RTÉ continues proud support of School Digital Champion Programme

Thursday, 05 May 2022 09:52
Image for Article:RTÉ continues proud support of School Digital Champion Programme

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Pictured: RTÉ 2FM’s Laura Fox in action as MC at today’s Showcase Event

RTÉ is proud to continue its support of the School Digital Champion Programme’ which culminates in the annual showcase (hybrid) event today, Thursday 5th 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 seven years now. This government 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 another challenging year, approximately 200 students from second level schools throughout Ireland will take part, by Zoom, in Thursday’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 2021/2022 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.
  • Promote online safety and wellbeing.

Examples of the type of projects undertaken:

  • Apps promoting well-being, healthy eating and fitness, online safety, recycling and upcycling
  • Projects creating an online presence for local business on various social media platforms
  • Projects in the community setting up internet classes for elderly people
  • Coding clubs to promote programming from an early age
  • Minecraft replica of school and teachers to assist first year students
  • Microbit designed to help students deal with stress

A range of projects will be presented by participating students attending the Showcase Event in Dogpatch Labs.

As part of RTÉ’s support, RTÉ 2FM’s Laura Fox will MC today’s Showcase Event, RTÉ2FM’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.

RTÉ also hosted a successful virtual tour for participating students on Thursday 28th April featuring talks by Colm Hand and Aisling Moloney of RTÉ News, JJ Hartigan from our social media team and Eimear O’Mahony from Children’s and Young People’s Programming.

The Schools Digital Champions Programme welcomes all levels of ability and students work together in teams of up to four to complete their projects, The focus is on participation rather than competition.

For more on the Schools Digital Champions Programme, visit https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/98a07-school-digital-champion-programme/