Google Reference School

Status as a Google School

St. Mary’s Secondary School in Charleville, Co. Cork, has fully embraced Google Education Plus, transforming teaching and learning. Since 2014, we have evolved from initial pilot programs to a school-wide digital environment. Today, every student and teacher uses Google Classroom, Docs, Slides, Drive, and Meet. The school uses Google Sites for communication and resources. Chromebooks are widely used, and a BYOD policy is in place. The adoption of these tools has led to enhanced communication, increased accessibility for learners, personalised learning opportunities, and streamlined organisation. St. Mary’s actively shares its experiences with other schools, showcasing the impact of Education Plus. Staff are extensively trained in Google tools, and students receive Digital Media Literacy instruction to build digital skills. We’ve emphasised Notebook LM for AEN resources and Google Meet for EAL translations. The entire school community is dedicated to ongoing improvement in digital tools to optimise learning and teaching.

You can read the full story of this journey below.

Google Reference School Journey_compressed

Online Learning - Supports, Resources, and Reports

As a Google school, all online learning will take place using the GSuite/ Google Workspace platform. To the side are links to Google Meet, Gmail, and Google Classroom for your convenience. You should access your school email using your @stmaryscharleville.org address.

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NextGenerationEU Funding

“This school received a grant in 2021 to implement initiatives aimed at addressing the digital divide and support our learners at risk of educational disadvantage as a consequence, as part of the Irish National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) a project under the Recovery and Resilience Facility funded by the European Union through the following initiatives:
1. Expand Wi-Fi Network within the school Providing free internet access in public spaces like library classrooms and school
2. Purchase Chromebooks for students at risk of educational disadvantage
3. Subsidies and Discounted Plans: Offering financial assistance or discounted internet service plans for low-income households.
4. “Pay-as-you-go” models: In some developing regions, innovative payment models for internet access or devices can make them more accessible.
5. Digital Literacy Training Programs: Establishing and promoting comprehensive programs in schools, libraries, community centers, and non-profit organisations that teach basic computer skills, internet navigation, online safety, and more advanced digital skills.
6. Teacher Training: Equipping educators with the knowledge and confidence to integrate technology effectively into their teaching practices and help students develop digital literacy.
7. Digital Navigators: Training community members to act as “digital navigators” who can provide one-on-one assistance and guidance to individuals needing help with digital tools and online resources.
8. Culturally Relevant Content: Creating online content and applications that are relevant, meaningful, and in local languages to encourage participation and make technology more accessible to diverse populations.
9. Targeted Training: Developing specific programs for vulnerable groups, such as older adults, refugees, individuals with disabilities (e.g., the Xbox Adaptive Controller for gamers with limited mobility), or those with limited literacy.
10. Integrating Technology into Curriculum: Embedding digital skills and technology use directly into educational curricula from an early age.
11. Advocacy and Policy Reform: Working with policymakers to enact regulations and allocate funding that supports digital equity and addresses systemic barriers to access.
12. Measuring and Monitoring: Regularly assessing the digital divide in communities to identify gaps, locations of need, and the underlying causes, allowing for evidence-based and targeted interventions.
By implementing these diverse strategies, our school has become a communities where we can work towards a more digitally inclusive society where everyone has the opportunity to participate and thrive in the digital age.