Technological updating has been one of the priorities of the

BVM Irish schools, which comprises six schools,

in recent years.

The process was not easy, but the great effort paid off and in December 2020 they were the first educational institution in Spain to obtain the

Google Reference School Network seal

.

A recognition that very few centers reach worldwide.

The technology company distinguishes each year with the Google Reference School seal the

reference educational centers in each country in terms of the use of its tools and Google devices

(such as Chromebooks). But Google also has the demanding Google Reference School Network mention, intended only for educational institutions that have implemented Google tools in their pedagogical project, in their processes and as the backbone.

“It all started at the meeting that Irish schools around the world held in South Africa in 2017. At that meeting, the need was seen to take a step forward in the

implementation of technology in the classroom, always used as a tool at the service of the education, and advance the digital education

of students.

From that reflection the Ciudadanos Digitales project was born, which was the essential piece ”, explains Pablo Sagastibelza, general director of the private school Irlandesas El Soto, located in El Soto de la Moraleja (Alcobendas).

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

The project was an important process of change. "In the case of

the El Soto school,

in the first place, we had to provide the five buildings that make up the school with a

good connectivity infrastructure

because it had to support many devices and numerous digital pedagogical materials," recalls Sagastibelza. "It was a big change and involved the transformation of some areas because

fiber optics

were installed

throughout the center, Wi-Fi points were enabled in all classrooms, laboratories and workshops, the projectors were adapted

to make them compatible with chromebooks ...", appointment.

The next step was the formation of the entire educational community. On the one hand, "the

G-Suite Workspace

was adopted

to organize all administrative and teaching management

," says Sagastibelza. And, on the other, "teachers required training in Google technology (Drive, Gmail ...) and develop

digital teaching competence

because you can't have tools that you don't know how to apply with your own methodology," he says. In this sense, «the school forms on teaching digital competence. And as for Google tools, all teachers are certified as

Educator level 1 and most already reach level 2

. In addition, we have practically two teachers trained in

level 3 or

trainer

, which is the highest category and requires a very high dedication.

Our goal is to reach three

trainer

in the center ”, he adds.

The incorporation of the devices in the classroom from a certain age, all the applications and digital materials and the programming of the use of these technologies were other changes.

“The introduction of Chromebooks was carried out gradually during these years because

the center has 800 devices

.

The students use

their own Chromebook from 5th grade to 2nd year of Baccalaureate

», says the director.

Likewise, class work was updated by

adapting the methodologies, classroom dynamics and other materials

.

«The master class has been disappearing and has given way to active methodologies.

The knowledge process is built between all of us », he comments.

"We also use less textbooks although we keep notebooks because it seems important to us not to lose contact with writing," he continues.

Furthermore, «we

accompany families in the education of children who are digital natives

, because this configures the handling of technology and the way of approaching reality, of knowing, of establishing interpersonal relationships, etc.

And now we also have a

powerful platform for communicating in real time with families

”, he concludes.

USE OF CHROMEBOOK

1. One and two years.

The school maintains a philosophy of zero devices at these ages.

That is, no technology since they consider that learning should be based on experimentation, amazement, manipulation ...

2. Three years to 2nd grade of Primary.

The projectors and on some occasions the digital whiteboard are introduced, but the programming is only used in those cases strictly indicated.

3. 3rd and 4th grade of Primary.

The tutors use the devices at specific times to initiate them in their use.

Students work in cooperative groups and there is sometimes one Chromebook per group.

4. 5th Primary to 2nd Baccalaureate.

Each student has a device that is always used in an educational way.

Technology is at the service of learning.

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