Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Policy

St. Cronan's e-Learning Vision Statement In St. Cronan's, everyone gets opportunities to succeed in a creative and safe digital environment. Aims: In St. Cronans we aim: To use ICT as an effective and efficient teaching, learning, communication and management tool throughout the school. To continuously improve the ICT skills of students and staff. To enable all pupils and staff to be confident, competent and independent users of ICT. To provide access to high quality ICT resources and support for staff and students. To motivate and inspire pupils and raise standards. To develop knowledge, skills and attitudes that will enable the child to use ICT to support his learning in appropriate ways. To enable the child to acquire and apply ICT skills in the attainment of appropriate curriculum objectives across the range of subjects. To enable the child to experience a wide range of ICT tools and resources in relevant curriculum contexts. To encourage the child to use ICT critically and creatively and to be discriminating in the selection, analysis and presentation of information. To enable the child to gain hands-on experience of a range of available technologies and to explore their potential in the classroom. To foster confidence in the use of ICT through enjoyable collaborative learning experiences in which each child can experience success. To raise the childs awareness of the significance and impact of modern technology on the social, economic, cultural and other dimensions of society. To develop an appreciation of the use of ICT in the context of the wider world. To enrich learning and promote both autonomous study and group work. To develop pupils ability to use ICT appropriately and choose software suitable for a particular task. To provide opportunities for all students to further their own learning in all subjects through the use of ICT. To develop ICT skills through curriculum contexts. To encourage problem-solving and investigative work. To foster group work, sharing and collaboration between peers. To use ICT to develop partnerships beyond the school. To celebrate success in the use of ICT. To care for and respect equipment. To share resources.

St. Cronans B.N.S.

Rationale St. Cronans recognizes the importance of equipping all students for a future in which technological awareness and ICT skills are of the utmost importance. We believe that ICT can play a key role in furthering the teaching and learning in our school, and we are committed to keeping our school at the forefront of digital learning. Internet Access Internet access is planned to enrich and extend learning activities and is an integrated part of the teaching and learning across all curriculum areas in St. Cronans. Pupils receive guidance when using the Internet and its use is supervised. The Acceptable Usage Policy is displayed in the computer room. Pupils are taught what is acceptable and what is unacceptable. Pupils are encouraged to report immediately any offensive materials which they may access, to a responsible adult. They are given clear objectives for Internet use. To guard against accidental access to materials which are inappropriate we access the Internet by means of the Schools Broadband programme which applies filtration to internet content. Further details are available in our Internet Safety and Acceptable Usage Policy. ICT Skills to be fostered In St. Cronans, we believe that it is of the utmost importance that ICT skills be fostered in our pupils. To this end, we will follow the basic guidelines as outlined in the Revised ICT Framework - A Structured Approach to ICT in the Curriculum and Assessment published by the NCCA in November 2007 (see Appendix XI). Some of the skills to be learned are outlined below: First & Second Class: Be able to turn on and off (shut down) the computer Insert and eject discs and CDs Manipulate mouse and keyboard Become familiar with basic computer terms monitor, keyboard, mouse, enter, return, space bar, delete Understand the use of basic function keys caps, space, delete, fada etc Format text e.g. Change to bold, underline etc Change fonts and font size Print and save their work Use drop-down menus and select function Integrate with reading words such as enter/click/double-click/delete/return Curriculum integration reading and writing (word processing), maths, spelling, tables etc. Third to Sixth Classes: Keyboard skills File management Editing Word processing Spread sheets Printing Use of USB storage devices

 Use internet for information gathering Use of Email. Running/loading software. ICT in the Primary School Curriculum In St. Cronans, we believe the ICT has a huge role to play in the teaching and learning of all areas of the Primary School Curriculum. Elements of ICT are integrated into all subjects of the curriculum, to empower our pupils to learn by interacting with a wide variety of media. Particular focus is given to our Online Learning Zone. Online Learning Zone Edulinks Our school has a dedicated Online Learning Zone called Edulinks. This subdomain of our school website is a collection of the best possible resources from across the internet, which have been selected by our teachers for use by the pupils to further their learning. This resource forms the basis of much of the childrens work during their dedicated time in the computer room each week, and is also used by teachers in the classroom. St. Cronans informs parents that their children will have access to the Edulinks resources at home. Our Online Learning Zone is regularly updated to reflect new and timely topics that are being discussed in classes. The ICT Co-ordinator maintains the school website and regularly shares useful professional Internet sites with members of staff. The school gives pupils the opportunity to publish schoolwork on the school website, and also publishes photographs of school activities. The school will endeavour to use digital photographs, audio or video clips focusing on group activities. Content focusing on individual students will not be published on the school website without prior parental consent. The school will ensure that the image files are appropriately named. The school will not use pupils names in image file names or ALT tags if published on the web. Parental permission is requested via Acceptable Usage Policy permission prior to photographs being displayed. It is also requested that both Pupils and Parents sign the permission form prior to pupils being given access to the internet in the school.

Summary of School Audit

Current Infrastructure Each classroom is equipped with a laptop, Interactive Whiteboard & Visualiser. All teachers in the SEN team have a laptop to be used with their pupils. All computers are networked and can wirelessly connect to the internet. We have a dedicated computer room, with 32 Desktop PCs. The Computer Room is equipped with an A3 Colour Printer, and there are 5 A4 B&W Printers positioned around the school; one in each of the 5 zones. The principals office is equipped with a laptop and a colour printer. The secretarys office is equipped with a PC and colour printer. Five digital cameras are in the school for use by the classes. The school also has one digital video camera for use by the classes. See Appendix I for computer hardware inventory.

Current ICT Educational Resources The school has put together its own online resource centre called Edulinks. Curricular links to educational tools and games have been compiled for this Online Learning Zone. This resource is available to all pupils and teachers in the classrooms, the computer room, and for pupils to use at home. Current Usage of Facilities Computers are used as a medium of teaching and learning in all the classrooms, and there is also a timetable in place for each class to have access to the computer room. Current usage includes; - Pre-reading and early reading work; - Pre-number and early number work; - Mathematical application; - Development of thinking and problem solving skills; - Word processing, - Desktop publishing; - Use of multimedia encyclopaedia and typing skills; - Internet work; - Communication with keypals; - Presentation of project work; - Creating art work; - Spelling; - Development of fine motor skills; - Music composition and recording.

Additional Information
ICT Co-ordination The school has a special duties teacher, who holds responsibility for ICT as part of a designated schedule of responsibilities. Any IT faults which cannot be rectified by hardware user are to be reported to the ICT co-ordinator or the schools Technical Support person using the IT fault reporting form (attached) Each piece of ICT equipment is labelled with a number for ease of software filing etc this list is stored by the ICT Coordinator. Symantec Endpoint Anti-Virus Protection is installed on all computers. Access Pupils and teachers have permanent access to ICT. Teachers are permitted to bring school laptops home each day to allow for administration and class planning. ICT for Special Needs Education All SEN teachers have a laptop for use in the learning support/resource rooms, as we recognise the potential of ICT to enhance the learning opportunities for pupils with special needs. Children with specific writing, reading and numeracy needs use ICT to provide alternative and complementary educational experiences. Laptops and specialised keyboards are also provided where appropriate.

Exceptional Students ICT is used in all classrooms to challenge and extend the educational opportunities for pupils with above average attainment. Administration Database Our school operates a Microsoft Access Database designed by one of our staff members. It is used for storing information about pupil attendance and contact details of pupils. This database is available through secure login only. All data is stored on a school server. It is only accessible to computers on the school network, and cannot be accessed via the internet. All information given by parents at the time of a childs enrolment is kept strictly confidential and will be retained on the school database. For further information, refer to our Data Protection & Record Retention Policy (Appendix X). Technical Support & Maintenance St. Cronans has negotiated a maintenance contract for our IT needs. This contract goes out to tender each year to ensure that we receive the best expertise and value for money. The ICT Co-ordinator also provides technical support to all staff on a voluntary basis. The laptops are with the teacher and move with them from year-to-year. Security Each teacher is asked to lock away their laptop at the end of the day, or to bring it home. The Computer Room is locked each evening by the caretaker and is fitted with secure lockable metal shutters on all windows. Each teacher is asked to delete any confidential information before passing it on to another member of staff. Donations We accept donated second hand computer hardware, if they are deemed to be of high enough quality by our IT Maintenance Team. All donated equipment will be serviced by the IT Maintenance Team prior to installation to ensure that it does not compromise the existing network. Teacher Continuous Professional Development (C.P.D.) It is the role of the e-Learning Team to provide teachers with information regarding relevant courses from the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), Blackrock Teacher Centre and other online courses and support groups available in the area of ICT. This may include: Whole staff training on ICT Integration Training in Website Development and Blogging Training in the area of Multimedia Authoring (e.g., using Digital Video, etc.) Basic troubleshooting and network management information Hardware support and advice (Interactive Whiteboards, Visualisers, etc.)

Health & Safety All pupils receive introductory sessions in the Computer Room dealing with Health and Safety issues. These include showing pupils how to adjust the brightness and contrast settings of monitors as well as the correct keyboard and seating position. Pupils also receive instruction on the correct procedure for using a mouse and are regularly reminded not to look directly into the projector beam when using the interactive whiteboard. Lessons involving the use of ICT should be structured to ensure that there are periodic breaks where pupils attention is directed away from the monitor to a distant object such as the teacher or interactive whiteboard. All classrooms, along with the Computer Room are fitted with suitable blinds to eliminate glare. All equipment is checked regularly. Regular Risk Assessment surveys are conducted by the designated Health & Safety representative and ICT Co-ordinator, faults are logged and appropriate action taken. All new computers purchased will comply with European regulations regarding radiation. Dedicated power points are/will be installed for all computers, and fused plugs used. Appropriate seating is being made available. There is a dedicated section in our Health and Safety Policy Statement dealing with Electrical and ICT Equipment. Service Providers Eircom ISDN line is supplied to the school at present. Our current broadband provider is Smart Telecom, as dictated by Department of Education and Skills Schools Broadband scheme. Licences All software used in St. Cronans is fully licensed. School Website Our school has its own award-winning school website, which is hosted at www.stcronans.ie. Our school was the winner of the Best School Website Award at the inaugural Eircom Junior Spider Awards in 2009. School newsletters, information for pupils and parents and other news items are regularly added. School policies that are relevant to parents will also be added to this site. Sub-Domains of the school website include; - Our Online Learning Zone at www.edulinks.stcronans.ie. - Our After School Programme at www.crokidz.stcronans.ie. Some of our classes host class websites and blogs. These websites are subject to the same criteria and regulations as the main school website. The school also has a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stcronans, which is used to keep the wider school community informed of news and events. See Appendix III for details of how this service is to be used.

Related Policies Internet Safety & Acceptable Usage Policy (Appendix IV) Anti-Cyber-Bullying Policy (Appendix V) Code of Behaviour (Appendix VI) Child Protection Policy (Appendix VII) Health & Safety Policy (Appendix VIII) Homework Policy (Appendix IX) Data Protection Policy (Appendix X) Ratification Ratified by the Board of Management of St. Cronans B.N.S. on 28th January 2014. Signed: Gerry Cosgrave Date: 28th Jan 2014 Chairperson, Board of Management Signed: Maeve Tierney Principal Signed: Karl Broin ICT Co-ordinator Date: 28th Jan 2014 Date: 28th Jan 2014

Appendix I Computer Hardware Inventory

Laptops: 20 x Dell Vostro 1520 6 x Dell Vostro 3700 2 x Dell Inspiron 1 x Packard Bell EasyNote TK (Crokidz - After School Club) Desktop PCs: 32 x Dell Optiplex 780 USFF 1 x Dell Optiplex 380 SF (Office) Interactive Whiteboards: 17 x Epson Interactive Projectors 3 x Promethean Interactive Whiteboards 2 x Smartboard Interactive Whiteboards Visualisers: 8 x Lumens DC 120 Visualisers 10 x Lumens DC 125 Visualisers Classroom Printers: 1 x A3 Colour Printer 5 x A4 Black & White Printers Office Printers: 1 x Canon A4 Colour 1 x A4 Colour Cameras: 5 x Fuji Digital Cameras 1 x Sony Video Camera (Servers etc... not included in the above)

Appendix II

I.T. Issues / Problems Sheet

Please return to the ICT Coordinator (Copies of this form are stored in the Staff Room and Computer Room)

Teacher Name:

Date:

Describe any Issues

Laptop:

Projector / Whiteboard:

Interactive Software / Other Software: Training / Help Required: Printer:

Computer Room:

Other:

Policy on the use of the School Facebook Page

Appendix III Appendix IV Appendix V

Internet Safety & Acceptable Usage Policy

Anti-Cyber-Bullying Policy

Code of Behaviour

Appendix VI

Child Protection Policy

Appendix VII

Health & Safety Policy

Appendix VIII Appendix IX Appendix X

Homework Policy

Data Protection & Record Retention Policy

NCTE ICT Framework A Structured Approach to ICT in Curriculum and Assessment

Appendix XI