What do we do here? 

St. Joseph's Secondary School promotes a progressive and inclusive ethos. Our class groups are predominantly mixed ability settings that encourage an inviting social environment and convey value systems such as forming good and respectful cooperative relationships. 

Our school community practises a blended learning approach with a particular focus on the use of digital technology for teaching and learning. Mobile devices provide an opportunity for inclusive education as they facilitate anywhere/anytime learning which allows students of all ability levels to transition instantly from individual inquiry to sharing their ideas with their peers. 

Our students' and teachers' use of mobile devices is enhanced through our Learning Management Systems and, because this approach is user-controlled and interaction dependent, this makes it particularly effective for cooperative work while also enabling personalised learning experiences that support a diverse range of differentiated learners. 

Our Digital Learning Team uses the The SAMR model as a framework for planning the use of technology in our school. It's a way to understand how technology can transform and redefine learning experiences. The SAMR model has four levels of integration: 

• Substitution is when technology replaces a traditional tool without changing the task. 

• Augmentation enhances the task with some benefits. 

• Modification allows for significant task redesign, offering new possibilities. 

• Redefinition enables tasks that were previously impossible. 

Outreach Programme Redefined

Prosper Fingal is a non-profit organization in Fingal, dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities. They provide a range of services, including residential supports, day services, employment opportunities, and community inclusion programs. Prosper Fingal promotes independence, inclusion, and quality of life for people with disabilities in the Fingal area. 

Our students worked with service users at Prosper Fingal (adults with intellectual disabilities) to create storybooks for students at our local primary school that have special educational needs. The books were presented to the children and their families at a celebration at Christmas. This collaborative project has since been developed further to include a new audio visual book shared with service users so that they can access it on their devices.