Cork Education Support Centre

The National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE), in addition to other supports, provides project co-ordination and teacher professional development to the Empowering Minds project. In this project the NCTE partners with the Liberties Learning Initiative of the Digital Hub, the Dublin Inner-city Schools Computerisation project, St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra and teachers and pupils of participating schools.

The Empowering Minds project began in 1999 with four primary schools working to explore the theme of “Story, Myth and Legend” using digital technologies. Among the first technologies used was a small programmable device which, in conjunction with LEGO construction materials, allows children build models and control their movements, responses and behaviours.

In subsequent phases the project expanded to include more schools and a programme of teacher professional development provided teachers with greater awareness of the potential of using control technologies in a constructivist learning environment.

In the Cork area the following schools are involved:-

• Gaelscoil Mhachan, An Charraig Dhubh
• Greenmount N.S., Cork
• Kilbehenny N.S., Kilbehenny
• Presentation Primary School, Doneraile
• Presentation Primary School, Fermoy
• Scartleigh N.S., Saleen Cloyne
• Scoil Bernadette, Montenotte
• Scoil Mhuire Fatima, Cork
• St. Patrick's Boys N.S., Mallow