Crana College is leading the way not alone in Donegal but also nationally in the world of classroom tech.
The Buncrana secondary school has propelled STEM and coding into focus by embracing the changes with the new Junior Cycle, taking the opportunity to change their curriculum to provide the necessary keys skills students need in the 21st century.
In Crana College you will now see computers available for students in every classroom and subjects like coding on their timetable. Embedding computational thinking, creative thinking and problem-solving skills will be absolutely key to how Crana College students develop and achieve their potential.
Investment in school facilities this year, two traditional computer rooms are no more, with the refurbishment of these rooms creating a new innovative, creative and collaborative spaces allowing for more student centred tasks and group work to take place in the school.
These Digital Hubs have become a hive of activity with students working together with the latest technology available to them.
Crana College is encouraging their students to study STEM subjects and showing them some of the great careers built on science, engineering, maths and technology which will also help secure their futures.
Starting this interest at secondary school level will help increase the number of students taking up STEM subjects in higher education and in their careers and help keep Donegal competitive internationally in these important fields.
Earlier this month Crana College took part in CodeWeek.EU events to celebrate creating with code and to get more students interested in STEM.
School events like CodeWeekEU are welcomed to encourage existing students, as well as future generations of students, to understand and embrace areas related to STEM.
Crana College strive to instill in students that a career in STEM education can open many doors, even for those who do not pursue a STEM career.
Thomas Boyle – Coding Teacher Crana College said: “We have a very clear vision here at Crana College, we want to provide our students with the skills they require in the future. We look at our current first year students and ask the question ‘In five years what skills do they need when they leave us?’
“Through subjects like Coding, they develop problem solving, resilience, teamwork and how to be creative thinkers. These skills along with confidence in digital technologies will serve them well on any chosen path when they leave secondary school.”
Kevin Cooley – Principal Crana College said: “Greater exposure and awareness to STEM subjects is essential to providing the keys skills our students need to succeed in the world when they leave Crana College.
“This happens in school as we have a team of highly skilled teachers that firstly provide excellent teaching and learning to our classrooms but also work with Junior Cycle for Teachers, a professional development (CPD) support service of the Department of Education.
“In this work they share the best practice of implementing these new subjects specifications and use Crana College as an exemplar nationally.”
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