STEM Funding - Post Primary projects.

A sum of money has been made available to continue to build the professional capacity of STEM teaching staff in Post Primary Schools by developing and promoting the sharing of effective practice at Key Stages 3 and 4.

Post Primary schools are invited to bid for funding in support of this remit through either:

• collaboration between a minimum of 2 STEM Areas of Learning within a school; or

• collaboration in relation to the promotion, learning and teaching of an identified STEM subject between a minimum of 2 schools within an Area Learning Community.

To access more information and review the application form click here.

KS3 Technology Survey

If you are considering auditing or reviewing your KS3 provision, then it might be a good idea to start with the pupils.  As teachers of Technology we all know what works well and what doesn't, or do we?   In order to help measure the success of your KS3 programme we have made an on-line survey available.  Changes made as a result of findings within this survey could lead to positive changes and enrich the provision of T&D.  I have made a copy of this available for everyone within the template gallery in Google Docs.  You can access this form by clicking here.  If you are interested in implementing this survey and want to know more please contact a member of the Technology team at Clounagh. Credit to J Moore in Fivemiletown High School for sharing this with the Technology Community.

Solidworks student kit - extended licence

There has been some recent confusion over the expiry date of the SW student design kit.  We have posted a help sheet on clounagh.org to help students extend this date.  Click here for further information on how to do this. 

Technology and Design Checklist

We have recently added a new resource to Clounagh.org.  This checklist outlines the key documents and elements that should be in place in order to provide the necessary conditions for a safe, high quality and effective teaching and learning experience for all pupils and staff. It can be used to cross reference from, as well as to reflect and evaluate a Technology and Design department.  Any gaps in provision can then be actioned.  Click here to access the document.

Generation Innovation Launched to Stem and Reverse NI Brain Drain

Generation Innovation Launched to Stem and Reverse NI Brain Drain

Call for Nominations of Students Most Likely to Succeed in the New Economy

A new initiative, designed specifically to help stem and eventually reverse the brain drain from Northern Ireland has been launched today by the Northern Ireland Science Park and other representatives from the local business community. Generation Innovation is a new initiative designed to build a physical and online network of Northern Ireland’s best young people, before, during and after their third level studies or initial career choice.

ALISON - online learning

ALISON is a for-profit social enterprise based in Galway, Ireland. They are a resourceful and determined multinational team of socially-aware technologists, educationalists, and marketers, who understand that today we have the opportunity to make access to universal education free via the web.

It's free to register and courses vary from health and safety right through to management and leadership. From a technology point of view there are some very interesting and useful courses including manufacturing and design, graphic design and computer aided design. Certification is free with most courses, they are easy to use and can be done at your own pace. Just google Alison and read from there.

3D printing

Over the last 18 months we have been piloting the use of the 3D printer.  We have been very impressed with the interest and uptake in the use of accessing the 3D printer either on a loan basis or e-mailing parts via Clounagh.  Having seen the potential and with further projected success of this facility, we have now established a cost for rapid prototyping.  For further information click here.  Please note costs are for material only and not the actual use of the machine

There have been some issues with the 'sheet format' option in Solidworks, and having access to this feature. To overcome this problem we have added a help sheet and the necessary files to clounagh .org. Click here to view the link to these files and helpsheet.

YouTube (and other sites) now available on C2K!

At last! For all of you out there who recognise YouTube as a very useful and informative resource but thought that this would never be accessible from the C2K network, think again!  By getting your school principal to complete form A115 on C2k exchange, teaching staff will be able to access YouTube as well as other useful sites such as Flickr, NING and wordpress to name a few.  I have embedded a YouTube video below so as soon as the application has been processed you will be able to watch it.

Circular saw/bandsaw refresher

There are a number of people who have still to complete refresher circular saw/bandsaw training in November.  Letters of invite will be sent out soon.  If for some reason you do not receive a letter and feel you should be on this training course please contact any member of the Technology team at Clounagh.

Technology Resources

Some new and useful resources have bee added to clounagh.org over the summer.  These include GENIE PIC resources, STEM Metal resources and a new and very exciting IKEA resource that could be used in conjunction with a field trip to IKEA.  More material will be added very soon so keep logging on for some quality teaching and learning resources.

Self Evaluation - a process for improvement.

It has always been difficult to keep up with the ever changing nature of jargon surrounding education.  Another new buzzword or acronym regularly pops up, saturating an already exhaustive list.  The focus however should always remain the same - raising standards through high quality teaching and learning.  This can be a difficult thing to start thinking about, particularly if you are a one teacher department and don't have the advantage of the sharing and developing from another technology colleague.  It may also be something your department have talked about but have yet to engage in. At this time of year might be worth thinking about conducting some self evaluation.  Only through such a process will you arrive at a comprehensive and realistic action plan that should aspire to school improvement.  The Technology team at Clounagh have been developing some material to assist in this process, if you would like to find out more or discuss this please feel free to contact Averil or Martin at the Clounagh Centre.

Circular saw - refresher course

The Clounagh Centre are currently hosting a run of days in the safe use and operation of the circular saw/bandsaw.  This course applies only to those schools with a table saw (such as a wadkin type).  If for some reason you think you require training and not have not yet received a training invite, please contact Patricia Curran at the Clounagh centre.

STEM Module

The STEM module is a fully equipped mobile lab and workshop that is available to book for your school.  For more information log onto www.stemmodule.com where they also have some good resources for project activities.

Teacher Network - Free Resources

The Teacher Network is part of Guardian Professional Network.  This community of sites has incorporated a range of providers who have contributed to a range of very useful, informative and interactive resources. You are encouraged to view download and contribute to the resource.  The Technology resources here are well worth exploring and registration is free. http://teachers.guardian.co.uk/Homepage.aspx 

Felder Dust Chip Bags - scrappage scheme!

For anyone wishing to refresh their plastic dust collection bags on their Felder extraction system we have some available at the Clounagh Centre.  Contact Paul or Martin for details,
(and no, we don't want your old bags:))

Extended Project - Get some credit.

The WJEC Extended Project qualification can enable Year 13 students to gain UCAS accreditation at AS-Level for their project work, either individually or within a team.  Subject to approval of their project title, students can submit a team project with their Extended Project Outcome as their end product.  This may be an artifact or model, or electronic or other non-written submission.  For this type of project, each student is expected to produce Project Outcome Notes of a minimum of 2,000 words.  Tessa Gabriel-Davies, Pathways Development Officer at WJEC, will present the qualification at a meeting in Belfast at: 1.30 pm (tea / coffee and sandwiches will be available form 1.00)

on: Wednesday 18 May 2011

in [room to be decided], Queen’s University Belfast.

For more information log onto www.wjec.co.uk/?subject=30&level=162

Woodturning update

John Keenan demonstrating his skills.

As you are probably aware the Clounagh Centre ran a 6 week afternoon course in the safe use and operation of the woodturning lathe.  The course was well attended and everyone involved was grateful for the valuable instruction of both Tom and Eugene.  We would like to thank both instructors who gave up their free time to disseminate their skills and expertise.  Due to the success and interest in this course it is hoped that further sessions will be run in the near future.

Solidworks Student Kit Windows 7 - 64 bit version

A Windows 7 64 bit version of the Solidworks Student Design Kit is available on request from the Clounagh Centre.  This can be distributed to any students with this particular computer specification.

The flight experience challenge 2011

 Applications to take part in the annual Bombarider flight experience competitions are now open.  The competition challenges pupils to design, build and fly a self propelled aircraft.  For more info and the application form click here and
here