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JUNE
- JULY 2007 NEWSLETTER |
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Summer Teacher Courses
 There
are still places available on many of the courses offered by Flúirse
Education Solutions to teachers this summer. We have seven new
courses, each approved by the Department of Education and Science.
All of our courses commence on July 2nd and run until the end of
the summer (August 24th).
This
range of courses was especially selected to enhance teachers' ICT
skills. All courses are approved by the Department of Education
and Science and no previous experience
is necessary to take any of the courses. Teachers will
discover
how to make the most of broadband in the classroom, discover the
latest trends online and learn how to make the most of that
classroom computer
at little or no expense, learn how to design their own school website
for free and safeguard a classroom PC.
All
courses will be delivered online (from Flúirse’s
website) and each is worth 3 EPV days. Continuing to Pioneer
ICT in Education, Flúirse are the only company to offer
Irish Primary School teachers a complete range of courses dealing
exclusively
with the use of ICT in Education.
[click here for more] |
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Independent School Survey
 87%
of schools in Kerry and Cork are unaware that a recent Infrastructure
Grant announced by the Department of Education and Science can be
used to purchase ICT equipment such as new computers and interactive
whiteboards,
according to a recent survey conducted by Marketing students in the
Institute of Technology Tralee in association with Flúirse
Ltd.
After analysing results from the
survey, which was sent to over 1,500
teachers throughout
counties Cork and Kerry, it was clear the overwhelming majority of
schools had never even heard of the Minor Works Grant.
The collaborative study, which initially highlighted the unawareness
among schools, was the largest independent survey of primary schools
ever conducted in Ireland and involved sending 1,500 questionnaires
to schools across Kerry and Cork. Some other very interesting facts
emerged from the results. For example, almost 40% of teachers aged
36 and over
are not confident
in using computers in
the classroom. That is a shocking statistic considering the information
technology age we are currently living in, where the use of computers
is considered common practice in almost all professions.
[click here
for more] |
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Schools' Infrastructure Grant
 The
announcement made last December in a Department of Education Circular
is an amended version of the “Grant Scheme for Minor Works to National School
Properties” which was issued in 2000. Before the revision, the Minor
Works Grant could not be used for purchase of ICT related equipment.
However,
under the revised scheme, funding was made available to all primary schools
with full recognition on the following basis: "EUR 5,500 basic grant
plus EUR 18.50 per mainstream pupil and EUR 74 per special needs pupil
on the rolls
on the 30th September of the year prior to the issue of the grant. (The
EUR 74 rate applies to a special needs pupil attending a special school
or attending
a special class attached to a mainstream school)”. The full circular may be downloaded here (Microsoft Word document)
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Flúirse Awarded
GOGG Contract
 Flúirse
Education Solutions were delighted to be recently awarded a contract
to develop an Interactive Irish Language title by An Chomhairle um
Oideachas Gaeltachta & Gaelscolaíochta (COGG).
COGG was founded under the provisions of Article 31 of the Education
Act of 1998
following a campaign led by Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge,
Gaelscoileanna & Eagraíocht na Scoileanna Gaeltachta to establish
a structure to cater for the educational needs of Gaeltacht schools and of Gaelscoileanna.
Their mission is to "fulfill effectively, professionally and at a high standard
the responsibilities of An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta
for the development of the Gaeltacht and Irish medium sector and the teaching
of Irish in all schools."
Flúirse have already began working on the Interactive Title which should be available
in shops throughout the country from December 2007. |
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Flúirse in the
Press
 Flúirse
Education Solutions was featured across the media over the past few
months as we continue to Pioneer ICT in Education .
RTE Radio 1: Flúirse's founding Directors were interviewed on
RTE Radio 1's The Business recently. You can listen to the
complete interview
here.
Irish Independent: Flúirse were featured on the April edition
of the Irish Independent's Digital Ireland supplement. You can view a copy
of the article here
For more on Flúirse in the Press, visit our the Press Section on the
Flúirse website: www.fluirse.com/press.htm |
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Competition
 Our
competition for this edition of the newsletter, celebrates the launch
of Flúirse's Summer Course Programme on July 2nd 2007.
The first correct
answer to the simple question
below, will
win a copy of "Creating
Web Pages for Dummies" book worth €40 as well as a selection
of free educational software. We are also offering two runner-up
prizes of free educational
software. E-mail your answers now to: competitions@fluirse.com
What is the full name of Flúirse's course, which assists
teachers in developing a website for free? |
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Resources
 Our
featured resource this time won't cost you a penny. OER Commons is
an American website and is the first comprehensive open learning network
where teachers and professors can access their colleagues’ course
materials, share their own, and collaborate on affecting today’s
classrooms. It uses Web 2.0 features (tags, ratings, comments, reviews,
and social networking) to create an online experience that engages
educators in sharing their best teaching and learning practices.
Open Education Resources (OER) are teaching and learning materials
that are freely available online for everyone to use, whether you are
an instructor, student, or self-learner. Examples of OER include: full
courses, course modules, syllabi, lectures, homework assignments, quizzes,
lab and classroom activities, pedagogical materials, games, simulations,
and many more resources contained in digital media collections from
around the world.
To visit the OER Commons website: www.oercommons.org, click here |
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If
you would prefer not to receive any more newsletters from us, please
email the word UNSUBSCRIBE to info@fluirse.com, and we will remove you
from the list immediately. Your details will not be passed on to any
third party. |
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Flúirse
Limited. Registered Office: Tom Crean Business Centre, Tralee, Co. Kerry,
Ireland
Registered in Ireland : Registered No. 405905 Copyright Flúirse Limited
2007 |
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