There are very strong links between our schools in the cluster and two of our schools had involved in the Digital Learning Framework pilot in 2017-2018 which was most rewarding in terms of exploring digital innovation. We were excited about expanding this learning and that of our students with the benefit of a larger number of schools and across both primary and post primary levels in the digital cluster. Therefore we worked together to create a Digital Learning policy and a common action plan for our School Excellence Fund Digital project.

As well as being an important educational resource, the ability to use digital technology effectively is a vital life skill in modern society. Our aim is to produce active, engaged learners (pupils and staff) who are confident and effective users of digital technologies. We strive to achieve this aim by:

Improved Learner outcomes

• embedding digital technologies in teaching and learning practices across the curriculum through constructivist principles.

• providing high level pupil engagement in learning through teacher use of the Digital Learning Framework whereby students become engaged thinkers, active learners and knowledge constructors

• being inclusive of all ages and abilities so that personalisation and differentiation in teaching and learning is evident and widely accommodated with student centered lessons where pupils/students are more self - directed and motivated in their approach to learning.

Improved Individual practice

• embedding digital technologies into teaching and learning which will inform whole - school planning.

Promoting Collaboration within schools

• The collaboration within and from outside the cluster has promoted discussion, research and debate between schools (both Primary and Post Primary), industry (sporting & technology), third level (Sligo IT), an Education Centre (Carrick-on-Shannon) and PDST Technology and PDST PE.

Promoting curricular change

• Our project will promote Physical Education curricular change and help students and teachers develop project & video portfolio skills needed for secondary school PE which are now part of the Classroom Based Assessment of the short course in Junior Cycle and the phased introduction of Physical Education at Senior cycle which will be rolled out nationally in 2020. Our project will introduce our teachers and students to digital skills required to complete the video movement project and ebook assessment which combined will account for 50% of the exam in PE at Leaving Certificate.