Advantages

The advantages to using devices in the classroom are numerous. Including the development of much needed 21st century skills, learning through different styles and greater access and inclusion of all learners in the classroom.

21st Century Skills

Technology is not only used as a tool to research and record learning at home and in school but also as a means of developing the key skills needed to live and thrive in the 21st Century. The Key Skills of Junior Cycle developed by the National Council for Curriculum Assessment outlines that “Working with digital technology forms a part of each of these skills” and is embedded into planning and curriculum assessment in all schools. For more information on this, download the NCCA Key Skills of Junior Cycle document.

21st Century skills are essential in the workplace today and educational technology provides the tools to prepare our students to engage meaningfully with the world they live in, to solve problems using critical thinking and to be able to communicate and collaborate with others. 

Blended Learning  

Every student learns differently and the built-in tools for education provided by today’s technology enables learners of all needs and learning styles to access, demonstrate and record their learning in the way that suits them best. 

A blended learning approach incorporating the best practices of traditional teaching and learning with the wealth of multi-media tools, educational platforms and accessibility features provided by technology has been shown to increase student engagement and learning outcomes as well as providing more opportunities for both teachers and students to personalise student learning.

CBAs

Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs) provide students with opportunities to demonstrate their learning and skills in ways not possible in a pen and paper examination, for example, their verbal communication and investigation skills. CBAs will be undertaken in subjects and short courses in Junior Cycle and will be facilitated by the classroom teacher. All students must now complete two classroom-based assessments leading to their Assessment Task (AT) in third year, which is worth 10% of their Junior Cycle results.  

In the statement of the Junior Cycle Reform (May 2015), The Department of Education and Skill outlines the five key principles underpinning the reform of the Junior Cycle. This includes the need to recognise a wide range of learning, to reduce the focus on one terminal exam, to give prominence to classroom-based assessment, to improve collaboration between teachers and to give students and parents a broader picture of each students’ learnings.  

The framework for Junior Cycle outlines many ways in which students should use digital technology to communicate and assess their learning including:

“Use different technologies to plan, manage and engage in my learning” and “Use  technology and digital media tools to learn, communicate, work and think collaboratively and creatively in a responsible, ethical manner”.

Digital technology provides a platform with a vast array of tools built for education to allow students to access, communicate and assess their learning in the way that suits them best. To support this, Wriggle providing tailored training sessions for teachers to educate on best practice in using digital media tools in the classroom.

To learn more about our CBA training for schools, download our CBA flyer here.  

Why Wriggle

With over 30 years’ experience delivering learning solutions to over 300 schools across the country, Wriggle work with each school to help them to choose the technology and devices that best suit their needs. With 6 teachers on staff with a whopping 62 years classroom teaching experience between them, each of our teachers has a vast amount of training and knowledge on integrating the latest technology into the classroom to enhance teaching and learning. 

Our team of teachers, trainers and dedicated education specialists provide guidance and training to schools on how to get the best out of technology for teaching and learning. We would be delighted to work with your school staff to help you successfully integrate technology into the classroom to fulfill your 21st Century learning goals.  

For a further look at one of these 21st Century schools, check out this video made by the PDST on Digital Learning in Le Chéile Secondary School in our Video Guide Section.