Digital Strategy for Schools
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DIGITAL STRATEGY FOR SCHOOLS – ENHANCING TEACHING, LEARNING & ASSESSMENT<br />
system to engage in innovative and evidence-based research programmes that meet ICT policy<br />
priorities will be considered. The Department has already taken the initiative to investigate and<br />
experiment with the use of ICT in areas such as assessment by leading the EUfolio Project 44 and it is<br />
anticipated that such initiatives will be expanded during the lifetime of the strategy.<br />
Engagement with the Irish third-level sector, further education and the international academic<br />
community, can also improve our collective understanding about how best to embed ICT in<br />
education. The <strong>Strategy</strong> will seek to support colleges of education and other organisations such as<br />
the Department-funded support services to conduct relevant research that will assist in furthering<br />
our understanding of this complex area. The adoption of such an evidence-led approach to ICT<br />
integration will assist the Department in implementing in<strong>for</strong>med policy decisions that will ultimately<br />
improve our overall education system.<br />
ETHICAL AND SAFE USE OF THE INTERNET AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES<br />
Multiple submissions, particularly from parents/guardians and young people, commented on the<br />
issue of safe, critical and ethical use of the internet and it was reported that some schools have<br />
not engaged in using the internet because of concerns over issues such as internet safety. This<br />
was further supported by recent research from the OECD (2015) and the <strong>Strategy</strong> recognises the<br />
importance of providing relevant advice to schools in this area.<br />
Central to promoting the autonomous, effective, and safer use of the internet by young people<br />
is a strong commitment to changing behaviour through a sustained in<strong>for</strong>mation and awareness<br />
strategy targeting parents, teachers, and children and young people themselves. Homes and<br />
schools play a crucial role in promoting good practice in preventing and coping with inappropriate<br />
use of the internet. It is important that schools constantly review their policies and procedures<br />
regarding acceptable internet use, internet safety, digital identity and data protection in the context<br />
of their whole-school policies and planning. The issues involved in allowing learners to use their<br />
own personal digital devices in teaching and learning will require further exploration and evaluation.<br />
44<br />
EUfolio (http://www.eufolio.eu)<br />
38