Kilvemnon are first in Europe

Kilvemnon are First in Europe:
Congratulations to Scoil Mhuire, Kilvemnon and Ms. Kate O’ Connell who have come first in Europe for their project Flying High: Exploring Aviation. The 5th MICROSOFT EUROPEAN INNOVATIVE TEACHERS FORUM took place in Zagreb, Croatia on March 6-8 2008. European Innovative Teachers Forum has been since 2004 an international gathering of exceptional educators presenting their learning projects achieved through innovative usage of technology. It is an integral part of Microsoft’s global Partners in Learning Program. So far European Innovative Teachers Forums (www.innovativeteachers.com) were held in London (2004), Stockholm (2005), Tallinn (2006) and Paris (2007). Kate flew out to Zagreb to represent Kilvemnon, Mullinahone and Ireland at the Forum, competing against teachers from all over Europe. The purpose of this event was to:
Recognize recipients of the Innovative Teachers Leadership Awards from participating European countries.
Promote international sharing of innovative practices of technology integration.
Provide Europe-wide networking opportunities among top innovators.
Focus international attention on the importance of technology innovation in education.

Dr. Kevin Marshall, Academic Programme Manager in Ireland stated that “Microsoft was proud to facilitate this exciting opportunity to bring the most innovative teachers from around the continent together to share their experiences and practice.”
The agenda for the Forum included keynotes by well known experts on education and education technology issues. It focused on structured collaborative sessions that allowed the sharing of best practices with teachers from around the world. The Forum culminated in a Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on the evening of March the 7th 2008. Microsoft Innovative Teachers is a program within the Microsoft Educator Network designed specifically for the professional development needs of teachers. It focuses on teacher learning through the building and sharing of knowledge, inquiry and reflection on teaching practices, access to technology, and support for the integration of technology in the learning process. The program is based on the understanding that teacher learning is essential to the growth and development of schools and, ultimately, the success of the learning process for students.
Kilvemnon’s project integrated every subject in the Primary School Curriculum with ICT using the constructionist approach developed by Professor Seymour Papert of MIT and pioneered in Ireland by Dr. Deirdre Butler, St. Patrick’s College, with the Empowering Minds (EM) concept (http://empoweringminds.spd.dcu.ie). Kilvemnon N.S. have been members of the EM community since 2000 and have worked on a range of exciting projects. The award winning project in Zagreb began in September 2007 and every aspect of aviation has been explored from the first flight of the Wright Brothers to the use of aeroplanes in World Wars and the mechanics of flight. The children constructed their own working models of aeroplanes using LEGO© and programmed them to move using the LEGO© Mindstorms Robotics System. They designed and built LEGO© hydraulic lifts to raise the planes and simulate flight. They were supported in this endeavour by Cathal O’ Connell of the National Centre for Technology in Education. (http://www.ncte.ie/) who is currently the Project Coordinator of the Empowering Minds group.



There were 62 participating Projects from 23 countries around Europe with the entrants being judged in three categories: Community, Collaboration and Content. Kilvemnon came first in the Community Category. All three first prize winners will now travel to Bangkok in Thailand to represent their countries at the MICROSOFT WORLD INNOVATIVE TEACHERS FORUM in November.
Kilvemnon have opened doors to the ‘real world’ through email contact with a NATO flight engineer, Ian Nicholas (uncle of one of the students). In December word of the project reached England where Grandfather of Junior Infants students, John Thompson, became interested in the project. He had worked in the RAF as a ground engineer and he emailed information of his time in the RAF and answered the questions of the children. His photographs of Aeroplanes in an RAF Airshow were used to create Papier Mache Models that are displayed in the school.

Scoil Mhuire was visited by local aviator, Vincent Vaughan who showed the children a model aeroplane and spoke to them about the different working parts of the plane. They were then lucky enough to be invited to Kilkenny Airport by Vincent who teaches budding pilots how to fly. Whilst there the children were treated to a tour of Vincent’s aeroplane with each child allowed to sit in the plane and look at the controls. One student, Danny Freeman, was luckiest of all. He was chosen to take part in a flight with Vincent. They flew over Kilkenny with the whole event being filmed by 6th class student, Danny.

This project has been documented at all stages through Digital Film and Photostory with the students directing their own learning. In the final term students will complete a Film based on a scene from the story ‘Le Petit Prince’ by Antoine de Saint Exupery. This is a novel written about a pilot who is stranded in the Sahara desert when his plane crashes and meets the ‘Little Prince’, who reveals to him the simple truths of life. Kilvemnon has had a French Teacher in situ since September; Perrine Blanc, and hope to recreate their own version of this story in French, English and Irish.
Kilvemnon is indebted to Deirdre Butler of St. Patrick’s College, Willie McTiernan, ICT Advisor, Kilkenny Education Centre, Cathal O’ Connell (NCTE), Drumcondra and Vincent Vaughan. Special thanks are also due to the Board of Management, Principal Teckie Brett and staff; Secretary Liz Lonergan, SNA’s Sarah Ryan and Evita Hogan, Special Education Teachers; Claire Halpin, Leonie O’ Dwyer and Maria Hayes and of course, parents and grandparents who assisted the children with this project.

The school is extremely proud of Ms. O’ Connell who teaches 3rd to 6th class and are sure that the whole parish of Mullinahone and indeed the whole country are united in wishing her the best of luck at the WORLD INNOVATIVE TEACHERS FORUM in Thailand. Well done Ms. O’ Connell, well done students and well done Kilvemnon! Read more about this exciting project on www.kilvemnon.net