Next Generation EU Project in Marino School
Marino Community Special School received a grant in 2021 to implement initiatives aimed at addressing the digital divide and support our learners at risk of educational disadvantage as a consequence, as part of the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) a project under the Recovery and Resilience Facility funded by the European Union through NextGenerationEU.
Marino Special School places emphasises on the importance of ensuring that all learners can fully engage with digital technology and develop essential digital skills, to both navigate content and produce content that is meaningful and relevant to their level of need.
This funding was used to purchase ICT infrastructure to target learners at risk of educational disadvantage due to lack of access to relevant digital technologies that facilitate and support their participation, attendance and retention and to ensure equity of access to the curriculum. In accordance with the criteria outlined in circular 0060/2021, Marino School invested in Clevertouch interactive screens in classes, to promote meaningful engagement and promote interaction for students with digital content. Clevertouch interactive screens enhance classroom engagement by providing a dynamic, touch-enabled learning environment for all students. They support interactive lessons, real-time collaboration, and access to a wide range of educational apps and resources. Additional iPads were provided for students to promote engagement in the use of Book Creator and the production of digital content with a range of presentation options to include visual and auditory display, making the literacy experience more inclusive and meaningful for students. This investment in interactive screens and ipads in classes, promoted increased meaningful engagement of students in their interaction with digital content.
Digital Strategy: Progress made on previously-identified improvement targets in Marino School
There was significant progress in the development of and use of digital technologies to support learning in the school.
- Students reported making regular use of digital technology and recognise that it can improve their engagement in their learning.
- Staff observed increased interaction and engagement with use of digital technology in class to motivate students to engage and enhance the learning process.
- There is evidence of teachers making effective use of digital technology in class groups using a differentiated approach, with a range of abilities present.
- The school is equipped with a variety of digital technologies and a stable ethernet network available across the school. The WIFI network required upgrading to enable access for an increased number of users and this was completed in October 2019.
- All teachers make effective use of digital technology in their teaching on a daily basis.
- All teachers use a collaborative digital learning platform where digital evidence for teaching and learning (images, projects, plans, ideas and apps) are shared amongst all staff.
- Increased use of Junior and Senior assemblies to showcase the successful engagement of different classes with digital technology and demonstrate appropriate use of this technology. All data is stored to support progress and achievement of goals.
Staff members achieved the following targets outlined in the Digital Strategy over the period of school closure. The effective use of technology enabled staff and students to remain connected, with positive engagement from the majority of students and their families.
- All teachers made effective use of digital technology in their teaching on a daily basis (Seesaw, Whatsapp, Microsoft Teams video conferencing, Zoom video conferencing, email and phone calls).
- Developed and further promoted collaborative working practice between staff and sharing of expertise.
- Survey effectiveness of communication with students and parents for reporting and sharing of digital information. Survey participants reported positively regarding levels of work provided and levels of student engagement. Some families struggled with the closure and loss of routine, particularly in the Junior classes.
- Staff engaged with continuous professional development in digital technologies and relevant CPD (see above)
- Further investment in suitable resources to support embedding use of digital technologies in teaching and learning.
- Trialled resources and applications to support feedback regarding assessment – Seesaw app was most effective in providing feedback to students and also a means to record engagement and assess work completed. This digital portfolio will remain active for all students and will facilitate the documentation of student progress over time.
Staff engaged in a digital learning evaluation in Marino School, to monitor progress in the achievement of Digital Learning goals and also to gather evidence to identify a baseline for further improvement.
