Cutting Edge Technology Education

Senior technology students in Scoil Mhuire are involved in an exciting technology research project known as “the dalta project”.this project is run by university limerick in conjunction with Athlone institute of technology goldsmith university London Purdue university Indiana USA and Stockholm university.the project challenges students to design a project that tests the intelligence of birds.the students design their project and produce a portfolio which includes voice files and video files to explain their design and how it will work.The student’s design folios were then assessed using an alternative method os assessment known as adaptive comparative judgement (a.c.j.). During this method of assessment, the professional judgement of teachers replaces the marking of folios.the teacher or judge is asked to compare the work of two students and simply decide which one of them is better from many such comparisons a measurement scale is created using an algorithm this can then be referenced to generate test results.

The students also had an opportunity to experience a.c.j. as an experiment on peer assessment where they assessed each other’s work and provide feedback to each other to aid in the design process.students enjoyed this experience and found it both challenging and informative.

On Wednesday may 3rd the students were visited by a number of academics namely Dr. Donal Canty technology education department university limerick, Dr. Scott Bartholomew , Dr Greg Stilmer Liwei Zhang lecturer technology and engineering department Purdue university USA and 3 second year PhD students from limerick university. The visit was to enable the students to express their views on being involved in this new and exciting development in the assessment of students work.

Mr Gerald Crotty technology teacher Scoil Mhuire Kanturk welcomed the guests and thanked them for visiting Scoil Mhuire and affording the Scoil Mhuire students such a unique opportunity in being involved in this innovative approach to assessment.

Dr Donal Canty applauded the excellent standard of design by the students who used parametric modelling and programming to achieve their design ideas.he also invited Scoil Mhuire to attend next years p.a.t.t.( pupils attitude to technology.) conference which is taking place in Ireland in the summer of 2018. This will allow students and teachers to share their experiences on a.c.j.