How to Sell the Cloud to your Staff

Since I wrote about our cloud computing service last year, I’ve been inundated with questions about it.  I’ve spoken at a couple of conferences (check out my podcast at the ICS Skills conference) and showed off the system at different events.  The main response I get from people is something along the lines of:
I’d love [...]

A Step Closer to the Electronic Application Form

From the INTO Web Site:
The INTO, CPSMA, Church of Ireland Board of Education and the Department of Education and Skills have reached agreement in relation to a standard application form for primary teaching posts. Schools may use this form as an alternative to seeking a curriculum vitae and the form is available to download from [...]

Heads in the Cloud

Over the last couple of years, the term “Cloud Computing” has been buzzing around in the techie world.  Inevitably, it buzzes into the education world at some point.  And yes, it’s starting to cause a bit of a stir.  Today a principal from Co. Meath impressed me greatly when he suggested that another of his [...]

A Nail in the Coffin for Online Applications

I decided I’d go about asking the powers that be about online application forms for teaching posts.  My intention for next year was to do this when hiring our next teacher.  I rang the INTO and CPSMA. Basically the story is that we can’t do the online application thing.  Technically we shouldn’t be even accepting [...]

Outsourcing your IT

Outsourcing is a term that one would usually associate with big companies or government agencies.  However, most people in their everyday life use some form of outsourcing.  Essentially, outsourcing is an arrangement where a company or individual subcontracts services to another person or company.  Every company, no matter how big or small, [...]

Ceist: Can we Change the Interview Process?

A very interesting idea came up on the Education Posts forum yesterday and it really made me think about how we apply for jobs in primary schools in Ireland, particularly in the current climate where there’s so few jobs.  The thread gave some recommendations:
“first of all there should be a standard application forms for ETNS, [...]

Moving to Online Administration

I had an interesting meeting in the digital hub yesterday. It was my first time there. I really like the layout of the place with its mix of the old Liberties Dublin exterior and cool kitch plastic über modern interior. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss how technology could improve the administration of [...]

Fear of leadership

Whenever I tell anyone that I am a Principal, they look slightly in awe and fear..They always( 99%) say ” Wow, I don’t know how you do it…I could never do it..I would be scared…I couldn’t handle people…”
The job of the Principal (when advertised) is usually ignored, many principal jobs have to be re advertised. [...]

The Mission for a Mission Statement

A new school generally comes with nothing.  When I say nothing, I don’t mean absolutely nothing; it comes with classrooms, toilets and sometimes an office or two.  After that, it’s up to the manager and principal, (sometimes there’s no Board in a brand new school) to fill it with things like books, furniture, computers, etc.  [...]

A Computerised Cúntas Míosúil

Computerised Cúntas Míosúil version 1.0

Are you sick of all that paperwork when it comes to Cúntas Míosúil time?  Anseo.net has created a computerised Cúntas Míosúil and you can download it for free.  It is written using Microsoft Excel so you’ll need MS Office or Open Office to run it.  It’s been designed to be as [...]