CBS Primary, New Ross. ICT Policy

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1 ICT Policy Mission Statement As well as being an important educational resource, the ability to use ICT effectively is a vital life skill in modern society. Our aim is to produce learners (pupils and staff) who are confident and effective users of ICT. We strive to achieve this aim by: Helping all staff and pupils to explore the learning resources provided by ICT Helping all children to use ICT with purpose and enjoyment Helping all children to develop the necessary skills to exploit ICT Helping children to become autonomous users of ICT Using ICT to develop partnerships beyond the school NOTE: ICT is not seen as another school subject but rather as a tool to enhance teaching and learning. Why does our school require ICT? 1. To provide the best possible education for all our pupils 2. To provide a powerful and up to date teaching resource for all our teachers 3. To allow for more effective administration 4. To help provide more effective communication with staff and parents 5. To communicate with teachers and pupils in europe and further afield 6. To prepare children for life in a technologically advanced world. To what use will ICT be put? 1. School Administration 2. School Attendance Tracking 3. Research software e.g. Encarta Encyclopaedia 4. Adventure games that stimulate higher order thinking skills and problem solving 5. Word Processing of children s work 6. Research on the internet 7. Communication via 8. Music composition and digital recording 9. Special Needs pupils. 10. Learning Support 11. Displaying the work of pupils through school blogs, web page, etc. Current Infrastructure In keeping with our mission, we perceive computers being used as a tool of teaching and learning in each classroom. Therefore, we have supplied each classroom with a laptop (teacher use ), interactive whiteboard and projector, scanner, and main frame computer. All computers are networked. All new classroom computers purchased to have Open Office installed. All teacher laptops have Office 2010 installed. The school has purchased a full licence. The principal s office and secretary s office are also equipped with a PC and colour printer. 1 P a g e

2 There are two digital cameras in the school for use by the classes - an SLR (Available from the principal and a Compact Digital Camera available from the secretary. Digital sound recorder (Zoom Recorder) Set of 25 ipod Touches with Synching box. Current Software Provision The school has acquired a comprehensive library of computer software. Software is stored in the class that it is appropriate to and listed on that class inventory. General IT books and CDs are stored in staff room Computer installation software are stored in the principal s office, We now have a number of computer software programs. These include: o Wordshark (installed on all classroom computers ) o Lexia o Kurtsweil o Mathletics (Every pupil in the school has been given an account) o imovie o Graphic Converter o Garageband o Audacity o iphoto ipod Touch Programme The school has invested heavily in the purchase of a classroom set of ipod Touches. These are intended for use as an educational tool. It is hoped that they will : Assist pupils in learning how and where to find information Help to develop the pupils skills of analysing and recounting information. Encourage curiosity and excitement in learning about the world Assist in encouraging co-operative learning Provide opportunities for group discussion and research Allow each individual pupil to access his Mathletics programme account on a regular basis. 2 P a g e Give pupils first hand experience in using technology. Allow pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds access technology and the many resources on the internet. ipod Action Plan 1. Every class will have two sessions per week of one hour duration. 2. In each session, 20 minutes of time will be used on the Mathletics programme. 3. In each session, 20 minutes of time will allocated to research. (Google,etc. on specific topics) 4. In each session 20 minutes of time will allocated to educational apps. 5. As a starting point, each teacher can choose 2 educational apps for purchase and download. 6. Teachers are encouraged to find and recommend further educational apps which can also be downloaded. 7. ipods should be counted at the beginning and at the end of each session. 8. Any pupil who mistreats his ipod or who does not cooperate with the class rules during ipod time, will lose his privilege for a minimum of two sessions. 9. Training will be provided by NET Communications at a staff meeting after school.

3 10. Pupils should only be given very limited training in the use of the ipod and it is envisaged that they will learn through discovery and experimentation and communicating to each other (cooperative learning) ICT Co-ordination The principal, Brian MacMahon, co-ordinates ICT. Any IT faults which cannot be rectified by hardware user are to be reported to the secretary who will contact Mick Duggan. Anti-virus Protection is installed on all computers with access to broadband. Special Needs Computers and printer are provided in the learning support rooms, and resource rooms, as we recognise the potential of ICT to enhance the learning opportunities for pupils with special needs. Children with specific writing, reading and numeracy needs are using ICT to provide alternative and complementary educational experiences. Laptops and specialised keyboards are also provided where appropriate. Exceptional Students ICT is used in all classrooms to challenge and extend the educational opportunities for pupils with above average attainment. School Website The school hosts a website at Every class has its own blog and teachers are encouraged to blog re their own classroom activities as a literacy aid. School newsletters and other news items will regularly be added to the web site School policies that are relevant to parents will also be added to this site. School photo albums will be regularly added to the site. It is school policy NOT to name pupils in photographs on the web site. 3 P a g e

4 Digital Media / Acceptable Use Policy The CBS primary has interactive whiteboards and internet access in all classrooms. The internet is filtered by the National Centre for Technology in Education and therefore NO unacceptable material should be accessible. Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher. Uploading and downloading of non-approved software will not be permitted. Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis. The use of personal CD-ROMs in school requires a teacher s permission. 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 never disclose or publicise personal information. Students will use approved class 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 they only know through s or the internet. Students will note that sending and receiving attachments is subject to permission from their teacher. Internet Chat will only be used in the context of a school project with another school and will be fully supervised by the class teacher. 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. Digital photographs, audio and video clips will focus on group activities. Pupils whose photographs appear on the web page will not be named. Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be omitted from school web pages. Legislation The school will comply with the following legal requirements: Data Protection (Amendment) Act 2003 Child Trafficking and Pornography Act 1998 Interception Act 1993 Video Recordings Act 1989 The Data Protection Act 1988 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 will report any illegal activities to the appropriate authorities. 4 P a g e

5 5 P a g e CBS Primary, New Ross