Dublin, Ireland, Monday, 26 September 2005…The INTO (Irish National Teachers Organisation) today announces the launch of an innovative e-learning course for its members using the internet as the delivery vehicle. The technology is underpinned by Hosting365’s managed services. The six module course is expected to be accessed by some 400 teachers who are making the transition from mainstream primary teaching to learning support/resource teaching.
%20and%20alison%20galliland%20(into).jpg "Stephen McCarron, MD 365 and Alison Galliland, INTO")
Stephen McCarron, MD 365 and Alison Galliland, INTO
John Carr, INTO General Secretary, stresses the importance of being able to provide online professional development: “This new initiative by the INTO will allow teachers nationwide, regardless of location, to access high quality course material. It enables teachers to combine work-life schedules with in career professional development.”
The e-learning course coincides with the Department of Education and Science’s introduction of the General Allocation System to cater for children with special educational needs in the primary school system. Under this system schools have been given a permanent allocation of learning support/resource teachers to cater for the majority of these children.
“By making this training available online, we can assist teachers across the country, regardless of location. We have also built in online group discussions, face to face group meetings and orientation to support online resources.”
The first module of the course went live on 12th September. Participant teachers on the course are divided into 12 groups according to their geographical location. A facilitator is assigned to each group. Each week, individual groups will have an opportunity participate in an on line “chat” session hosted by their facilitator. This “chat” session will allow participants to discuss module content and share best practice and ideas online via an instant messaging service. Face to face meetings are also scheduled to allow each group to meet each other and their facilitator.
Dan King, sales and marketing manager for Hosting365, stresses the importance of the internet to distance learning. “The availability of broadband across the country has opened the doors to effective online learning techniques which would not have been possible pre-broadband.
“For example, this course is supported by images and illustrations which take time to load via dialup. The introduction of instant messaging is also not possible without broadband. We expect heavy traffic during group messaging and have to ensure a robust service underpins the website. At the end of the day, should there be any technical issues we are only a phone call away.”
Ends
