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Coláiste Bríde, a non-DEIS school with 840 students from 30 nationalities, successfully implemented an e-Portal system to improve efficiency, communication, and accountability. With a diverse staff of 78 teachers in a mixed working class area, the school transitioned to a new building in 2008, investing in forward planning and extensively researching the implementation process. The e-Portal system has resulted in improved productivity, reduced time loss, ease of access to student records, better communication, and a more efficient roll call system. This success has created a culture of ICT promotion among staff, leading to further integration of technology in the classroom.
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Profile Students • 840 Students • Non DEIS School • 30 Nationalities • 93 International Students • 64 Travellers • 122 Special Needs • Mixed Working Class Area Staff • 78 Teaching Staff • Mixed Age Profile 2008 completed transition from old to new building
Planning • We knew we would have new infrastructure due to new build. • Expectation of change already there-Investment in forward planning • Committees set up to make decisions on all aspects of the new school-Ownership given to staff • ICT Committee was open to all staff- ICT co-ordinator is not a post holder • Used NCTE advisors • Met with other schools who had been through the process • Research carried out at Principals’ conferences • Held off on spending until all research complete • Funding for e-Portal did not come from new build budget • Presentation to Board of Management and parents council, who approved the investment
School Needs Principal/Vice Principal • Improved Efficiency • Higher Productivity • Reduced time loss and duplication of work • Upskilling of staff-Teaching and Administrative • More accountability- teacher/Student tracking and profiling • Improved communication e-Portal delivered on all
School Needs Teacher • Ease of access to student records-less time spent at reception • Ease of access to student results and attendance records- form a picture of new student early in the year • More efficient roll call- less paperwork • Minimise class interruptions re lates etc. e-Portal delivered on all
Roll Out Plan • ICT committee gave leadership through a planned approach to training and implementation • General IT training given before introduction- dispelled fear of technology • Audit of existing staff ICT skills grouped staff into levels- no one felt overwhelmed • Internal and external trainers, Group training as well as one to one training • More proficient staff members became trainers themselves
Roll Out: Phase 1 • September return to work- One full days training using all above methods • Trainers made available for one to one training for the first week-focus on staff who needed more • Targets for achievement- small steps • September- First period registration • October All tutors to take roll call • Christmas Every class registration Reports with exam results • Summer Removal of Dual System
Roll Out Reality • Targets achieved well in advance- by Christmas manual rolls were not in use for most teachers • Success Factors: • Pace of training • Staff felt supported not overwhelmed • Whole Staff buy in • End of year skills audit- staff requested training in other computer applications • Teachers who were opposed to change, now demanding!
Roll Out Plan Phase 2 • Year 2- ICT training on return to work week: • Student Events-committee set up to specify • Locating Teachers/Students • Viewing Profiles/Timetables • Taking roles for other teachers when supervising a class • Manual system of registration now completely removed • Focus for the year on attendance and punctuality- linked to post holders- no longer ICT co-ordinator • Consolidation and full integration- now only new and returning staff need training
Two years on- Benefits • Principal/Vice Principal: • Parent meetings- student profile readily available- attendance and punctuality pie chart, student events ( positive and negative), results • Reduction of interruptions at reception • Improved communication- notice board • Ease of access and storage for records • Staff comfortable with PC on the desk- have all adapted
Two years on- Benefits Teachers • Time saving • ease of access to student/parent/teacher details • Less time at reception • Reports completed in your own time- not waiting for other teachers to finish with paper copies • Registration much quicker • Truancy spotted immediately • Class management • Patterns established quickly • Students aware they are being monitored
Conclusion • Our improved administrative systems mean we can focus on teaching and learning • Staff have a greater understanding of timetable issues and department reports- NEWB, September/ October returns • We have created a culture of ICT promotion and staff are integrating technology into the classroom as well as going on to do further study in ICT