BIOGRAPHY

I was appointed the ICT Advisor for Waterford Teachers' Centre in 2000, following many years teaching in London. I was trained by the NCTE (PDST) as an Internet safety facilitator 18 years ago. I continue to give talks on Internet Safety in a private capacity. All the presentations that I give are my own and I am not part of a franchise. I rely on robust research such as the EU Kids Online Survey, which examined Internet use by children in 25 EU countries.  

I qualified as a secondary teacher (Irish, ICT), and switched to primary in London. I am also a qualified Braille teacher and am a fluent Irish speaker. I have a BA degree; Higher Diploma in Education; Post Graduate Diploma in ICT in Education and an MA in Education. I have been an ICT Co-ordinator in every school that I worked in. The ICT Advisory position was at Assistant National Co-ordinator level and I would still be an Advisor for Waterford Teachers’ Centre, but for the fact that funding for the service was suddenly withdrawn in 2008. The schools I was responsible for were the126 primary and 30 post-primary schools in Waterford City, County and as well as South Tipperary, up as far as Cashel.

My role was mainly pedagogical and included the integration of ICT into the Curriculum in both primary and post-primary schools. This included organising computer courses for teachers; facilitating school in-service in both English and Irish; organising and facilitating Principals’ Seminars; visiting schools on request; Internet Safety Presentations; and organising and supervising Summer Courses; attending NCTE/DES meetings and managing Waterford Teachers’ Centre ICT Infrastructure. I also trained teachers in the use of iMovie film production for the NCTE/PDST Fís Film Projects.

I live in An Sean Phobal in Gaeltacht na nDéise and I am currently writing a book on Internet Safety.