RTÉ continues proud support of School Digital Champion Programme
#digitalchamps
RTÉ is proud to continue its support of the School Digital Champion Programme which culminates in the annual showcase (virtual) event this Wednesday 12th May. The Schools Digital Champion Programme has been funded and run by the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications in collaboration with the Department of Education for 6 years and goes from strength to strength.
The initiative aims to motivate, encourage and support second level schools in embracing digital technology through completing a project using their skills and technology to make a difference to their school/home, the wider community, or a local business.
Despite a challenging year, approximately 200 students from second level schools throughout Ireland will take part, by Zoom, in Wednesday’s School Digital Champion Programme Showcase Event and share some of the projects they have undertaken as part of this year’s programme.
In selecting a project for 2020/2021 students were asked to consider how they could use their skills and technology to:
- Reduce waste.
- Help combat climate change.
- Improve energy efficiency.
- Promote digital inclusion.
- Find solutions to problems encountered during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Develop tutorials for blended learning.
- Promote online safety and wellbeing.
Projects submitted include:
- Apps for students to pre-order school lunch and reduce food waste.
- An energy-saving microbit for the school principal to identify where school lights or computers may have been left on after the school day.
- An information App to help dementia sufferers with details relating to relatives, household tasks and with depression associated with the illness.
- Supporting local business by creating a multi-platform online presence.
- Internet classes for elderly people in the community.
As part of RTÉ’s support, RTÉ 2FM’s Stephen Byrne will MC Wednesday’s Showcase Event, RTÉ 2FM’s Head of Music, Adam Fogarty will talk to students about the importance of supporting young Irish artists and answer their questions and participating students will be given a chance to win a mojo (mobile journalism) workshop with RTÉ journalists for their school.
The School Digital Champion Programme welcomes all levels of ability and students work together in teams of up to four to complete their projects. Schools may enter a second team of four students if they have a second project proposal. Full class participation is encouraged, with the four students on the team leading the project. The focus is on participation rather than competition.
For more on the School Digital Champions Programme, click here.