Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from the network for their presentation. One observation occurred to me as I listened and it is something I do not get. Senator Ó Clochartaigh referred to it earlier. On one hand, people maintain that the ICT enhanced supports in place are not effective. Essentially, they are saying they do not work for individuals. On the other hand, they maintain access times are somehow not appropriate to their lives in terms of being able to access the supports when they want. It seems these two issues could be examined in tandem in the interests of addressing a challenge. If we had some sort of ICT support structure that could satisfy their needs - we can talk about the shape that might take - it is more than likely that we could solve the issue of people's inability to access the support structure at a time that is convenient to them. The vast majority of these students are carrying ICT devices such as the one I have my hand now. In 2015 many young people between the age of 20 and 35 years are saying that mathematics tuition or a mathematics support structure delivered on an ICT platform are not working for them. Let us consider the work of An Cosán in Jobstown and what those involved are doing with the online community college. They are teaching students throughout the country from a centre based in Tallaght. There is live interaction between the students and the tutor. What happens is recorded and, as a result, a student can go back the following night and go through the entire class again at his or her own convenience. Let us consider what ALISON is doing in Galway. ALISON is now the largest online global educator on the continent of Africa. A total of 30 people in Galway are teaching an entire continent online, predominantly on a part-time basis. Let us consider what the Khan Academy is doing. Two years ago there were 4,000 students using the Khan Academy platform in Ireland. Now, there are 93,000. Does the network face a challenge in terms of being able to reach out to students? Is there a solution to dealing with that challenge and is it the case that we have somehow not managed to bring the two together? Is that something the network is working towards? Does Dr. Mac an Bhaird see that as a major tool available to the network in addressing the challenge of mathematics proficiency in third level in future? It seems there is a solution and a problem waiting to dovetail. I am keen to know the views of the network on the matter.