Drive to develop primary teachers' IT skills

CYBERSKILL Workshops are to be run by the INTO on foot of research showing that the majority of primary teachers are not familiar with technology.

Once the workshops get under way, the union expects to train approximately 160 teachers each month.

The initiative is part of the INTO's drive to develop IT awareness among teachers. It recently published a booklet on issues surrounding IT in Irish primary education.

The union has found that the majority of primary teachers are not aware of the potential that information technology could have on their personal and professional development.

The proposed IT in-service programme for teachers is currently being planned with the computer company, ICL. The workshops are expected to get under way in September.

According to the INTO, the first workshops will set out to break down in-built barriers, such as the fear of new technology. They will be aimed at raising teacher awareness and expectations about the relevance and potential of IT in the context of lifelong learning and as a cross-curricular resource.

The INTO is in negotiation with a computer company which has developed an awareness training model that will be adapted for use by teachers.