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 TWO
teachers at Crumlin Integrated College are to travel to Hong
Kong to represent Northern Ireland at the Microsoft Worldwide
Innovative Teachers' Forum in November.
Tom Fitzsimmons and Ciaran McLaren were
chosen to showcase their innovative pilot course which was
initiated as a foundation for year 10 pupils who would later
choose GCSE Double Award Engineering and Maths. The design and
planning of the course required students to have no prior
knowledge of engineering concepts or any previous experience in
learning through the virtual environment. The course planning
had to ensure the students were fully introduced to both the
rules of online learning and the fundamental concepts of
Engineering.
Tom and Ciaran will be joined by Eileen
McStocker of St. Pius X College. The teachers from both schools
are part of the Northern Ireland Regional Training Unit's (RTU)
Online Learning and Teaching for Educators Programme, (OLTE).
This programme, funded by the Department for
Education, aims to develop and support schools' ability to use
e-learning effectively.
Dr Annabel Scott, Headmistress of Crumlin
Integrated College said: "I am delighted that two of our
teachers have been chosen to represent Northern Ireland. They
are really looking forward to competing against their peers from
all over the world in Hong Kong."
Dr Scott, who also chairs Antrim Learning
Community, continued: "The delivery of GCSE Double Award
Engineering has developed from the planned provision for
teachers and pupils to share teaching and learning both online
and through video conferencing."
Tom Jackson, Schools Technology Innovation
Centre Manager, Microsoft Northern Ireland, said: "As the world
changes and the skills our children need in the work force of
the future change, we need to move education to a model of 21st
Century learning. These projects are great examples of the
innovative approach we should be taking." The Forum will take
place in Hong Kong from November 3-6.
Ulster Star
17/10/2008
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