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A chat with Leigh Graves Wolf of University College Dublin interviewed by Richard Millwood on Wednesday 5 March 2025. In the conversation, Leigh talks about her inspiration to be involved with educational technology, her views that it is most effective when seamless and that we promote diversity rather than 'best practice'. She adds that collaboration and engagement are some of the most effective outcomes from the use of technology in education. Leigh observes that care and criticality are important philosophical positions regarding education and that there is no single pedagogical approach to learning, while being a fan of the TPACK analysis (technical pedagogical and content knowledge). Finally Leigh bemoans the single assessment method approach arguing that we should 'break' the mould of written examination in large halls. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Margaret (Mags) is an Assistant Professor in Inclusive Education for the Education Department in Maynooth University. Her experience in inclusive and special education includes teaching, teacher professional learning design and delivery, policy development and curriculum design. As a Fulbright Scholar, in 2021 Margaret worked with Lynch School of Education and Humanities at Boston College and CAST to explore equity, diversity, inclusion, and social justice through the lens of UDL and currently is a member of the UDL Guidelines 3.0 Collaboartaive which supports and informs the process of reenvisioning teh UDL Guidelines Margaret is alo the creator and host of #UDLchatIE and of the Podcast ‘Talking about all things Inclusion’. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paddy Bates is a Primary Teacher Involved in IT from early 80s. He's a long time member of CESI and was President in 2002. He's a Coordinator of Culture Dept of European Virtual School. He's been Involved with IT projects with INTO, Dept of Education Pilot Project 84-86 , Laois Edcentre etc. He's created a Course on Authoring Software that was delivered to Trinity College Masters class. Primary Author of Information Technology in Irish schools. & Involved in Pilot I.T. Project for Primary Schools 1984-86. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First and foremost Conor is a "Digital Journeyman" He Lectures & teaches green & sustainable education, public policy, technology in education, and research methods programmes at UCD. His Interests include sustainable development, policy networks, professional knowledge, and the impact of new and emergent technology on learning and society.  Research at the moment is taking place under the Jean Monnet Teaching Action and the ERASMUS+ Teacher Academies Programme.  Also currently involved with JRC-Seville in piloting a new, personal competence based toolkit for school teachers, building on the EC DigCompEdu framework and the SELFIE brand. Recently He led the well-regarded EU Funded Knowledge Alliance KA 2 project; the ITELab, 2017-20.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Developed some interest in the idea of computers in my schooldays – notably around the beginning of the 1960s. Faraday lecture on “Transistors and all that”; talk to my class – we all had to give one if I recall correctly – on “the binary system (not in the maths curriculum then) and computers” [anecdote on my parents’ different reactions] Did my degree in Maths in Trinity in the early 1960s. Graduate work in London … captivated by logic and the foundations of mathematics, including theoretical computing as manifested in Turing machines and the concept of computability. Came back to Ireland in 1969 to do the HDip, then teach in Alexandra College, then back to TCD to do the MEd … during this entire period (which coincided with stirrings of interest in computers in education here and initial Departmental activity) so many things contrived to enhance my interest in ideas both of computing – including computing in schools – and the use of computers in T&L. Went to what was the foundational meeting of CESI, January 1973, but only as a stand-in (for Fr. Cyril Byrne who wrote the programming language CSSP for schools) so I don’t regard myself as a founder member. Fr. Cyril started – or at least, Prof. John Byrne started & Fr. Cyril taught – the Computers in Education Diploma at TCD in autumn 1973, and the first cohort of students effectively became the Dublin Branch of CESI. In CESI ever since … usually on the Executive (and have served as national Vice-Chair or whatever we were calling it at the time). Member of various CESI delegations / visits to the Department over the years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adrienne Webb taught Mathematics, Geography and ICT at St. Michael’s Holy Faith Secondary School, Finglas for more than 30 years.  Recently she stepped down from her role as Chair of CESI, which she held for over eleven years.  She has a Masters Degree in Education (Digital Learning) DCU. As part of IT 2000, she was both Project Officer and National Coordinator of the Schools Integration Project (SIP) with NCTE – now PDST, Technology in Education.  She has lectured in Quantitative Reasoning on the Adult Learning BA programme in All Hallows College (DCU).  Along with her co-author Jackie Pierce she has written two series of workbooks for the Leaving Certificate Applied progamme on Mathematical Applications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael is a former primary school teacher who has over 25 years’ experience working in the field of digital education. He developed his interest in digital education in the early 1980s as an undergraduate student teacher in Coláiste Mhuire, Marino by playing with the college’s newly acquired Apple Macintosh computer. His first research project focused on the use of a BBC Micro in Irish primary schools in the mid-1980s. He later pursued a Masters in Education Technology in Boston College, where he also focused on the area of digital assessment. During his time in Boston he also worked in the Newton Public School System, one of the most progressive education systems in the US and he had the privilege of working on numerous innovative digital education projects. On returning to Ireland in 1994, after 5 years in Boston, he returned to classroom teaching and was instrumental in introducing Apple Macintosh computers into the school and in partnership with his business partner, John Hurley, created the first school website in Ireland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are very lucky to get Pam on the CESI Staffroom, to say that she's busy is a huge understatment, Pam is a lecturer in the Information Technology Department on the Thurles campus of the Technological University of the Shannon.  She is the organiser of the annual ICT in Education conference and has been a mentor in CoderDojo since 2011.  She has also mentored the Youth Media Team since their inception in 2013.  Pam is one of the Irish EU Code Week Ambassadors and She is currently undertaking doctoral studies in the School of Education in University College Dublin. Did I mention she does Origami ???  Pam talks to us today about where it all began and how today she has - as she says herself - the greatest job in the world.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Recap:   Russel Tarr, Kate Kogge, Ewan McIntosh, Kate Molloy and Joe Dale all featured on Season2 of the CESI staffroom. All these episodes are available where ever you download your podcast from, just type CESI Staffroom.    The email address for the Staffroom is : [email protected]   My Email Address : [email protected]  The email address for the YouTube Channel : [email protected]   We would love to hear from you.    Season 3 will be the same with plenty of interesting interviews WITH more..... We decided to do video demos to support teachers in the classroom, so, if there's something you'd like us to cover please let me know.    https://padlet.com/hassandabbagh/3m0f...   Our Padlet of resources http://www.cesi.ie/the-staffroom/CESI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a sneak peak into this month CESI Staffroom with Ewan McIntosh and Mags Amond .  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ewan: Ewan founded consulting firm NoTosh a decade ago from his kitchen table in Edinburgh, growing it to offices in around the world. He and his team work with people in schools, universities and companies to help them identify and overcome their greatest challenges, to work better together and rethink the environment in which they learn. https://colinalearning.com/ Mags: a retired teacher,  and slightly tired but happy researcher!! Almost finished a phd and the several knitted items I started and am  ready for real life again. Love my family, love my CESI colleagues. https:/cesi.ie The email address for the YouTube Channel : [email protected] https://padlet.com/hassandabbagh/3m0f... Our Padlet of resources http://www.cesi.ie/the-staffroom/CESI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A sneak peak into Next Weeks EP of @cesitweets Staffroom, we talk all things #teachmeet with @ewanmcintosh and @magsamond ..... oh yeah.... and building the best school in the world. it's Another good one, please like and share Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Kogge has been teaching for seven years and is a science educator from Charlottesville, Virginia. During her time within Albemarle County Public Schools, she has developed interdisciplinary, community-centered projects alongside her talented colleagues and students, oftentimes in collaboration with businesses and nonprofit organizations in the region. In recent years, Kate and her team have partnered with MIT’s Playful Journey Lab, MakerEd, and Youth-Nex on student-centered educational programming and practices. Kate’s projects at CLS have connected her students with scientists, engineers, artists, activists, business leaders, researchers, and change makers in the Charlottesville area and beyond. She believes strongly in the power of student voice and agency and that even the youngest learners have the power to make an impact on the world through their work. The Email address for the Staffroom is : [email protected] My Email Address : [email protected] YouTube : Click here Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kate Molloy is a Learning Technologist with the Centre for Excellence in Learning and Teaching at NUI Galway and is currently the NUI Galway lead on the Irish Universities Association Enhancing Digital Teaching and Learning project. Prior to taking up this role at NUI Galway, Kate had been a secondary English teacher in both the United States and Ireland for over a decade. As a teacher, she became interested in critical pedagogy, inclusivity, and the use of technology. In 2015, she moved into higher education where she supports staff teaching with technology. Her work focuses on the informed and ethical use of technology in higher education, learning design, and open practice. Kate is Secretary, National Executive of the Computers in Education Society of Ireland (CESI), and was a Digital Pedagogy Lab Fellow in 2019. She tweets at @hey_km. The email address for the Staffroom is : [email protected] The email address for the YouTube Channel : [email protected] My Email Address ( [email protected]) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGIxLwMe00TwgLFykrmORUw https://padlet.com/hassandabbagh/3m0ffzje3jl3 Our Padlet of resources http://www.cesi.ie/the-staffroom/CESI Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Dale joins us In this months Podcast we talk tech, twitter and best practices when it comes to using tech in school, in particular the use of Ed Tech when it comes to teaching languages . Joe is an Educator, Technologist & Podcaster. Joe is based in the UK and according to his twitter he's an independent languages consultant with 13 years of teaching experience who works with a range of organisations such as Network for Languages, ALL, The British Council, the BBC, Skype, Microsoft and The Guardian. As Luck would have it Joe was in Ireland a week before the release date of this podcast and was last seen travelling somewhere on the 39A. Joe has an EDU insight that very people few people have and is most definitely an expert in his field and it's been said that "there's no show like a Joe Show!"  The email address for the Staffroom is : [email protected] The email address for the YouTube Channel : [email protected] My Email Address ( [email protected]) https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGIxLwMe00TwgLFykrmORUw https://padlet.com/hassandabbagh/3m0ffzje3jl3 Our Padlet of resources http://www.cesi.ie/the-staffroom/CESI Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.