This section contains the professional learning materials and supporting resources which can be used to support individual and school-led professional development across all areas of language learning.
Scoilnet:
Scoilnet is the Department of Education’s official portal for Irish education. The website is managed by Oide Technology in Education on behalf of the DE. Scoilnet collaborates with practising teachers to maintain and manage the content on the website.
Fís Film Project:
An innovative film project for primary schools that explores film and animation as a medium of expression. The FÍS film project was established in 2000 and culminates each year in an Oscars-type ceremony at the Helix in Dublin.
The FÍS Film Project was originally set up as a pilot project in 28 schools by the Institute of Art Design and Technology in Dun Laoghaire. It was subsequently rolled out to all schools nationwide in 2000 with the support of the Department of Education and with the then NCTE (now Oide Technology in Education) as a key partner.
Digital Portfolios:
Oide and Oide TIE coordinates support for schools and teachers engaging with digital portfolios. We have a two digital portfolio toolkits, one for primary teachers and one for post-primary that explore the nature of digital portfolios and contains supports on Formative Assessment; Google Workspace supports; Office 365 supports; Policy & Planning. Oide Digital Technologies Professional Learning Leaders have created separate support webinars and presentations for primary and post-primary which can be viewed in the sub pages above.
Support Material:
Below you will find two key supports:
Digital Portfolio Online Course
The Digital Portfolio Toolkits
Eu Code Week:
EU Code Week is a grassroots initiative which aims to bring coding and digital literacy to schools in a fun and engaging way. The Digital Strategy for schools to 2027 states that “Coding and computational thinking at primary should be integrated across the curriculum as well as creating an explicit space to enable the teaching and learning of the fundamental skills required”.
BRICS (Building a Real-World Integrated Curriculum in STEM)
The BRICS project, involving teachers and children from 14 primary schools in the Midlands region, aims to engage children in 3rd to 6th class in real-world integrated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) learning during the 2024/25 school year, supporting teachers to design learning experiences using programmable LEGO Education robotic materials, to foster confidence, curiosity and criticality in children while addressing real-world challenges.
The BRICS Project (Building a Real-World Integrated Curriculum in STEM) was launched last October at the LEGO Education Innovation Studio on Dublin City University’s St Patrick’s Campus. This project is a collaboration between Oide Digital Technologies (Primary) team and the LEGO Education Innovation Studio team (Dr. Denis Moynihan, Dr. Anne McMorrough, and Emeritus Professor Deirdre Butler) in DCU’s Institute of Education and is also supported by Athlone Education Centre and the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS).
The genesis of this project was the WEAVE Project, a collaboration between Oide, DCU, SETU, Arizona State University and SFI. Through the lens of cultural responsiveness, pupils were challenged to devise a solution to a local problem that they identified. Pupils used Lego WeDo 2.0 and Lego Spike Essential Kits to construct a solution to their problem and subsequently bring their projects to life using block code.
Support Material:
Digital Citizenship Champions (DCC)
The Digital Citizenship Champion (DCC) programme, in collaboration with Webwise is designed to equip primary teachers with essential knowledge, skills, and resources to effectively teach digital citizenship. It focuses on promoting safe, ethical, and responsible online behaviour, covering key areas such as digital literacy, online wellbeing and privacy.
Through four days of professional development, the programme aims to upskill teachers to champion digital citizenship in schools and through their local Education Centre. The first workshop was held in May 2024, with additional workshops planned for November, January, and April during this academic year.
Teachers participating in DCC initiative will facilitate face-to-face workshops their local Education Centre in the evening time or in schools as part of Croke Park hours. These workshops, based on the training provided, will be advertised in the coming months.
DALI4US (Data Literacy for Upper Primary Schools)
DALI4US is an Erasmus+ funded collaborative project with educational partners in Ireland, Slovenia and Luxembourg. The Oide Digital Technologies team is leading the professional learning programme in Ireland. DALI4US (Data Literacy for Upper Primary Schools) aims to equip primary school teachers with the necessary confidence, knowledge, skills, and attitudes to teach data literacy effectively.
By empowering primary school teachers to teach data literacy, we prepare students for the digital age and help them become knowledgeable and engaged citizens in a world focused on data. Through inquiry-based learning experiences, we will explore opportunities to integrate data literacy across the primary curriculum.
Further information available on the DALI4US website.