Irish Primary ExplAIned

Who doesn't love a government flip-flop? Remember when the Department of Education was all about fostering "global citizens" and helping young people "participate fully in society and the economy" through digital tech? Back in 2018, when the government didn't want to spend money on digital devices, schools were simply requested to "consult with their school community, including teachers, students and parents regarding the use of children's own smart phones and tablet devices" to develop or update policies. Back then, it was all about harnessing the "positive role" digital technologies could play in learning.Most of us realised (eventually) this was a very bad idea and that the government should have been providing money to schools for managed devices.Fast forward to 2025, and it seems their digital dream has hit a snag. Now, schools are "required to implement a policy to ban the use of and access to, personal mobile phones by pupils for the duration of the school day." So, join the Deep Dive AI hosts as they ask: Was this a grand "U-turn" from promoting "digital competence" to simply "grounding" our students' devices, or is there more to this sudden policy pivot than meets the eye?All show notes can be found here.Mentioned in this episode:Music by Oleksii Holubiev from PixabayMusic by Oleksii Holubiev from Pixabay

Why are Irish primary schools overwhelmingly staffed by women? This episode delves into the statistics, societal pressures, and systemic issues keeping men out of primary teaching. We explore the impact on students, the broader implications for diversity in education, and what international solutions could mean for Ireland.Mentioned in this episode:Music by Oleksii Holubiev from PixabayMusic by Oleksii Holubiev from Pixabay

Exploring how migration status, ethnicity, and language shape children's primary school experiences in Ireland. Based on the Children's School Lives study, hearing from children, families, and educators on topics like wellbeing, belonging, learning, and facing challenges. This summary of the document is balanced by the findings of my own site, OptingOut.ieHow do my AI presenters tackle the omission of school patronage from the study of children from ethnic minorities? Is there anything we can infer?Mentioned in this episode:Music by Oleksii Holubiev from PixabayMusic by Oleksii Holubiev from Pixabay

Join a Notebook LM deep dive comparing two significant reports on the future of small schools and teaching principalship in Ireland – the interim report from the IPPN in February 2004 and the review of the Small Schools Project 2021-2024 from September 2024 by the Department of Education. Has anything progressed?Mentioned in this episode:Music by Oleksii Holubiev from PixabayMusic by Oleksii Holubiev from Pixabay