Jennifer Kelly is a Science, Maths and Coding teacher in Presentation Secondary School Warrenmount. Advocating for improving gender balance in S.T.E.M. and combating educational disadvantage, she holds a PhD in Music analysis and a recent MEd in Mathematics Education.
Neil Butler
Python is an incredibly powerful programming language – it is currently one of the languages on the LCCS (Leaving Certificate Computer Science) specification. This workshop will give participants strategies and practices to introduce their students to collecting live data from websites via web-scraping using Python. We will look at both simple text scraping and dynamic web scraping with Selenium and how they can be brought to your computer science classroom.
Neil Butler is currently an Advisor for Leaving Certificate Computer Science with the PDST, seconded from North Wicklow Educate Together Secondary School. He is a maths and SEN teacher with interests in technology for the creative arts and making, in particular the creation of generative and algorithmic art.
John Heffernan
The Google Certified Coach programme Teacher Center | Programs | Certified Coach Program | Google for Education is designed for one-on-one interactions with educators to transform how they use technology in their classrooms. The programme provides free training and resources that equip coaches to support educators in planning and implementing technology-rich learning experiences based on a coaching cycle. It has a number of differences compared to the Google Trainer programme. I will go through my (long) Google Certified Coach pandemic-inspired journey.
John Is a Technology Enhanced Learning Coordinator for a medium-sized school district in Ireland. John was the first Google Certified Innovator and coach. His introduction to coaching was in Albemarle County Public Schools, Virginia where he worked as a Learning Technology Integrator and worked closely with the county’s Instructional Coaches within the school district. John worked in IT for 4 years before he became a teacher and has worked as a Project Officer for the Irish government agency responsible for technology in education. He has also worked as a teacher educator in a number of teacher education colleges.
Digital Citizenship : What is it and why do we need to know about it?
Pam O’Brien & Natasha Kiely
In this session Pam and Natasha will share the findings from an SFI Funded Project on Digital Citizenship. The project engaged with students, teachers, parents, and youth group participants exploring the various aspects of digital citizenship. Escape Room pedagogies were used in the project to provide an engaging environment for participants. During the session you will also get an opportunity to explore some of the resources produced during the project.
Pam and Natasha are lecturers in the Information Technology Department on the Thurles campus of the Technological University of Shannon. Both presenters have more than 20 years experience of lecturing at third level combined with engagement with students and teachers in primary and secondary schools in their region. This wealth of expertise and experience gives them a unique perspective on many aspects of education.
In my presentation I would like to discuss my ongoing Ph.D. research which is based on the digital competence of 3rd level students entering an initial teacher education programme. I would like to explore my literature review to date and seek questions and feedback from the participants.
Annette is a lecturer in Digital Technology in Mary Immaculate College where she works with student teachers to enhance their understanding of the place of ICT in teaching, learning and assessment. Annette is former Deputy Director of the Professional Development Service for Teachers. She has designed and delivered many technology based summer courses through her work with the PDST and Limerick Education Centre.
Teaching AI in the year of Chat GPT
Laurence Cuffe
I teach a introductory level course on AI to adult students who are pursuing basic computer skills as part of the ICDL.
As part of their course we decided to offer a module on AI, which we use as a platform for covering a very broad agenda on computers in society, covering such topics as big data, the internet of things, algorithmic discrimination, and finding an ethical basis for computer use.
In this talk I will describe my approach to such a broad curriculum and our use of tools such as ChatGPT, and Dall-E 2.
Laurence is an Adult educator, teaching mostly in Bray with KWETB. He started programming computers when punched cards were cutting edge, and took his first course in AI in 1983. He has a Masters in Applied eLearning and a PhD in Computational Chemistry, and loves science. He currently teaches math, computer programming, graphic design, and AI.
Technology is no longer a privilege
Sandani Luvhengo
Growing up, I did not have the privilege to study computer science or information technology in school due to a number of reasons i.e., studying in the rural, no teachers with computer science and technology background or resources. However, when I completed my final year in secondary, I went on and studied computer science at the university of Pretoria and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in computer science (specifically computer science education) at the same institution (remotely as I am living in Ireland).
I used to believe that only if you need to work in the technology field, you need to study ICT related degrees. This is no longer the case as we have seen the way in which technology is transforming and shaping the economy across the world.
I am Sandani Luvhengo, born and bred in South Africa. I moved to Ireland in 2022 to join one of the auditing firms in their technology risk division. I hold a degree in computer science, Masters in ICT and I am currently pursuing my Ph.D. in the computer science education field. I have a foundation that aims to educate, empower and mentor students who are studying towards any ICT related degrees. This year, I would also like to join one of the schools to talk about computer science and pursuing them to join the ICT space.
The Cyber Threat is growing at an alarming rate due in part to rapid advances in technology and its adoption by industry and consumers and also due to the ever increasing sophistication of cyber attackers and their methods.
Schools have an increasing reliance on IT and online systems which makes them vulnerable to attack and hence makes cyber security an important consideration. A successful cyber attack can cause major damage; it can affect your operational effectiveness as well as your reputation and parent/student trust. The impact of a security breach can be critical from a financial, reputational and legal perspective. Addressing the problem is the responsibility of school management.
This talk will focus on the nature of the threat to schools, students and staff or vice versa, the types of threats, who the attackers are and discuss steps that should be taken by schools to prevent and respond to such attacks.
Tom Davis is a Lecturer in the IT Department of TUS Midwest based in Thurles. He currently lectures on the B.Sc Degree in Data Analytics and Cyber Security and the B.Sc degree in Games Design and Development. Tom has extensive experience in IT, particularly in software development and most recently in cyber security. Prior to lecturing he spent almost twenty years in the Defence Forces where he worked in the IT Section on varied systems as a software developer, analyst and project manager. He is passionate about Cyber Security and in particular its impact on business. He holds the Certified Ethical Hacker qualification from EC Council.
Digital Transformation of Education
Bernie Goldbach
An increasing use of digital tools has reshaped education through improvements in personalised learning. Tools like Otter.ai now summarise feedback sessions, providing students with customised learning experiences. Game design elements inside Socrative have made learning more engaging and interactive. Interactive activities help students learn difficult concepts and make learning fun.
On the Clonmel Digital Campus, students often listen to authors of essential readings before checking out the books written by those thought leaders. ChatGPT can serve as tutors during lab sessions as students cut code and enhance project work. Microsoft Copilot, now running as Bing AI inside Office 365, has improved collaboration and cross-checking of team submissions.
Bernie Goldbach is a third level educator at the Technological University of the Shannon. He teaches creative media, digital animation, and game art design students in Honours Degree programmes. He also teaches Digital Transformation in the MA Degree for Creative Leadership at TUS.ie. Find him @topgold on Old Skool social networks or @educasting@mastodon.ie
Eugene McDonough
ICT is an ever-changing landscape, and it can feel almost impossible to keep up with it all.
IT Systems will be hosting a Q&A session, so come chat to us about your ICT queries and concerns.
Eugene has been involved in the CoderDojo community since he co-founded CoderDojo Limerick in 2011 and started the DojoCon series of conferences in 2013. He returned from the CoderdDojo Foundation to IT Systems in 2016 to support their Education client base across Ireland.
This workshop will investigate the role of the early years learning and care environment in promoting curiosity. Children enjoy exploring, interacting and investigating the space around them. This workshop will delve into the opportunities provided within a quality inclusive learning environment that provide the skills for children to navigate technology – while also looking at some of the resources than can support Early Years Educators in reflecting on and developing relevant knowledge and skills to integrate technology as part of their practice.
Ashling Sheehan Boyle is an Assistant Lecturer and Programme lead of BA Early Years Education & Care in TUS Department of Sport & Early Childhood on the Thurles Campus. Currently lecturing on the full-time programme in Thurles and on the flexible learning level 7 & 8 programme. Having worked in the early year’s education and care, youth work, family support and national and regional quality development initiatives. Ashling is passionate about developing and nurturing quality services for children and young people; promoting quality inclusive learning experiences through play and interactions particularly through creative arts and outdoor play. Lifelong learning is often a result of early years experiences therefore quality innovative experiences are key to nurturing curiosity throughout life.
A group of teachers in Limerick and Clare ETB were tasked with rebuilding face-to-face courses and modules and identifying opportunities in these courses for online asynchronous and blended learning delivery.
Three or four teachers from this project will present and discuss how we used backward design, wireframing, Finding free source content and other hints and tips for making blended learning as interactive as possible.
The difficulties that they faced, in building the courses, including getting to grips with new technologies, creative commons licensing laws, and finding the time needed to get the work done. The end results of the project and plans going forward.
The Blended learning secondment group are a pilot group formed from teachers and the LCETB TEL support services. Tasked with creating online blended and asynchronous modules ranging between QQI level 3 and level 6. The first iteration of this group is coming to a close and they have worked on restructuring 8 modules for this project. The project will be ongoing for a number of years as there have been around 200 courses earmarked for this process.
Hanorah Lyons is the Blended and Online Learning Officer with Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. She has a background in teaching, curriculum design, ICT and quality assurance. She is currently managing the implementation of blended and online learning into Limerick and Clare ETB.
Ana Marques is an experienced FET Educator with LCETB. With over 40 years of teaching experience across three countries, Ana is a true example of life-long learning. Before settling in Ireland in 1995, Ana was a teacher and a Head of Studies at a language school, working with university students from the U.S., and also in the E.S.O.L. department. Once in Ireland, she started her own business working with children with learning difficulties. Ana has taught varied modules and levels over the years in Clare and Limerick from the early 2000s and, since last year, her full focus is on Further Education. As a TEL Champion (former Moodle Champions), Ana has been recognised for her blended learning approach since the start of the pandemic. She has also been working on the Subject Matter Expert Panel, helping to stablish standards in the teaching of languages. Ana is a Workshop Facilitator and an External Authenticator. She is a guest in the European Digital Education hub. Her major interests in education include brain research, the teaching of languages and innovation in education. Her latest project has been working with colleagues on the Blended Learning Design Secondment since last September.