GOREY’S STUDENTS SHOW OFF THEIR TECH ABILITIES
TWO of Gorey’s most wellknown schools have focussed attention on producing some of the most technically proficient second-level students in the country.
Gorey Community School and Creagh College have positioned themselves to be national leaders in the area of digital engagement through partnerships with local technology hubs and did so to coincide with Gorey being named Ireland’s Digital Town for 2018.
Gorey hosted national Internet Day last week, which was aimed at acknowledging the digital transformation of the town.
Creagh College is a fully iPad-based school, where students create new and exciting ideas in the world of IT including their own VPNs, apps and in some cases automated systems.
To date the school’s students have produced timed reaction games, created their own bleep tests, made weather stations, GAA score counters and mockup traffic light systems for the town.
All the classrooms are essentially computer labs and staff share fully interactive resources with the students.
Commenting on new programmes offered in the school Computer Science teacher, Tony McGrath, said: ‘We are already offering the new Leaving Certificate Computer Science course where students cover a vast quantity of computational concepts including programming in Python, JavaScript and HTML, analytics, robotics, data mining, networks and embedded systems.’
In addition, Creagh College offers an Embedded Systems module to Transition Year students and this will also be phased in for all students.
‘This involves programming Raspberry Pi and BBC Microbit and comprises programming, technology, robotics and artificial intelligence,’ said Mr McGrath.
‘Students build and develop a range of physical computing devices such as line-following robots, motion activated alarm systems, and environmental interactive systems,’ he added.
Mr McGrath said the module is a great way for pupils to understand how inputs and outputs work.
After-school coding and technology clubs are also provided.
Both schools have also seen a significant rise in students’ interest in third-level STEM courses.
A unique IT hub has been created in Gorey Community School and both facilities are among the first schools nationally to teach computer science as a subject.
They also have links with local companies and that has given the pupils the opportunity to accelerate their own IT skills.
The Educate to Innovate fund set up by technology company Innovate was utilised to assist with the setting up of the computer science lab in Creagh College and the IT Hub in Gorey Community School.
Part of the pilot Digital Learning Framework Programme, the school’s integrated digital plan is seen as a template for schools all over the country.
All of the staff and students are connected through the Microsoft Office 365 for Business platform which the school says has transformed teaching and learning there.
‘The Educate to Innovate Student Hub is an amazing student-only space where small groups of students can meet, collaborate, create and learn,’ said Brendan O’Sullivan, the school’s IT Coordinator and Digital Technology Leader.
‘Innovate’s investment in the school feeds into Gorey’s vision of connecting local businesses, schools and community organisations to provide for a growing technology-based town where people can opt to de-commute and work in their own area,’ he added.
Mr O’Sullivan said that in addition to the advice and support offered through the Hatch Lab the pupils also benefit from coding programmes run by IT Tallaght.
Mr O’Sullivan is due to attend the Erasmus eTwinning Conference in Poland this week which will provide an opportunity for Gorey Community School to work with others throughout Europe on eProjects in language, culture, history, geography and IT.
Gorey Chamber is also closely involved in the tie-up between the schools and general digital infrastructure and that was emphasised by the CEO of Gorey Chamber, Diarmuid Devereux: ‘We have set out a 30-year strategy for Gorey with education at its heart.’