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ICT in Alexandra College is not an isolated subject. Rather, ICT encompasses the entire curriculum from 1st to 6th year. We are currently redeveloping our ICT plan for the senior school and will be launching an iPad/eBook programme for all incoming 1st year students in 2012/2013. All teachers and senior students have Macbooks, classrooms are fitted with data projectors and wireless Internet access is available throughout the College campus. Maths classrooms have interactive white boards. Internet access is filtered with OpenDNS and email is provided through Google Apps for Education. Google Apps also provides students and staff with access to Calendar, Documents, Sites and a number of other features. The College has worked closely with Apple for a number of years and training has been provided for staff by Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs). The ADE program recognises 2nd and 3rd level professionals possessing an identified expertise in educational technology leadership. In fact, Alexandra College now counts a number of ADEs among its staff in a number of departments including ICT, English, Music and Modern Languages. Two of our ADEs, Ben Murray (Music) and Jim Redmond (ICT, English) were employed at the first Irish Apple Teacher Institute, which was held in the College in August 2010. From podcasting and online interviews in Leaving Certificate Irish and Modern Languages, to Videography and Web Design in Transition Year and music editing and recording in 1st year, as well as programming and game design in second year, ICT is ubiquitous in the College. From 1st year, students are immersed in technology and are encouraged to investigate and develop their interests in ICT. ICT is currently offered in 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th year. The curriculum changes yearly to reflect developments in ICT.
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 also focus on using such emerging cloud technologies as Google Apps and Sliderocket. 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 2012/2013, 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. We have also had great success in the National Scrtach Competition in recent years. In fact, one of our current 6th year students was overall winner in 2012/2011.
In Transition Year, all students have two periods of ICT per week. Areas of study include Photoshop, Scratch game design, SketchUp 3D design, Website design, programming (Ruby) and photography. Students are also encouraged to become actively involved in ICT – they may volunteer to become a school photographer, to update the school website, to work on the TY Blog and to attend Computer Club, as well as various other activities. TY students can also select to study ECDL.
In 5th and 6th year, students can complete their ECDL qualification and work on variopus creative multimedia projects. All projects are expected to be related to the curriculum. Students will also be expected to work on subject-related projects during ICT classes.
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Moodle College staff and students use Moodle as a teaching and learning platform. All staff and students have access to Moodle, which allows teachers to provide access to notes, exercises and homework which can be accessed from any connected device. Moodle allows staff to create a true One-to-One learning environment for classes as students are enabled to work at their own pace and to extend their knowledge independently outside of the classroom.
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College Database The College database allows parents and guardians to have full, transparent access to their daughters’ school records. Using this website, parents and guardians can view class records, absenteeism information, book lists, the College calendar and all student reports. As of September 2008, all reports are completed by teachers and accessed by parents online. As well as providing a more efficient reporting process, this has also improved the College’s green credentials – an issue of great interest to both students and staff.
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The College and ICT Alexandra College has four computer labs. The main computer lab contains 32 iMacs with Windows XP dual boot. Most ICT classes take place in this room. The College Library has 14 iMacs, the Videography room has eight iMacs and the Science computer lab has 14 PCs with Windows XP.All 4th, 5th and 6th year students, as well as all teachers, have Macbooks and every classroom is fitted with a data projector and wireless Internet access. Internet access is filtered using OpenDNS, which provides students and staff with wide but safe access. The ICT department constantly strives to adapt new technologies. For example:
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Students and ICT From 1st year, students are actively encouraged to become involved in the ICT department in practical and meaningful ways. For example, students are entirely responsible for the design and content of the Alexandran (the College yearbook); students take most of the photographs that appear on the website and in the Alexandran; students in all years are encouraged to submit articles for and make design suggestions for the College website; and the Computer Club encourages those interested to develop their skills in programming, 3D design, web design etc.
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| Contact the IT Department
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