March 2011

Co Sligo VEC leads the way in ICT learning innovations in the Northwest

 County Sligo VEC have launched new web education courses in order to bring new technologies to different types of audiences. Nowadays technology plays an increasingly important role and learning to use the tools at our disposal plays a fundamental role in the personal and professional development. We believe there is a need to explain the opportunities offered by new communication tools in a global context, especially in order to enhance the production processes of the entities.

The courses currently being offered by County Sligo VEC are focused on bringing online collaboration tools that enable new communication channels and foster the personal and professional growth, while at the same time creating new channels of communication and helping to coordinate working groups. It also aims to train / instruct teachers in the use of these tools and concepts of web design with a view to promote the interest of young students in classrooms. There is a large demand for web professionals and from Sligo VEC we are trying to engage school students in the field. A group of secondary students are taking a course on web design, learning design principles, digital content creation as well as coding websites with up to date/ professional tools.

At SligoVEC our understanding is that the use of new technologies and its expansion is changing the way we work, providing access to information and mobility of workers. While conducting the teaching of these courses, Sligo VEC is developing a series of initiatives, such as providing first year students with iPod Touches to encourage student interaction, the provision of an eLearning platform to support classroom teaching as well as ongoing training and upskilling of our teachers.

ICT and investment in elearning is one of the five initiatives that Co Sligo VEC is focusing on as part of our Education Plan 2011-2016.

Congratulations to Co Sligo VEC's Dragon's Den 2011 winner Patrick Leonard.  Patrick is a 2nd year student in Grange Post-Primary School.  He impressed everybody with his short presentation on his Cable Tower.

Congratulations also to John McNamara and Felix McGrath, both studying for their Leaving Cert with VTOS in Quay Street.  Their idea was a mobile pet grooming service 'Hotdogs'. 

And finally congratulations to Yasmin Conlon, a student in Ballinode College.  Yasmin came 3rd with her idea for a 'Green' Nappy Changing Kit,designed to be available in vending machines around towns and cities for any accidents while out and about.

Thanks to our Dragon's, Mike McGrath, MD of Rebasoft, Declan Walsh from Lotus Works and Seamus Farrell of SF Engineering.

We would also like to thank our sponsors, County Sligo Enterprise Board and Sligo Credit Union and the organisers of Sligo It's Enterprise & Innovation Week.

A big thank you to all Sligo VEC staff that helped out in coordination and mentoring of the contestants.  You all did a great job!

And finally,finally, finally Well done to all the finalists, who all put in alot of hard work for the event.  All the presentations were fantastic.  Well done!!