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Smith launches unique laptop initiative at St. Bricin’s College
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Cavan/Monaghan T.D., Mr. Brendan Smith has performed the official launch of a unique laptop computer initiative at St. Bricin’s College, Belturbet.
Under the initiative, all first year students have been provided with their own laptop to allow them to access on-line text books, course materials, teacher’s notes and video clips across the VEC college network.
The initiative is a central part of Transforming Teaching and Learning ICT Plan 2010-2015 developed by St. Bricin’s and is one of the first such e-learning initiatives in an Irish secondary school.
Complimenting Cavan VEC, the Principal of the School Mary Sheridan and the teachers for developing the initiative, Minister Smith said that it was a matter of great pride for St. Bricin’s that it was leading the way in the use of technology and was now a model for other schools to emulate.
“I am particularly impressed with the detailed IT plan prepared by the school. It is an extremely impressive strategy which will allow the students to harness the benefits of e-learning as a means of interacting with the educational process they undertake on a daily basis. The students entering first year in this school have been presented with a wonderful opportunity which will enhance their learning experience and they are very privileged to be part of such a progressive and innovative educational establishment”, the Minister said.
Minister Smith outlined how the St. Bricin’s initiative fits well with the Department of Education & Skills’ ICT in Schools Programme which is in place since 1998, and that last year the new action plan for integrating ICT in schools was published. “As a first step in implementing the recommendations of the new action plan, €22m in ICT grants was issued to primary schools. I understand that a similar amount will be made available to post primary schools shortly. This funding will allow schools like St. Bricin’s and other schools to further enhance the learning experience through the integration of ICT in education”, the Minister further outlined.
In conclusion, Minister Smith again congratulated St. Bricin’s College on becoming a model for other education institutions to follow in how the traditional curriculum can be integrated with best practice e-learning.
