This week we talk to the first guest of the podcast, Camara's very own Miriam Harte! Miriam works on the TechSpace programme running and delivering STEAM and STEM projects. We chat about what is STEAM is, how you can get started in the area in the classroom (regardless of what subjects you teach!) and Miriam gives an overview of the project they've run recently training teachers online. If you want to find out more details about training we can provide for your school in the area of STEAM you can get in touch with Miriam via email ([email protected]). You can see examples of the activities they do on the TechSpace website and on the YouTube channel.

Get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland. Whether you have any questions or comments on this episode, suggestions for what you would like us to cover in a future episode, or you just want to tell us how much you’re enjoying the podcast, we’d love to hear from you!

We have created a survey to get insight into CPD needs and wants from schools for the coming year. It would be great if you could take 5 minutes to fill out the survey here. We are also running an EPV Summer course. It will focus on the Google Workspace for Education platform and apps, as well as CS First. For more information or to book your place, email Orna ([email protected]).

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In this episode, James & Orna discuss some ways that teachers and schools can finish the year well and prepare for September. They chat about CPD, organising and archiving digital resources and having conversations as a staff team about what to take forward from the past year.

As part of this, we have created a survey to get insight into CPD needs and wants from schools for the coming year. It would be great if you could take 5 minutes to fill out the survey here.

We are also running an EPV Summer course. It will focus on the Google Workspace for Education platform and apps, as well as CS First. For more information or to book your place, email Orna ([email protected]).

If you have any feedback, thoughts or comments on the podcast we’d love to hear from you. You can get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland.

Music by Twisterium from Pixabay

In this episode, James & Orna discuss some ways that technology can step in to help with end of year celebrations. They chat briefly about assessment before moving onto more fun areas like online and digital yearbooks, showcasing student work and experiences throughout the year and also how to turn use video to replace whole-school assemblies or award presentations.

Get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland. Whether you have any questions or comments on this episode, suggestions for what you would like us to cover in a future episode, or you just want to tell us how much you’re enjoying the podcast, we’d love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in finding out more about what we do please get in touch. We also have a mailing list that you can sign up to for monthly updates on our latest training and hardware offerings. To be added to the list email Orna ([email protected]) or James ([email protected]).

Some suggested websites to use

Canva (for graphic design) - https://www.canva.com/en_gb/

Screencastify (for recording videos) - https://www.screencastify.com/ 

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This week James and Orna talk about student wellbeing and technology. They give some tips and suggestions of how technology can feed into student wellbeing in the classroom, including ideas around mindfulness.

Get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland. Whether you have any questions or comments on this episode, suggestions for what you would like us to cover in a future episode, or you just want to tell us how much you’re enjoying the podcast, we’d love to hear from you! If you’re interested in finding out more about what we do please get in touch. We also have a mailing list which you can sign up for monthly updates on our latest training and hardware offerings. To be added to the list email Orna ([email protected]) or James ([email protected]).

Guided Meditations

3-Minute Mindful Breathing

Puzzles & Jigsaws

Online Jigsaw Puzzles

Virtual Tours

Irish National Gallery Virtual Tool

Vatican Museum

British Museum

Hubble Space Telescope

Live Animal Cams

San Diego Zoo Live Webcams

Dublin Zoo Webcams

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This week James and Orna finish their conversation about digital skills, looking this time at using and integrating digital skills into the classroom. They mention a few resources which are listed below and talk in some detail about the idea of an ePortfolio, an example of which can also be found below. Get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland. Whether you have any questions or comments on this episode, or anything you would like us to cover in a future episode, or you just want to tell us how much you’re enjoying the podcast. We’d love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in finding out more about what we do please get in touch, we also have a mailing list which you can sign up for for monthly updates on our latest training and hardware offerings. To be added to the list email Orna ([email protected]) or James ([email protected]).

Resources Mentioned

Applied Digital Skills Homepage: https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/s/en-uk/home

E-Portfolio Activity: https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/c/middle-and-high-school-uk/en-uk/build-a-portfolio-with-google-sites/overview.html

An example e-portfolio: https://sites.google.com/gedudemocamaraireland.com/ornas-portfolio/ 

Presentation Activity: https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/c/middle-and-high-school-uk/en-uk/create-a-presentation-all-about-a-topic/overview.html

Digital Skills in Everyday Tasks: https://applieddigitalskills.withgoogle.com/c/college-and-continuing-education-uk/en-uk/digital-tools-for-everyday-tasks/overview.html

Some websites to teach typing: Dance Mat Typing, Key man, Alpha Munchies

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In Part 2 of our transitioning back to the classroom conversations we look at some practical and beneficial ways that digital technologies can be used as a staff team. We recommend some ideas including an internal staff website, collaborative documents and online forms. Get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland. Whether you have any questions or comments on this episode, or anything you would like us to cover in a future episode, or you just want to tell us how much you’re enjoying the podcast. We’d love to hear from you!

If you’re interested in finding out more about what we do please get in touch, we also have a mailing list which you can sign up to for monthly updates on our latest trainings and hardware offerings. To be added to the list email Orna ([email protected]) or James ([email protected])

Example staff site - https://sites.google.com/camara.ie/mullingarpost-primary/announcements?authuser=0

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This episode is part one of three in which James and Orna will look at transitioning to the physical classroom and how teachers and students can keep using and improving on the digital skills they’ve picked up and used this last year. In this first part they discuss digital skills broadly, including what they are, why they’re important and how they will become more and more important in our daily and work lives. Get in touch with us via email at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland. Whether you have any questions or comments on this episode, or anything you would like us to cover in a future episode, or you just want to tell us how much you’re enjoying the podcast. We’d love to hear from you!

In this episode a number of reports are referred to and you can view them at the links below. We also mentioned the new Exploring EDTech Ireland digtial magazine which you can find here.

Learning for all? Second-level education in Ireland during COVID-19 report from the Economic & Social Research Institute.

Ireland's Digital Divide - summary findings from the Accenture report which can be found in full here.

DES Press release on the New Digital Strategy For Schools.

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In this episode James & Orna talk about using Jamboard with students. They talk through the features of Jamboard, how teachers can use it and then talk in more detail about 3 specific examples. You can find links to those examples below.

If you’ve used Jamboard in the classroom or during remote teaching we’d love to hear about it! What did you use it for? How did it go? Get in touch with any questions or topics you want us to cover by emailing us at [email protected] or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland

Examples Discussed

Camara Ireland is a non-profit social enterprise based in Ireland whose vision is an Ireland where all young people have the skills to realise their potential. Visit https://camaraireland.ie/ for more information.

Music by Twisterium from Pixabay

In this episode James & Orna talk about using audio with students. Orna describes her own 'eureka moment' when her students started recording themselves in her language classroom, and how one small idea sparked a change in her approach to leading language-learning. They also chat through some easy ways to get started on using and recording audio clips with students of all levels.

Get in touch with any educational podcasts you enjoy or ones you’ve given to students to listen to, or how you’ve used audio in the classroom. Get in touch with any questions or topics you want us to cover by emailing us at [email protected]  or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland

Resources Discussed

How I Built This podcast - https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510313/how-i-built-this?t=1615907875687

Everything is Alive podcast - https://www.everythingisalive.com/

Camara Ireland is a non-profit social enterprise based in Ireland whose vision is an Ireland where all young people have the skills to realise their potential. Visit https://camaraireland.ie/ for more information.

Music by Twisterium from Pixabay

In this episode James & Orna talk about Computer Science! They discuss what is Computer Science and how it is linked to Computational Thinking. They then discuss three resources you can use to get started introducing your students to them. This includes Scratch, Unplugged Activities and Micro:bits. Get in touch with any other tools or methods you have found helpful for teaching Computer Science or any questions you want us to respond to, email us at [email protected]  or message us on Twitter @CamaraIreland

Resources Discussed

Unplugged Activities

CS Unplugged

Teaching Computing London

Scratch Resources

Scratch

CS First

Micro:bit

Camara Ireland is a non-profit social enterprise based in Ireland whose vision is an Ireland where all young people have the skills to realise their potential. Visit https://camaraireland.ie/ for more information.

Music by Twisterium from Pixabay