ICT Classes
ICT is currently offered in 1st, 2nd and 4th year. It will be offered in 5th year in 2010/2011.
In 1st year, ICT is compulsory. Students work in small groups to produce a web portfolio that will include sound, image, video and presentation projects. Specifically, students learn such applications as Keynote, Pages, GarageBand, iMovie, iPhoto, Picasa etc. Students are also introduced to the concept of collaboration buy using Google Apps for Education to share information and work together on projects. Students also examine the practicalities of creating multimedia projects: how to share information, image formats, editing media, exporting media etc.
In 2nd year, all students take ICT. In 2010/2011, the course of study will be programming, aimed specifically at game design. Students will use Scratch to learn the concepts of object oriented programming. They will then learn the rudimentaries of Flash ActionScript and Scratch to design and develop their own games. They will also be encouraged to take part in the Computer Club to develop their games further and to enter the Young Scientists Exhibition.
In Transition Year, students can choose from a number of modules including ECDL, web design and the Digital Creator program. Alexandra College is one of the first schools in Ireland to offer this course and the staff room can boast four fully-certified Digital Creator trainers. The course is accredited by the Dun Laoghaire College of Art and Design and the British Computer Society. Digital Creator “encourages learners to create real life digital media projects that build into an innovative digital assessment e-portfolio.” Students work on projects in sound editing, video production and editing, visual presentations, digital photography, animation, DVD production and sharing digital media over the Internet.” Digital Creator also extends into the mainstream curriculum in Transition Year as modules are covered in English (Moving Image Language unit), Science (Digital Presentations unit) and Music Technology (Digital Audio unit). Digital Creator will also be offered to honours level in 5th year.
All students also have two periods of ICT per week in Transition Year.
In 5th year, students will study both ECDL and Digital Creator Advanced. Students will also be expected to work on subject-related projects during ICT classes.
For more information on the Alexandra Learning and Teaching Initiative (ALTI) in one-to-one learning, please click here.
Contact the IT Department