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APPLE REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRE / Ionad réigiúnach oiliúna apple

"A new generation of students expects a learning environment that integrates today's digital tools, accommodates a mobile lifestyle, adapts to individual learning styles and encourages collaboration and teamwork."

The Apple Regional Training Centre programme helps teachers bring learning to life with digital technology. A UK and Ireland network of Apple-approved Regional Training Centres (RTC) coach primary and secondary teachers in the use of Apple's award-winning software packages giving them the know-how to enliven school lessons with images, video and sound.

Click on the link: http://www.apple.com/uk/education/rtc/ for more information.

AiPLE: Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment / Timpeallacht Foghlama Apple

Established in April 2007, the AiPLE centre here in the School of Education NUI Galway, was the first university-based Apple Regional Training Centre in Ireland, promoting excellence in educational technology and pedagogical research, and the creative application of ICT in teaching for Pre-Service, Post Primary Teachers. It is located in the School of Education, Block D building. The suite contains 20 iMac desktop computers for students and staff to use.

"Logic will take you from A to B, your imagination will take you everywhere." Albert Einstein

"Creativity is like water, it flows everywhere." Anon.

NUI Galway students being trained in the use of Apple computers and software as a creative tool for teaching and learning.

apple distinguished educator class of 2013 awarded to staff member of school of education, nui galway

April 2013

The Apple Distinguished Educator (ADE) Program began in 1994, when Apple recognised K-12 and higher education pioneers who are using a variety of Apple products to transform teaching and learning in powerful ways. Today it has grown into a worldwide community of over 2,000 visionary educators and innovative leaders who are doing amazing things with technology in and out of the classroom. Apple is pleased to welcome Seán Ó Grádaigh, School of Education, NUI Galway to the ADE Class of 2013.

To view Seán's ADE application video, please click on the following link: https://vimeo.com/55114944

This is a double triumph for Seán, as he was also recently awarded certification as an Apple Professional Development (APD) facilitator.

Apple Distinguished Educators (ADEs) are part of a global community of education leaders recognised for doing amazing things with Apple technology in and out of the classroom. They explore new ideas, seek new paths, and embrace new opportunities. That includes working with each other — and with Apple — to bring the freshest, most innovative ideas to students everywhere.

ADEs advise Apple on integrating technology into learning environments — and share their expertise with other educators and policy makers. They author original content about their work. They advocate the use of Apple products that help engage students in new ways. And they are ambassadors of innovation, participating in and presenting at education events around the world. Being part of the ADE community is much more than an honour — it’s an opportunity to make a difference.

Learn more about this group of innovative educators online at http://www.apple.com/education/ade

apple ibooks author software training for student teachers

February 2013

The School of Education, NUI Galway, provided it's Professional Diploma in Education students with workshops on creating digital content for the iPad using Apple's iBooks Author software.

schools of education and natural sciences nuig, work together on peer teaching and apple ibook development for science teachers

December 2012

Peer teaching laboratory session with PDE and DGO science students

The School of Education, NUI Galway, provided support for an initiative by three 4th year students from Biochemistry and Biotechnology in the School of Natural Sciences to provide novel training for Leaving Certificate biology experiments.

Students Paul Abberton, Dervla Lillis and Eoin O'Toole targetted the support of new science teachers with the aim of helping them to present the obligatory Leaving Certificate catalase enzyme experiments. These experiments gives second level students an important perspective on biochemistry, but can be difficult for teachers to get running with limited classroom time and facilities.

The 3 undergraduate students created high quality ’How To’ videos and integrated them into Apple iBooks with background information and quizzes. This was made possible through the use of the Apple Regional Training Centre facilities and expertise provided by the School of Education. The students then tested the experiments and creations on a Leaving Cert class at St Endas College, Salthill with the help of teacher Ms Emma Dalton who is an NUI Galway Biotechnology graduate.

Finally, the undergraduate students facilitated a peer teaching laboratory session for NUI Galway Science Education students on the Professional Diploma in Education and Dioplóma Gairmiúil san Oideachas programmes who were able to see and practice the experiments first hand.

This combination of activities created a lot of interest and staff in the Schools of Education and Natural Sciences are hoping to continue the initiative. This project parallels other student-led efforts across campus, and shows how NUI Galway is building a portfolio of support and enthusiasm for the next generation of local science students.

nui galway create new innovative resources for science teachers

November 2012

Photo L to R, Dr Veronica McCauley, School of Education, NUI Galway, Dr James J. Browne, President, NUI Galway, Dr Mary Fleming, Director of Teacher Education, NUI Galway and Seán ÓGrádaigh, School of Education, NUI Galway.

Dr Jim Browne, President NUI Galway with some members of the graduate teachers project team: left to Right: Martin Mc Hugh, John Byrne, Niamh Burke, Thomas Murphy and Charlene Mc Hugh.

The President, Dr James J. Browne, recently launched a series of Science iBooks (Sci - Hook Series), an innovative APPLE iBook resource for science educators (Nov 20th, 2012). Sci-Hooks are short introductory video clips that aim to grab student attention by capturing what is interesting and engaging about a range of science topics.

Dr Veronica McCauley and Seán Ó Grádaigh, lecturers from the School of Education at NUI Galway, led this Science Education Research (SER) project with a design team of student science teachers from NUI Galway’s Professional Diploma in Education and Dioplóma Gairmiúil san Oideachas programmes. A collection of over 30 Sci-Hooks were created for the Junior Science classroom. Funding from NUI Galway, An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG) and Apple Ireland supported the project.

These Sci-Hook resources have been developed into a set of three iBooks - Physics, Chemistry and Biology, with over 10 videos and support material available in each category. The SER Design team included Martin Mc Hugh, John Byrne, Niamh Burke, Charlene Mc Hugh, Thomas Murphy, Niamh Molloy and Corinna Byrne. The design team created innovative videos that aim to capture novel and engaging aspects of science, and engage pupils immediately with their curious content, quirky film editing and animation fluidity. These edgy snippets have been created in a way that allows seamless translation into other languages. As such, a vibrant team of Dioplóma Gairmiúil san Oideachas students adapted them for dissemination throughout Irish Medium Schools nationally.

Once viral, dissemination seems to be rapid across the globe. Prior to its launch, Sci-Hook Series had already received over 600 downloads. They are available on iBookstores across 50 countries, with the largest market being the US with 32% of all downloads and this is expected to increase further as the Biology resources are published.

Click here for a preview:

Physics

Chemistry

An Fhisic

An Chemic

These iBook resources are free to download on your iPad through the Apple iBookstore and are also available as videos and PDFs on iTunesU and through the Scoilnet portal.

school of education showcase apple ibooks at nui galway 'explore' event

November 2012

Dr Veronica McCauley, Science Lecturer, School of Education, NUI Galway presenting on overview of the Science Hooks iBooks project to the invited audience at the launch of the Bright Ideas EXPLORE Innovation event held on campus in the Aula Maxima.

The iBooks were created by students from the Professional Diploma in Education programme and Dioplóma Gairmiúil san Oideachas programme, using Apple's iBooks Author software

transition year students bring shakespeare to life

October 2012

22 Transition Year students from St. Jarlath's College, Tuam participated in a day-long workshop using drama, new media and ICT to explore language and themes in Shakespeare's Macbeth, which is on the syllabus for examination in 2013 and 2014. Students enacted lines from the text and engaged in character analysis using ensemble and performative approaches, while developing stop-frame animations based on key scenes in the play. Pictured at the School of Education, NUI Galway are the Transition Year students from St. Jarlath's College, Brighid Cannon, Deputy Principal and English teacher, Brid Burke, Geography teacher and literacy coordinator, and Eilis Flanagan and Dr. Tony Hall, School of Education (workshop facilitators).

apple ibook creation seminar

July 2012

An iBook Creation seminar was hosted in the Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment, on the 10th July 2012 as part of the School of Education, NUI Galway's, Apple iMac Training Series. The seminar was co-funded between the School of Education, NUIG and Apple Ireland. Course organisers were Seán Ó Grádaigh and Dr. Veronica McCauley.

This Apple iMac training seminar provided the tools to create your own iBook. It was taught in a unique small group environment, to give the participants the confidence in not only creating their own iBook, yet also giving them the tools to lead their own students/colleagues through the same process. Keith Young and Tomas Creighton (Typetec Ltd.) led the seminar, and also reviewed both academic and technical metrics which should be considered in iBook design – basically key tips to make your iBook read and present well.

A diverse group of participants attended, spanning from primary through to tertiary educators. This course was primarily organised to feed into the creation of a set of 6 iBooks, interactive classroom resources for science teachers, to be launched during Science week in November 2012.

VIDEO EDITING COURSE HOSTED IN school of education 'aiple' suite

May 2012

The School of Education, NUI Galway recently hosted a 1 day course in their Apple iMac computer suite on the art of "Video Production for the Web", in conjunction with the NUIG Film Soc, the College of Business, Public Policy & Law and local media consultants Staunton Media.

The focus of the course was on commercial/informational video production for the web, using a practice based, hands-on, teaching approach. The course was designed for the staff and students of NUI Galway utilising existing NUIG equipment and freely available video editing software.

The photo shows Cormac Staunton of Staunton Media advising one of the course participants on his video editing project.

'scratch' programming for professional diploma in education (pde) student teachers

March 2012

Students on the School of Education, NUI Galway Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) course take part in a workshop on Scratch programming given by Dr Tony Hall in the School's Apple Mac suite. Developed by the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at the MIT Media Lab, Scratch is free, easy-to-use software for developing interactive computer programs: interactive stories, animations, games, music and art. Scratch derives its name from the idea of mixing and remixing different media, in creative and innovative ways. It is hands-on software well-suited to supporting creative, interactive and collaborative use of ICT by pupils. As an extensible, multimedia programming language, Scratch can be adapted to support the learning outcomes of different subject areas - across the curriculum.

digital storytelling in the apple ipedagogy learning environment, ba connect with film studies, huston school of filming and digital media

March 2012

Students in the BA Connect, Huston School of Film and Digital Media are undertaking digital storytelling projects in the School of Education's AiPLE: Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment. The students are developing and post-producing creative film projects using the Apple suite and Apple iLife technologies. This is the second year of this narrative technology collaboration between the School of Education and Huston School of Film and Digital Media.

coláiste éinde: st. enda's secondary school galway - transition year ict

March 2012

The Transition Year students from Coláiste Éinde: St. Enda's Secondary School Galway participated in an ICT workshop provided by fourth year students, B.A. Mathematics and Education and Educational Technology staff in the School of Education, NUI Galway. The workshop covered interactive whiteboards (IWBs) for mathematics; Apple iPads and educational apps for students; and animation technology.

Photos show Ciara Taylor and Nichola Leonard, 4th Year B.A. Mathematics and Education teaching transformation geometry interactively to the TY students using a Promethean Interactive Whiteboard (IWB), and the students designing and producing animation projects using visualisers and stop-frame animation software on the Apple iMacs in the School's Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment (AiPLE).

school of education at apple rtc winter conference

November 2011

Mr. Jim Lenaghan, Chief Technical Officer and Dr. Tony Hall, Lecturer in Educational Technology, School of Education, NUI Galway, attended the Apple Regional Training Centre (RTC) Winter Conference, 24th-25th November; at the North Somerset RTC, Sidcot School, Winscombe.

The conference featured presentations and hands-on workshops by Apple Distinguished Educators and educational technologists who are utilising apps, innovative infrastructures and peripherals, and portable and ultra-mobile technologies to enhance learning and teaching in RTCs across the UK and Ireland.

The School of Education's Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment (AiPLE) is an Apple Regional Training Centre. For latest information and updates on apps, educational technologies and innovations, follow the School of Education on Twitter edtechne.

School of Education - Apple RTC

Mr Jim Lenaghan & Dr Tony Hall, School of Education, NUI Galway.

digital storytelling with huston school of film and digital media students

December 2010

Huston School of Film and Digital Media, BA Connect year three students, recently completed a Digital Storytelling course with Ms Bonnie Long, Galway Doctoral Research Fellow and Education Technologist with the School of Education, NUI Galway. Building on the narratives started during part one of the course, students designed and produced a three to five minute digital story that conveys a theme, message or lesson learned.

Using the School of Education’s 'Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment', students utilised Apple’s iMovie and iPhoto as well as the audio editing program Audacity for Mac, to edit, illustrate and create a soundtrack for their own stories. In the creation of their digital stories, students crafted and recorded first-person narratives, devised a storyboard, created soundtracks and collected still images with which to illustrate their digital stories.

To see some of the digital stories produced by the students, please follow this link: http://vimeo.com/channels/157327

Irish Science Teachers' Association - Workshop on 'Digital Media in the science classroom, including video & animation'

October 2010

This workshop introduced science teachers to the innovative application of video/animation within and beyond the classroom through the use of mini-camcorders & relevant editing software packages.

It took place in the School of Education's 'Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment' and was facilitated by Drs Tony Hall (Head of School) and Veronica McCauley.

The participants produced short animated videos that can be used in their science classes.

dominican college, Taylor's hill - ict 'in-service' day

October 2010

Fifty teaching staff, including the Principal and Deputy Principal, from the Dominican College, Taylor's Hill, Galway, attended an ICT in education 'In-Service' day in the School of Education, NUI, Galway.

Topics covered included, 'Using the Internet as a Resource & Web 2.0 Tools for Schools', 'Presentation and Creative Technologies in the Classroom'.

Seen here in the School of Education, Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment (L - R) Bonnie Long (Educational Technology Tutor), Eilish Keaveney (Principal). Maura Connolly (Deputy Principal), Dr Tony Hall (Head of the School of Education) and Maria Silke (Educational Technology Tutor). Missing from the photo, Jim Lenaghan and Dolores Stewart (Technical Officers).

Euro Creator Launch

September 2009

To celebrate the 'European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009', the School of Education NUI Galway was selected to host the West of Ireland launch of the Euro Creator project and website: http://www.eurocreator.com/. The launch was conducted in two parts: a lunchtime launch and roadshow, for University staff and students in the Kirwan theatre, and an evening public event attended by local schools, teachers, educational organisations, and ICT providers in our AiPLE room.

The day and evening roadshow showcased to the large attendance creativity in digital media and the usability of Euro Creator for the sharing of educational multimedia across Internet platforms, including virtual learning environments.

EuroCreator enables educators and learners, from 27 countries across the EU, to share their educational media and digital resources safely in a moderated environment.

The projects that students and teachers upload to Euro Creator are assessed by educational experts such as Brendan Smith (Digital Enterprise Research Institute, NUIG); and for the media they upload they receive a certificate from JÃ¡n Figel', the EU Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Multilingualism.

The project promotes collaboration and creativity in Irish and European education; and the imprimatur of the European Commissioner for Education is an added incentive to educators and learners to utilise this exciting new educational resource. Euro Creator covers all areas of the school curriculum and special educational needs (SEN). It is also a multilingual project, with the imminent roll-out of the Irish language version of Euro Creator announced at the NUI Galway event. Dr. Edward Herring, Dean, College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies officially launched Euro Creator, which strengthens NUI Galway's links with local educators, schools and the community, and further illustrates the University's commitment to innovation and excellence in technology-enhanced learning.

Students from the School of Education's postgraduate and undergraduate teacher education programmes participated in the launch, including the Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), DioplÃ³ma IarchÃ©ime san Oideachas (DIO), and B.A. Mathematics and Education degree.

While focused mainly on teachers and schools, http://www.eurocreator.com/ can be utilised by anyone interested in creativity in educational multimedia. For further information about EuroCreator, email either: NUIGalwayeurocreator.com or tony.hallnuigalway.ie.

During the Euro Creator launch, Ciaran McCormack used the rope trick to illustrate how digital media can make learning a fun and productive experience for all students.

Congratulations!

May 2009

Congratulations go to Ms Sinead Fitzgerald (Postgraduate Diploma in Education student 08-09). Sinead is the lucky winner of an Apple iPod Nano. Her name was drawn out of a hat containing all the names of students who had participated in an end of year, PGDE Course Evaluation survey.

Sinead is seen here being presented with her iPod Nano by Mr Tom Callanan of GalMac Computers Ltd. Galway, (Apple suppliers) who very kindly sponsored the prize. Also in the photo is Dr Veronica McCauley, Course Director, Postgraduate Diploma in Education.

Virtual Technology Stimulates Children's Interest in the Natural World

May 2008

A glimpse of Rua the fox from Brigit's Virtual Garden which is being launched by NUI Galway on 28 May at the real life Brigit's Garden, in Rosscahill, Co. Galway.

"Science and nature education in the classroom moves into virtual territory with the launch of Brigit's Virtual Garden by NUI Galway. The habitats and features of local visitor attraction, Brigit's Garden, have been digitally recreated in a 3D virtual space. The first public demonstration of the interactive Brigit's Virtual Garden takes place on Wednesday, 28 May, at 3pm in Brigit's Garden, Rosscahill, Co. Galway.

Brigit's Virtual Garden is an educational tool, alive with virtual versions of the insects and plants of the real garden. The user navigates the virtual space by controlling the movements of Rua the fox who takes them on an interactive tour of the 3D garden.
The virtual garden was designed as part of a project called the Digital Hedge School (DHS), which is a collaborative effort between Brigit's Garden and several partners from NUI Galway including the Environmental Change Institute (ECI), the Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI), and the Education Department. The DHS project team have been working together for two years to create intergenerational programmes for primary, secondary, and third level students, by exploring the potential of novel technologies to enhance children's environmental education.

This year's participants in the DHS project were 4th and 5th class students from St. Patrick's National School, and transition year students from the Presentation Secondary School. Students from both the Galway City schools completed an eight-week training programme in environmental peer education.

The students involved in the Digital Hedge School Project spent time in Brigit's Garden taking digital photographs and drawings insects, water bugs, flowers and trees. The students were then shown how to upload their work into the virtual garden. Access to Brigit's Virtual Garden will be available to teachers involved in the project, for use in the classroom as a tool for supporting the educational experience of students visiting Brigit's Garden.

Incorporating technology into environmental education is the way forward in terms of relating to younger generations, says Professor Gerard Jennings, Director of the Environmental Change Institute at NUI Galway. The creators of Brigit's Virtual Garden have been very successful in providing a technology that stimulates children's interest in the natural environment and encourages them to step outside the classroom and explore the world around them.

Author: Press Office, NUI Galway.

"New centre will provide ICT skills development for teachers"

The AiPLE facility launch features in the latest edition of "Education Matters", please see copy of article below or online at:

http://www.educationmatters.ie/2008/03/04/new-centre-will-provide-ict-skills-development-for-teachers/

Tuesday 4th March 2008

"The first university-based Apple Regional Training Centre in Ireland has opened in the School of Education at Galway University.

New ICT training centre at NUI Galway
Pictured at the official launch of the Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment at the School of Education, NUI Galway (left to right): Jim Lenaghan, Chief Technical Officer, School of Education; Prof Keith Sullivan, Head, School of Education; Prof Kevin Barry, Dean, College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies; Dr. Tony Hall, Lecturer in Educational Technology, School of Education, NUI Galway.

The aim of the centre is to promote excellence in educational technology and pedagogical research, and the creative application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in teaching.

Also known as the Apple iPedagogy Learning Environment (AiPLE), the facility will provide innovative pre-service ICT skills development for teachers in the Postgraduate Diploma in Education, and DioplÃ³ma IarchÃ©ime san Oideachas.

The centre will also support teachers in-service ICT skills development in the Postgraduate Diploma in Professional Educational Studies, Postgraduate Diploma in Special Education Needs, and Master of Education.

The new centre was made possible by seed funding from NUI Galway's Millennium Fund, and matching funding support from Apple Ireland and the Dean of the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Celtic Studies."

Also pictured at this event (left to right) Liam Donohoe, Country Manager, Apple Ireland; Eanna O' BrÃ¡daigh, Apple Ireland Business Development Manager, Education; and Prof Keith Sullivan, Head, School of Education.

Fadó Fadó

April 2007

The new AiPLE centre was recently featured on RTE's Nationwide programme, as part of our collaborative FADÓ FADÓ (digital oral history project) with Digital Enterprise Research Institute (DERI) and local schools, see link below:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2007/0502/nationwide.html

Apple resources and related links:

Apple Press Release RSS Feed

http://www.apple.com/ Apple Inc.'s home page

http://www.apple.com/ie Apple's website for Ireland

http://www.apple.com/uk/education   "For decades, Apple has helped schools empower teachers and inspire students to achieve more. Make amazing music, websites, photo books and DVDs. All with the new iLife '11."  Click on the link for further information.

http://www.apple.com/uk/education/rtc   "A UK and Ireland network of Apple-approved Regional Training Centres (RTC) coach primary and secondary teachers in the use of Apple's award-winning software packages".

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/   An overview of the features in the latest Mac OS.

http://www.apple.com/ilife/ See what iLife is all about.

http://www.apple.com/ie/iwork/ See what iWork is all about

http://www.apple.com/education/teachers-professors/online-tutorials.html Explore a collection of video tutorials, classroom guides, and web pages for educators.

Please note: The School of Education, NUI Galway is not responsible for the content contained on external websites.

School of Education,
National University of Ireland, Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland.
Phone: +353 (0)91 492195 Fax: +353 (0)91 494538,
E-mail: education

nuigalway.ie
This page was last updated Thursday, April 11, 2013