educational needs and 17,512 pupils in secondary schools
The primary figure includes about 50,000 pupils with high incidence disabilities such as dyslexia. There are also 16,629 with less common disorders, such as autism or a hearing impairment.
A limit of 9,950 resource teachers has been placed on the forthcoming school year, while primary school enrolments are set to increase by 5,000-10,000.
Because of the growth in demand for support, coupled with the strain on public finances, the Department of Education recently froze the resource teacher application process.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
