Kilvemnon National School are First in Europe

Congratulations to Scoil Mhuire, Kilvemnon and Ms. Kate O’ Connell who have come first in Microsoft’s European Innovative Teachers Forum for their project Flying High: Exploring Aviation. The 5th Microsoft European Innovative Teachers Forum took place in Zagreb, Croatia on March 6th - 8th 2008.  Since 2004 this European Innovative Teachers Forum has been an international gathering of exceptional educators presenting their learning projects achieved through innovative usage of technology. It is an integral part of Microsoft’s global Partners in Learning program.

The purpose of this event is to:

• Recognize recipients of the Innovative Teachers Leadership Awards from participating European countries.
• Promote international sharing of innovative practices of technology integration.
• Provide Europe-wide networking opportunities among top innovators.
• Focus international attention on the importance of technology innovation in education.

Kilvemnon was nominated for this honour by Teachnet Ireland (www.teachnet.ie) and the Empowering Minds group in Dublin. (http://empoweringminds.spd.dcu.ie ). Kilvemnon’s project integrated every subject in the Primary School Curriculum with ICT and Digital Learning. It began in September 2007 and every aspect of aviation has been explored from the mechanics of flight to the use of aeroplanes in World Wars and right back to the first flight of the Wright Brothers. The children even constructed their own working models of aeroplanes and programmed them to move using the LEGO© Mindstorms Robotics System. This project has been documented at all stages through Digital Film and Photostory with the students directing their own learning.

There were 62 participating Projects from 23 countries around Europe with the entrants being judged in three categories: Community, Collaboration and Content. Kilvemnon came first in the Community Category. All three first prize winners will now travel to Bangkok in Thailand to represent their countries at the Microsoft World Innovative Teachers Forum in November.

Read more about this exciting project on www.kilvemnon.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last Updated: Thursday March 13 2008