Left to right: Donal Connell, Vice President of 3Com, Meabh Cryan, Michael Martin,The Minister for Education & Science, Nicholas Nash, Mr M. Hilliard

Minister launches 3Com schools project

The Minister for Education and Science, Micheál Martin, T.D., recently launched the 3Com Schools Information and Communication Technologies Project. 3Com have assisted 10 schools with the provision of computer networks and technical support as part of the IT 2000 drive to equip schools with computers.

The High School, Rathgar, was pleased to be selected as one of the schools and has been equipped with a high speed network to facilitate the distribution of the Internet to a class set of 30 computers through an ISDN connection to Tinet. The school has been at the forefront of technological development for many years and is currently operating a major teacher training programme in conjunction with Blackrock Education Centre. Approximately 40 teachers from the school and some from neighbouring primary schools are being trained in information technology.

The pupils of the school use ICTs within a variety of classes and also participate in e-mail projects with other schools through the European Studies and Young Reporters of the Environment networks. They desktop publish their own yearbook and other publications, scanning their own photographs and illustrations in the process. Educational CD Roms are also available on the multimedia computers.