50 Schools To Participate In Digital Learning Trial

Fifty schools are to participate in a trial of the new Digital Learning Framework, the Minister for Education & Skills, Richard Bruton, has announced.

The Framework provides a roadmap to help schools manage the transformation of teaching and learning as a result of new digital technologies.

The framework will, among other things:

• Help schools and individual teachers to plan how to upskill to realise the potential of digital technologies

• Provide for internal and external evaluation of how digital technologies are being embedded across all aspects of school activity

• Support planning in areas like literacy, numeracy and STEM which require a cross-curricular focus.

The results of this trial will help the Department understand what supports will be required by schools and teachers at all levels to embed digital technologies into teaching and learning. The trial will also help refine the Framework so that it can best assist schools to realise the potential of digital technologies.

Once learnings from the trial have been incorporated into the framework, it will be refined and fully implemented across all schools and teacher education programs. The resource in its current format is still available to schools not participating in the trial to use as they see fit in the meantime.

Over 300 schools registering their interest to participate in the trial – 139 at post-primary level and 176 at primary level. This indicates the level of commitment among educators and school leaders to embrace digital technologies in teaching and learning.

In applying to participate in the trial, schools expressed their reasons for applying, and this was taken in to consideration during the selection process. The recognition at school level of the potential for digital technologies in teaching and learning to improve learner experience and outcome emerged strongly from that exercise.

In announcing the schools to participate in the trial, Minister Bruton said: "The level of interest shown in the trial of the Digital Learning Framework demonstrates the commitment that there is among our educators and school leaders to fully utilise digital technologies in their practice, to make it a seamless part of students' learning.

"We understand that meaningful integration of digital technologies can be challenging to achieve and that schools need guidance and support to achieve it. All too often schools are not clear as to what that integration looks like and therefore are unsure how they can achieve it.

"The Digital Learning Framework resource gives greater clarity around that concept, and provides a lens for how digital technologies can be used to support teaching, learning and assessment in schools.

"This framework is a key action in my Digital Strategy for schools, which sets out how my Department plans to embed digital technology in teaching, learning and assessment and I look forward to seeing the results of this trial."

(MH/JP)