I would like to warmly welcome the Government initiative "Switch On" announced by
Minister for Communications, Pat Rabbitte
T.D.
“Switch On” is
a Government initiative under the National Digital Strategy and is
being undertaken in partnership between the Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the Department of
Education and Skills.
The workshops will focus on how schools
can take advantage of digital tools and online education resources to
improve the teaching & learning experience. Schools will be
provided with useful information and case studies as well as signposting
to further resources to help them to harness the potential of digital
in the school setting.
Speaking at the launch event in Monaghan, Minister Rabbitte said:
“The Action Plan for Jobs and the
National Digital Strategy underline the importance of ensuring young
people are equipped with the skills required for the modern economy. My
Department and the Department of Education and Skills are funding an
ambitious programme that will see 100Mbps broadband connectivity
delivered to every second level school in Ireland by the beginning of
the 2014-2015 school year, at a cost of over €30m. This is a key
investment in future employment and employability as it feeds into the
development of a more ICT literate workforce.
Digital technologies and the internet
enable us all to access a richer source of media and learning. When
schools take advantage of this, the educational experience for students
and teachers alike is improved.”
Commenting on the rollout of the workshops, Minister Rabbitte added:
“The Switch-On workshops are designed
to build on our investment in fast, reliable connectivity by helping
teachers to make optimum use of technology in the classroom. Even more
crucially we need to ensure that our teachers can seize the
opportunities and are empowered to build the digital future in our
schools. The forward looking schools and teachers here today are looking
to grasp those opportunities. Digital, used smartly, can be a real
asset both in teaching as well as in efficient school administration.
Of course there will be wider benefits too – because schools are at the
heart of our communities – and their digital achievements permeate out
and enrich the communities around them.”
Over 30 schools from 6 counties,
representing an enrolment of over 14,000 students are participating in
the initial “Switch-On” workshops - the first of which are being held
this month in the education centres in Donegal, Mayo and Monaghan.
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