Telephone : 056-7762150
Fax : 056-7762895
E-Mail : stcanices.ias@eircom.net

http://homepage.eircom.net/~stcanices

Chairperson: Fr. James Murphy
Principal : Mrs Maria Comerford

A Vision for St Canice’s School

• School environment encourages independent ICT use by both teachers and students
• Computers are considered a school resource that students can use to support their work when applicable
• School website is developed and maintained by teachers and students; it focuses on student activities and curriculum resources
• School is involved in ICT projects (national and / or international)
• School is an 'ICT friendly' zone
• ICT is integrated into project-based learning
• Teachers and students use ICT to create digital content, eg project presentations, Web and multimedia authoring, student electronic portfolios
• Students use ICT to collaborate on curriculum activities both within the school and with other schools
• ICT use reinforces existing curriculum activities
• Network of computers distributed throughout the school
• All computers are networked; Internet access is available throughout the school
• Provision is made for the maintenance of computers
• Internet connection via Broadband to most computers
• Software and Internet resources are available for each class / year level; multiple licences are obtained for whole class use
• Digital camera(s) and scanner(s) are used for project and website work
• Provision is made for regular equipment renewal

Objectives of our ICT Policy:

• To help the children in our school to use ICT as a tool for learning
• To familiarise them with ICT
• To provide them with the skills needed to access information
• To provide learning opportunities for them
• To display the children’s work on the school website.
• To develop transferable skills to encourage them to gain confidence to experiment with unfamiliar software
• To gain experience in the following areas of ICT : commuting; handling of information;using graphics; using presentations; using CD ROMs
• To develop critical awareness of ICT within society
• To promote the effective use of ICT in teaching and learning situations, rather than on the acquisition of ICT skills
• To help students acquire their ICT skills (keyboarding, word processing, data handling, etc.) in a curriculum context
• To provide a co-ordinated approach to the acquisition of digital content (CD-ROMs, DVDs and Internet content) so as to ensure that appropriate content is sourced for as many subject areas as possible.
• To assist teachers to use technology to teach more effectively and to assist students to learn more effectively using technology

To support the progression of skills for the pupils we endeavour to :

• expose pupils to the use of ICT in as many subject areas and contexts as possible. This will increase as more confident and begin to extend the incorporation of ICT into their schemes of work.

• Use a wide and expanding range of software and ICT equipment as appropriate, manageable and affordable.

• Encourage pupils to increase their depth of knowledge of software as they gain in confidence.

• Teach pupils to use ICT equipment and software confidently and purposefully to communicate and handle information and to support their problem solving, recording and expressive work.

• Teach pupils to become discerning in their use of ICT, select information, sources and media for their suitability of purpose and to assess the value of ICT in their work practices.

Strategies for ensuring the achievement of ICT policy:

In St Canice’s School we will:

• Expand the use of e-mail and word processing as part of the writing process
• Match students with special needs with the appropriate ICT resources (e.g., assistive technologies)
• Source appropriate software for additional curriculum areas (e.g., Science and Geography)
• Expand the use of content-free software (i.e., word processing, data handling, multimedia authoring and graphics software) to publish student materials
• Expand the existing school Web site to include student-generated content
• Provide access to and encourage the use of computers throughout the chool day
• Display work created using ICT throughout the school

• provide on going suitable training for teachers to enhance their competence and confidence as an educational tool. in the following areas:
• Web site development
• ICT and special needs
• Basic troubleshooting and network management information
• Advanced multimedia authoring (i.e., using digital video, etc.)

• Software support and advice

• make available sufficient networked computers in each classroom.
• .provide suitable resources to support ICT plan.
• ICT will be used as a tool to maximise the effectiveness of the use of learning resources in the school.
• produce a plan to ensure that a full range of school administrative software applications is available to all appropriate staff.
• provide in the future a computer room with a network of computers-one computer between each two pupils

Areas in which ICT will be used in St Canice’s School:

1. Text handling
2. Project Work
3. Information handling:
4. Simulations
5. Sound and graphics: Music and the Visual Arts
6. Language
7. Mathematics
8. Environmental studies
9. Religious/moral education

Activities we will use to develop computing abilities in the above areas

Text handling:
Use of word processors to compose, edit and revise text.

Project Work:
Powerpoint will be used by pupils to display projects in all areas of the curriculum

Information handling:
Use of databases, spreadsheets, word processors, graph plotting to store, analyse and display information.
Simulations
Use of simulation software and consideration of the benefits and limitations of this method of learning.
Sound and graphics: Music and the Visual Arts
Use of computer systems to compose and play music, use of drawing and design packages in the visual arts.

Impact and value of ICT Learning about and discussing the applications of compute software from their own uses and by considering uses outside school.
Language
Generation of text, editing and revising text, composition of pages, booklets, news sheets and reports, sending and retrieving e mail, developing awareness of use of new technologies in mass media.
Mathematics
Using spreadsheets and other generic packages to solve numerical problems, using computers to investigate patterns, carrying out investigations and problem solving activities based upon computer simulations.

Environmental studies
Using word processors to produce a report, using database to store, process and retrieve information, using spreadsheets to store, analyse and interpret data, using simulations to investigate scientific and technological process, geographical phenomena, and historical events; investigating andconsidering the effects of new technologies.

Religious/moral education
Using word processors to generate text; develop an appreciation of the ethical and moral issues associated with the use of computers.

St Canice’s Co-Ed N.S.

Internet Acceptable Use Policy

The aim of this Acceptable Use Policy is to ensure that pupils will benefit from learning opportunities offered by the school’s Internet resources in a safe and effective manner.
Internet use and access is considered a school resource and privilege.Therefore, if the
school AUP is not adhered to this privilege will be withdrawn and appropriate sanctions –as outlined in the AUP – will be imposed.
It is envisaged that school and parent representatives will revise the AUP annually. Before signing, the AUP should be read carefully to indicate that the conditions of use are accepted and understood.

School’s Strategy

The school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning
opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet.These strategies are as
follows:
General
• Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
• Filtering software and/or equivalent systems will be used in order to minimise the
risk of exposure to inappropriate material.Zone Alarm is currently in use
• The school will regularly monitor pupils’ Internet usage.
• Students and teachers will be provided with training in the area of Internet safety.
• Uploading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted.
• Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis. Sophus is used at the moment.
• The use of personal floppy disks or CD-ROMs in school requires a teacher’s
permission.
• Students will observe good “netiquette” (i.e., etiquette on the Internet) at all
times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.

World Wide Web
• Students will not visit Internet sites that contain obscene, illegal, hateful or
otherwise objectionable materials.
• Students will use the Internet for educational purposes only.
• Students will be familiar with copyright issues relating to online learning.
• Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.
• Students will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving
information, school-related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity,
security and/or network management reasons.

Email
• Students will use approved class email accounts under supervision by or
permission from a teacher.
• Students will not send or receive any material that is illegal, obscene, defamatory
or that is intended to annoy or intimidate another person.
• Students will not reveal their own or other people’s personal details, such as
addresses or telephone numbers or pictures.
• Students will never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone.
• Students will note that sending and receiving email attachments is subject to
permission from their teacher.

Internet Chat
• Students will only have access to chat rooms, discussion forums or other
electronic communication forums that have been approved by the school.
• Chat rooms, discussion forums and other electronic communication forums will
only be used for educational purposes and will always be supervised.
• Usernames will be used to avoid disclosure of identity.
• Face-to-face meetings with someone organised via Internet chat will be forbidden.

School Website
• Pupils will be given the opportunity to publish projects, artwork or school work
on the World Wide Web.
• The publication of student work will be co-ordinated by a teacher.
• Pupils’ work will appear in an educational context on Web pages with a copyright
notice prohibiting the copying of such work without express written permission.
• Digital photographs, audio or video clips of individual students will not be
published on the school website. Instead photographs, audio and video clips will
focus on group activities.Video clips may be password protected.
• Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be
omitted from school web pages.
• Pupils will continue to own the copyright on any work published.
Legislation
The school will provide information on the following legislation relating to use of the
Internet which teachers, students and parents should familiarise themselves with:
• Child Trafficking and Pornography Bill 1997
• 1993 Interception Act
• Video Recordings Act 1989
• The Data Protection Act 1988
Support Structures
The school will inform students and parents of key support structures and organisations that deal with illegal material or harmful use of the Internet.
Sanctions
Misuse of the Internet may result in disciplinary action, including written warnings,
withdrawal of access privileges and, in extreme cases, suspension or expulsion.
The school also reserves the right to report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities.

Appendix 1

1. In St Canice’s School , all computers are networked. Internet access is available in every classroom through a server situated in the resource room. An ISDN line is used at the moment but this will change shortly to Broadband usage. Computer policy is co-ordinated by an ICT committee made up of Peter Nolan the ICT Co-ordinator, another member of staff and a member of the Board of Management.
2. The ICT Co-ordinator regularly monitors all usage of the internet in the school by means of History files, Temporary Internet Files, cache files and cookies.
3. When accessing the World Wide Web the school uses search engines which have been designed for students with internet safety in mind
4. Anti-virus software has been installed on all computers and is updated regularly.
5. Each class has its own e-mail address which provides students with a degree of anonymity
6. One computer in the school is allocated for chat room use. Chat room usage is always supervised by the ICT co-ordinator.
7. Editorial responsibility for the school web site rests with the ICT Co-ordinator

Appendix 2

Current Hardware Provision ( as of 30/03/04)

Room Teacher OS Processor RAM
Mb Hard Drive (Gb) CD ROM Printer
14 Mrs Sheehan Win 98 AMD Duron 246 37.2 x52 DJ710C
14 Ms Kennedy Win 98 AMD Duron 246 37.2 x52
16 Mr Hanrick Win 98 Celeron 64 8 x36 DJ710C
15 Mr Crowley Win98 AMD Duron 248 37.2 x52 DJ710C
13 Mr Nolan Win 98 PII MMX 56 8 50 DJ 840C
11 Ms O’Neill Win 98 PII MMx 64 3.99 x36 DJ710C
10 Mr Roberts Win 98 PII MMX 64 4 36 DJ 610C
12 Mrs Doheny Win 98 PII MMX 64 4 36 DJ 600
9 Ms O’Brien Win 98 PII MMX 64 4 DVD DJ 710C
17 Mrs Comerford Win 98 PII MMX 64 4 32 DJ 710C
8 Mrs Gannon Win 98 P3 128 6.2 x36 DJ3820
7 Mrs Mc Phillips Win 98 PII MMx 56 8 50
5 Sr Brigid Win 98 PII MMX 64 4 36 DJ 610C
6 Ms Lowe Win 98 PII MMX 64 4 36 DJ 610C
4 Ms O’Mahony Win 98 PII MMX 64 4 36
3 Ms Kissane Win 95 PI 16 1.6 x4
1 Ms O’Reilly Win 95 PI 16 2
2 Ms O’Leary Win 98 Celeron 32 4 32
21 Learning Support Win 98 P2 MMX 56 8 x50
21 Learning Support Win 98 P2 MMX 56 8 x50
20 Resource Room 1 Win 98 P III 256 80 x50 DJ1125C

Appendix 3

Current Software Provision

The way things work 10 out of 10 English History of the World 2
10 out of 10 Essential English 10 out of 10English Chronicle of the 20th Century
10 out of 10 Essential English 10 out of 10 Maths Number Chronicle Encyclopaedia of History
10 out of 10 Essential Maths 10 out of 10 Junior Essentials Children’s Encyclopaedia
Talking tables Crayola Magic 3D Colouring Book Encarta Encyclopaedia
Millie’s Maths House Snap Dragon Exploring Castles
Mighty Maths Carnival Countdown Thinking Things Collection 1 Nelson and his Navy
Clicker 4 The Ultimate Human Body Industrial Revolution
Geoaze Seashore Life
Vocabulary Worksheet Looking for Vikings
Photoimpact
Dreamweaver

Staff Details:

Number of Staff: 24

Familiar with ICT Competent in use of ICT In need of training Willing to upskill

Note:

This plan was initially prepared in Jan 2001.
This is an update of the plan. This update was prepared by Peter Nolan in October 2003, discussed by the staff at their meeting on Friday , October 25, presented to the parents on and ratified by the Board of Management in November2003