Can a quality education be delivered online? [Independent.ie]
- Published: 12 September 2011
The internet is often scorned for its wealth of mild amusement and inconsequential distraction, but it's still an incredible source of knowledge.
But can a quality education be delivered online? And, more to the point, how much would it cost? In just over a month's time (10 October), Stanford University is launching three free online courses – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence, Introduction to Databases and Machine Learning – that are open to all, taught by eminent scientists, involve study, homework and exams, and are rewarded with a "statement of accomplishment", should you complete them. It's been described as a "bold experiment in distributed education", and so far more than 135,000 people have signed up to take the Artificial Intelligence class alone.
Professor Sebastian Thrun, one of its teachers, has expressed delight at the prospect of addressing more students in a few short weeks that in his entire career, but what is Stanford's "statement of accomplishment" worth? And does it signal a new direction in the provision of education? Universities began putting course material online using software such as Moodle, while organisations such as the Coventry -based Resource Development International (RDI) extended that by working in partnership with educational institutions to offer complete courses and degree qualifications via the internet. "The internet has been an absolute godsend for our students," says Niall Sclater, director of learning, teaching and quality at the Open University. "There's information instantly at their fingertips, there's the ability to connect with other students and huge administrative benefits in terms of assessment. If the Open University had been founded today, the whole thing would have been formed around the internet."
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Minister moves on primary school absenteeism [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 09 September 2011
CHILDREN’S Minister Frances Fitzgerald has asked for a report on the legal status of tens of thousands of children who are outside the law on tackling school absenteeism until they turn six.
The Irish Examiner revealed last week that more than 98% of children are aged four or five up to the start of the second term of junior infants.
Department of Education figures suggest about half the 67,000 pupils who started primary education last week will still not be covered by the Education (Welfare) Act until sometime in 2013.
This means the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is powerless to intervene formally with parents of these children if they are missing school regularly.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Parents suing over teaching of religion being unreasonable, says school board [IrishTimes]
- Published: 09 September 2011
A COUPLE who are intending to sue their child’s former national school over the teaching of religion are being “unreasonable”, the school’s chairman has said.
Ken Kiernan and his partner Alma Carey-Zuniga withdrew their now seven-year-old son from Annacurra national school in Aughrim, Co Wicklow, two years ago, claiming the school did not honour its commitment to exclude him from Catholic teaching.
They intend to take a constitutional challenge against the school and the Department of Education.
Parish priest Fr James Hamill, chairman of the board of management, said it had made attempts to cater for the boy by moving religious instruction to the end of the day so he could be picked up early.
However, the couple’s demands would have excluded the saying of grace before meals, prayers before or after class, nativity plays and carol singing because their child could not be left unsupervised.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Many parents still waiting for back-to-school allowance [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 09 September 2011
Many families still do not know whether they will receive an allowance for the new school year, it has been revealed.
Newstalk reports that more than 36,000 are currently waiting to find out whether they are entitled to the clothing and footwear allowance, which can total up to €305 a year.
This is despite the fact many youngsters have been back in the classroom for more than a week.
Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton explained this year has seen a rise in the number of applicants and that her department is working to deal with these as quickly as possible.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Minister moves on primary school absenteeism [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 09 September 2011
CHILDREN’S Minister Frances Fitzgerald has asked for a report on the legal status of tens of thousands of children who are outside the law on tackling school absenteeism until they turn six.
The Irish Examiner revealed last week that more than 98% of children are aged four or five up to the start of the second term of junior infants.
Department of Education figures suggest about half the 67,000 pupils who started primary education last week will still not be covered by the Education (Welfare) Act until sometime in 2013.
This means the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is powerless to intervene formally with parents of these children if they are missing school regularly.
Its educational welfare officers (EWOs) can only take sanctions against families of pupils aged six to 16 as these are the ages at which the law makes it obligatory to be in education.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
