St. Laurence's National School

Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

We are very lucky to have the following resources available to the pupils in St. Laurence’s:

• a fully equiped computer room
• computers in every classroom
• broadband internet access with Department of Education filtering system
• mobile data projectors
• digital cameras
• interactive whiteboards in 6th class

Children are given the opportunities to:

• learn word processing skills
• develop typing skills
• learn how to use the internet
• use a selection of programs such as MS Word, Publisher, Excel and Powerpoint
• explore all curricular areas through ICT
• research information
• work on class projects
• play a wide variety of educational games

Acceptable Use Policy for Technology

St Laurence’s National School exists for the pupil. Their educational progress and their welfare is the overriding consideration in all decisions made. We strive to maintain a welcoming, safe and good learning environment for all pupils. Any use of technology which goes against this ethos is an unacceptable use of that technology including cameras, computers and phones.

Technology and internet use is a privilege, not a right. Therefore, if the school’s Acceptable Use Policy is not adhered to, this privilege will be withdrawn. The school aims to ensure that the child’s access to the Internet will be beneficial and educational as well as safe and enjoyable.

School’s Strategy

The school will employ a number of strategies in order to maximise learning opportunities and reduce risks associated with the Internet. These strategies are as follows:

• Internet sessions will always be supervised by a teacher.
• A filtering system provided by the Department of Education will be used to minimise the risk of exposure to inappropriate material.
• The school will regularly monitor pupils’ Internet usage.
• Students will be provided with training in the area of Internet safety.
• Online sessions will be directed towards appropriate sites and teachers should review any sites before allowing children access to them.
• Children will be taught the value of behaving responsibly while online and the importance of being accountable for their behaviour.
• Parental permission and agreement to access will be sought for each child for teachers to use the Internet as a learning tool.
• The history will be monitored on a regular basis.
• Virus protection software will be used and updated on a regular basis.
• The use of personal floppy disks or CD-ROMs in school requires a teacher’s permission.
• Students will observe good “netiquette” (i.e., etiquette on the Internet) at all times and will not undertake any actions that may bring the school into disrepute.
• Students will not visit Internet sites that contain objectionable materials.
• Students will never disclose or publicise personal information.
• Students will be aware that any usage, including distributing or receiving information, school-related or personal, may be monitored for unusual activity, security and/or network management reasons.
• Only teachers will send emails.
• Personal pupil information including home address and contact details will be omitted from school web pages.
• Pupils will only be referred to by their first names and class group when putting up examples of their work.
• No photographs with individual names attached will be used.

Click here to see a copy of our Internet Usage Policy

Click here to see a copy of our Acceptable Use Policy