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Bairbre Elwood, Primary School Teacher: Scoil Mhuire Sóisearach, Newbridge, Co. Kildare @bairbreelwood

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Bairbre Elwood, Primary School Teacher: Scoil Mhuire Sóisearach, Newbridge, Co. Kildare @bairbreelwood

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I hope the strategy will make reference to preschools and junior classes. There is huge potential for learning with our youngest learners. Basic programming can even be learned in pre-school. For example, look at the use of 'Pixie' programmable robots in England. Teachers experienced in using ICT with Junior classes can give good insight.

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Bairbre Elwood, Primary School Teacher: Scoil Mhuire Sóisearach, Newbridge, Co. Kildare @bairbreelwood

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Bairbre Elwood, Primary School Teacher: Scoil Mhuire Sóisearach, Newbridge, Co. Kildare @bairbreelwood

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I am excited to see a new Digital Strategy coming and particularly one that will take into account the rapidly evolving nature of ICT in education. Most teachers now accept the importance of ICT integration and are willing and ready to embrace it. However, until the following challenges are addressed, it will remain difficult to properly implement ICT into our Primary Schools.

1. The need for adequate broadband in all primary schools across Ireland.

2. The need for day-to-day technical support.

3. The need for substantial investment into professional development and training for teachers.

4. The need for funding! Primary school budgets are extremely stressed. The money for adequate ICT provision is simply not there.

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Great to see the level of interaction here from teachers. Inspiring for those of us in industry working in skills gap. Keep commenting, we are watching and listening.

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One additional note: Informal learning, which our students are engaged in every day, often occurs in open online spaces, e.g. social media and social networking sites. We must consider the value (and not just the dangers) of openness in learning and education, including the potential of networked learning, in all of our education strategies.

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I note that "empowering teachers" is one of the actions listed in the Education strand of the National Digital Strategy. I hope that this is a true commitment and not just a soundbite. As many of the contributors here have noted, teachers must be consulted and engaged with the process throughout. Training and professional development should be done by, with and for teachers.

Secondly, I'd encourage as much cross-sector communication and collaboration as possible. As an HE lecturer (online and in the classroom), I have enhanced my learning and teaching through ongoing communication and collaboration with educators at primary and secondary levels, e.g. through #edchatie, CESI, and ICTEdu. In areas such as developing algorithmic thinking and coding skills, digital literacies, digital citizenship, and more, cross-sector strategies are essential.

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Throwing iPads, interactive whiteboards and other devices at schools for the sake of calling it "tech" or "digital" is not the answer here. Neither is slapping the word "code" on everything. What's really needed is an emphasis on (real) creativity, collaboration and digital literacy. This involves a shift not only in the way we train and practice, but also in the way we think and the values we hold.

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We need to demonstrate to teachers that edtech can enhance the learning - by 'we' I mean practicing teachers who are already on the road of edtech integration. Immersive day long courses where teachers mentor teachers as they use & create using the technology. No more power points with 2 min pair & shares for the sake of it. Active learning works - hand over the active learning into the hands of the teachers who need to upskill. CESI, Bridge 21, etc. My embrace of IT began with a 3 day hands on workshop style event & I've never looked back. Don't insult us by consulting more with industry than with teachers - this padlet wall is a great idea, & one I'm sure the #edchatie community will embrace. Finally, every school NEEDS a full time technology position. Tech support, planning, purchase & maintenance of equipment. Schools are expected to muddle along - it's not good enough. The tech will never be seamless & invisible until there's someone in place to make it so. No other industry would accept the lack of resources & personnel we have to put up with.

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1:1 iPads is an exciting opportunity for students but only if teachers are excited about it too! Principals of IT schools must promote, encourage, model good use and evaluate advantages and disadvantages regularly. Initial iPad training is great but ongoing CPD for ll teachers using tech devices is essential for keeping the spirit of technology alive!

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...listen to the teachers who share freely with each other - they are the wellspring.

...before we decide HOW we will will teach, be sure we are clear WHY we are teaching

....and thank you for asking.

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Please let educators be at its core and deeply involved in its development. Don't let the big players in the technology industry tell schools and educators what they need and what schools should be doing about it. Make sure that whatever technology is used in schools has the curriculum at its core. Start with the curriculum and then see what technology tools can be used to enhance it.

Some sort of teacher CPD needs to be part of the NDS. It was quite unbelievable that amongst all the training days over the years of the introduction of the 1999 revised curriculum, there was not one day, or half day given to CPD in the integration of technology.

Students in the colleges of education need to be up to speed with a lot of the technologies being used in schools. They need to come into schools for their placement with a requirement to include the integration of technology into some of their lessons. Attendance at technology gatherings such as CESI conference or Teachmeets should be required.

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Flip teacher-training to TeachMeets and to upskilling sessions led by peer-nominated Digital Champions- the real knowledge is in the DigiTeaching community and not in the traditional government led entities.

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Support an energetic approach to peer to peer learning in all education institutions. Identify the champions as a means of supporting development of skill in other teachers.

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Teaching and learning in a digital environment should be invisible and holistic....like breathing.

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Host a coderdojo in your school or university (many do). That way you bring in the fun tech learning like coding, raspberry pi, scratch etc from a tried and trusted platform but with the added benefit of a tried and testing teaching skilled environment.

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All teachers must be enabled with core skills. This can only be achieved for ALL teachers if training is mandatory and during work hours. Training should be standard and consistent and complementary with NDS.

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We should encourage regular discussion in staff rooms about usage of tech, encourage teachers to ask if they don't know. What we say to our students every day.

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We should start with the new patterns of knowledge where its stored, and how its used, and work backwards from there.

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Being allowed to make mistakes is important, and having time to get comfortable with the tech so it can be used in 'flow' and by a teacher who feels comfortable in their skill and mastery of the equipment. Being allowed to get into huddles to learn as a result of engendering trust in collaborative learning is important too.

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Pdst and NCAA and sess and all those organizations set up in now old curriculum needs a massive facelift. No offence to the style they used but as Daithi said we need to try something new. Facilitators need to change the way they challenge teachers in the classroom not lecturing slide shows for hours. Learning doesn't take place. Projects and discussions and observations and teach meet and scones and tea. This is the way to get teachers into learning and all things digital and wacky.

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ICT must add value to what teachers do

It must ease workflows and reduce the more mundane work

It must enable students to work together

It must enable teachers to share content with both their students

and their peers in an easier way

It must work everyday

They must feel supported in their efforts as the start is a trying time

They must have time to action ideas and the resources to do so

Ishsues around copyright should be unambiguous
They need to see best practice in terms of students content

created work

They must see how constructivist ideas can be very easily used in technology centric learning. There must be pedagogical reasoning applied to tasks that use technology

Students need to see the value in bringing in tchnology

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Training teachers is the key to any digital strategy. Embed digital learning as methodology. Insist on this. The people training teachers are key too. Passionate, creative and ability to motivate.

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The digital strategy should be the curriculum of learning.

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Resist the temptation to pander to industry demands. Don't introduce "coding" as a subject anywhere. Introduce "thinking"

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All CPD needs to be given by practicing, experience and Passionate tech learning teachers only.

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CPD providers should practice what they preach! Don't tell me about active learning using wads of handouts and reading powerpoints. Dogfood it!!!!

Wow first time I have hard of padlet!

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#edchatie works for CPD! Have learned more there on Monday nights over the last 18 months than in any course.

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Teach thinking. Teach resilience. Teach being nice to each other.

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@ConnollyTrevor Allow teachers time & opportunity to team teach & to observe one another's lessons.

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The digital strategy and revised curriculum need to be in love.

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Teachers sharing with teachers, sharing what works in practise. teachmeet

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@tsweeney1 Digital CPD to be delivered by teachers with teachers in the school context to encourage development of the professional learning community