Written answers

Tuesday, 11 June 2019

Department of Education and Skills

Digital Strategy for Schools

Photo of Thomas ByrneThomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the outcome of reviews of schools involved as pilot or lead schools in the digital learning framework. [24246/19]

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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The Digital Learning Framework (DLF)  for Schools, developed in 2017 and which is currently being disseminated to all schools, was trialled in a cross sectoral representation of 50 schools during the 2017/2018 school year accompanied by an external evaluation conducted by the Education Research Institute (ERC).

The ERC Evaluation Report, available at , concluded that overall the DLF trial was a success. Feedback from schools participating in the trial was very positive. There was evidence of improvement to embedding Digital technologies in teaching. Learning and assessment in the short six-month period of the trial. The DLF and the related CPD resources were viewed positively. The ERC made a number of suggestions for improvements and those were incorporated into the final Framework document which is currently being disseminated to all schools. My Department has also commissioned the ERC to conduct a more longitudinal study of the DLF of a three year duration. This study commenced in January 2019.

On a more general note, the DLF supports the Digital Strategy for Schools and other Department policies in a number of key areas including curriculum reform and implementation, skills development, teacher education and learner outcomes. It provides a Roadmap to help schools embed the use of digital technologies in teaching and learning and in leadership & management. The Framework promotes student engagement in the teaching and learning process whereby students become engaged thinkers, active and discerning learners and where digital interactions are respectful and positive and conductive to wellbeing.  The DLF supports and complements the School Self Evaluation (SSE) process and will allow schools to evaluate their own progress and measure where they stand against benchmarks of effective and highly effective practices in the use of digital techniologies in teaching and learning and leadership and management. The dissemination of the DLF, which is currently underway, is supported by an intensive CPD Framework including national seminars, webinars, online courses and direct school support. The Framework is also accompanied by Digital Learning Planning Guidelines, a comprehensive set of guidelines for schools on the implementation of the DLF including the development of a Digital Learning Plan.

More information on the DLF can be found at

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