THE School of Education at the University of Ulster is collaborat-ing with the Nerve Centre in Londonderry to enhance the learning experience of postgraduate student teachers.
The initiative — funded by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Ulster’s Faculty of Social Sciences — aims to deliver a new generation of digitally skilled teachers fit for the modern learning environment.
Professor Linda Clarke, School of Education at Ulster, said: “This collaboration with the Nerve Centre demonstrates Ulster’s com-mitment to delivering professional education for professional life.
“All of our student teachers across all of our subject specialisms will have access to personal iPads and a wide range of other resources and training, enabling them to enhance teaching and learning through the use of technology.
“This alliance with the Nerve Centre will allow us to harness their expertise in digital media and support us to produce teachers with 21st century skills.
“When the project is complete, 80 teachers will graduate the PGCE post-primary course with a developed portfolio of digital skills, focused around mobile devices and the curriculum.”
The Nerve Centre’s Creative Learning Centre (CLC) has been contributing to the growth and expansion of the economy by developing and delivering training programmes using creativity and digital media.
The joint initiative will enable student teachers to link the theory behind the curriculum with practical skills such as digital film making and sound recording.
Welcoming the project, John Peto, director of education at the Nerve Centre, said: “Introducing these skills into the teacher training curriculum is of vital importance if we are to keep our schools up to date with the new crop of digital tools.
“We are delighted to partner with Ulster in this project, which will have a direct impact in our classrooms for years to come.”
Ruth Stevens, a PGCE Music student, from Garvagh, said: “The iPad, for instance, will be an invaluable tool for me.
“As a music teacher, I’ll be able to use a wide range of apps to simulate a studio environment, compose music, experiment with sounds and help young people develop knowledge in the differ-ent musical elements.”