COMPUTER NEWS 2001

It is exciting, we are in our new school at last!!! The Department of Education have given us lots of new equipment including mobile computer desks and fitted ones in the Library and Resource area.

We are part of a group researching suitable mathematical software with the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) in Dublin City University, in conjunction with the Department of Education. We evaluated @Creative Writer' last year and are evaluating a programme called RM Primary Maths Learning Software, produced by RM Learning Systems in the UK. This company also donated a Buddy Switch and a Switch Box, which it was hoped would enable those who cannot use the keyboard to access the programme. We are very excited to be part of this research group, and will testing and evaluating this software this year. We have also started using 'Clicker4' which we find far more user friendly that 'Clicker 3'

COMPUTER NEWS 1999

We had a very busy term since Easter. We upgraded all the computers that were donated to us, and everybody is enjoying using them in the classrooms. Our two new computers arrived and several new printers.

RM Maths

We had a wonderful visit from Dave Patrick, the International Marketing Manager from RM Learning Systems in England. There are now five classes plus resource using RM Maths. This is a really good, well designed program. It is clear and easy to use and it helps the students with their maths.

Tesco

Many thanks to all who collected tokens for the Tesco Computers for Schools programme. We have again collected enough tokens to get anotherr computer for the school.

Well done everybody!

Software

We have purchased several new software packages over the year which are now in use. We have recently bought some more software, which we will be using next year.

COMPUTER NEWS 1998

What a year we had! For many years now, we have used the excellent BBC and Acorn computers. But in 1998, thanks to our Board of Management, we got six new Gateway Pentium PCs. This meant that all classes had access to a PC. Some wonderful work was produced by all classes.

NEWSFLASH ! ! !

The Fifth Year boys from Gonzaga College who are with us on Wednesdays did a great job raising money towards a new computer for the school. They raised nearly £1,000, and with the help of our Parents’ Association, we will be able to buy a new computer for next year. This was a fantastic feat!

We took part in the Tesco Computers for Schools ’98 promotion. With the help of parents and friends, we collected over 10,000 vouchers. Tesco very kindly donated the balance towards a computer, and we will be getting a Fujitsu Pentium PC as well.

We got a present of a lovely computer table from John and Rosemary Doran. Many thanks for all this help. This is a great start, as we will now be able to have a computer in every class next year. We will continue to look for help in building up our stock of computers and software and assistive technology. We welcome any help, especially in the form of computers/software, where individuals or companies may be upgrading their computer system.

We are now involved in the Schools’ IT 2000 programme. This programme aims to give pupils in every school in Ireland the opportunity to achieve computer literacy, and to equip them for participation in the information society. Teachers will also be given the opportunity to develop their IT skills, and thus utilise ICTs as part of the learning environment of the school.