The Digital Hub in association with NCAD brings you the Future Creators where you can learn to develop 21st century digital skills in a fun & creative environment. You’ll learn how to create Apps for mobile phones, how to develop your own games & to engage with social networking sites – Facebook, My Space, Bebo, Second Life, Twitter. Becoming a part of the Future Creators will not only develop options for future study & career paths, it will give you an opportunity to take part in collaborative, hands-on activities and it will be a lot of fun!

To get involved REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE

The Concept

In today’s challenging economic climate, jobs are in short supply. For those without a high level of achievement in the formal education system the competition in the jobs market is intense. As Ireland looks towards a recovery, the focus of policy is on establishing and growing industries that can create and sustain high value jobs. The Internet industry is one of these. The Digital Hub is the centre of the indigenous internet industry in Dublin. The local community therefore have the potential to gain significantly from the development of such a critical mass of the internet industry in the Liberties area of Dublin.

The Digital Hub has been working with the Liberties community for almost 10 years. Much has been achieved in local schools and communities. Now, working with the National College of Art and Design, we are providing a select number of high potential local young people with an opportunity to develop new digital media skills. By engaging in this journey, we are confident that these young people can go on to further education and high value jobs in the internet space.

The Project

Future Creators provides a range of programmes designed to develop 21st century skills through project-based learning activities using a range of digital media tools. The philosophy of the programme is to provide 24 young people with an environment where they can make new applications and digital content. These are the Future Creators.

Using a project-based learning approach, our future creators work in teams to complete complex tasks in their chosen digital media field. They have an opportunity to develop skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, communication, and responsibility. They develop their digital media skills and their understanding of being digital through hands-on activities and links with the industry.

Our Future Creators work on selected digital media projects for which they will receive academic credit. They are selected to participate based on their passion and interest in using technology to create digital artefacts.

The Process

Future Creators participate in a series of modules where they will be introduced to a range of digital tools and platforms. These include:

1. Gaming
2. Phone Apps
3. Digital Content Production TV/Video/Music
4. Social Networking

This awareness phase provides our Future Creators with an opportunity to identify a preferred tool or environment that they will specialise in at the next stage. These modules have been developed using the NCCA Transition unit guidelines. The modules are delivered by NCAD staff and experts from some of the companies based in the Digital Hub.

Having identified their chosen digital tool the Future Creators will then complete a project. While engaged in these projects the Future Creators receive mentoring from a range of creative and technical experts from the academic and digital media worlds. They participate in a virtual online community where they are supported in completing their tasks.

In June, our Future Creators participate in a celebration event where their work will be exhibited. They will receive an accreditation from NCAD. Having completed this phase successful Future Creators will be linked with an industry partner where they engage in a ‘digital internship’. This follow-on activity provides them with an opportunity to ‘work’ on an industry related project, either by being physically located onsite or virtually. This phase will give them an experience of work in the sector and is intended to deepen their interest in their chosen field.

Becoming a part of the Future Creators will not only develop options for future study & career paths, it will give you an opportunity to take part in collaborative, hands-on activities and it will be a lot of fun!

To get involved REGISTER YOUR INTEREST HERE

 Dare 2011 – Design  Build  Play

The Digital Hub Development Agency, on behalf of the Department of Education and Science, in association with Belfast City Council and the University of Abertay, Dundee, Scotland are inviting Irish students to enter Dare to Be Digital 2011.

Dare to be Digital is an internationally renowned games development competition for talented computer science and art students to develop a prototype video game. Teams of 5 students, usually a mix of artists, programmers and audio, assemble in a development hothouse in Scotland for 9 weeks during June to August 2011. Here they receive daily support and weekly training sessions from industry specialists to create their games. This year teams applying from the Island of Ireland will need to have a mix of students from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Each team will need to have at least 1 member from a different region. 

• 9 weeks based in Dundee
• Weekly stipend of £150 per student
• £200 team budget

 This unique competition is open to students enrolled in Irish further education and 3^rd Level colleges interested in developing a new innovative product in the games sector.

Dare to be Digital presents a unique opportunity for students.  Many of the contestants from previous years have been hired by games companies on completion of the competition.

“It was an amazing experience being part of the Dare to be Digital competition. The experience of working on your own game and bringing it from an idea to an actual playable game is second to none. The fact that we also had access to mentors from industry that would come in play our game give us feedback on what was good and what was not so good, just can’t be got anywhere else other than industry. The kind of experience that Dare provides to students can’t be got anywhere else apart from within the industry and that can be quite difficult to get when you come straight out of college”.  (Quote from NeverMind Games, Irish Winners 2010)

 Deadline for entries is Sunday 3rd April 2011

 Please encourage your students to get involved by passing on the attached flyer

 Students may apply online at:  http://www.daretobedigital.com

 Please email any queries to: enquiries@daretobedigital.com

 Find team members on: http://www.daretobedigital.co.uk/applications/2011-vacancies.php

As the preferred location for the gaming sector in Ireland, The Digital Hub is delighted to support the Dare to be Digital competition, in which Irish students have been participating in since 2004.

www.daretobedigital.com

Awards

Winner - Best in Podcasting - Digital Media Awards

Highly Commended in the Irish Times Living Dublin Awards (Business in the Community)

Press Release: Survey shows high levels of ICT use in inner-city schools

Targeted investment in ICT support makes a big difference to local schools, according to The Digital Hub

Teachers in south-west inner city Dublin are using mobile phones, digital cameras, MP3 players and computer games to engage their students in learning activities. That’s according to a new learning survey, published this morning (04.06.09) by the Digital Hub Development Agency (DHDA).

The survey was conducted amongst 167 teachers in the 16 schools that participate in The Digital Hub’s learning programme in the Liberties area of Dublin. It found that teachers working in the vicinity of The Digital Hub use Information Communication Technology (ICT) much more frequently than their colleagues elsewhere, and are more confident about integrating technology and digital media into the school curriculum.

As a result, lessons incorporating interactive whiteboards, webcams, podcasting, video conferencing and animation are commonplace in the schools that work with The Digital Hub.

Commenting on the survey findings, Michael Hallissy, Director of Learning with The Digital Hub, said:

“Imagine a school where your teacher surfs the net, downloads podcasts and encourages you to create your own computer games. This isn’t some sort of far-fetched dream, but is actually a reality in the schools that work with The Digital Hub.

“The survey published today shows that teachers in these schools are using ICT in their classrooms on a frequent basis. Crucially, they do not view ICT as a separate subject with a focus on equipping students with basic computer skills; rather, they integrate ICT right throughout the curriculum, thereby equipping their pupils with the digital literacy skills so vital for progression in 21st Century life.

“The Digital Hub’s learning programme has engaged with local schools in the south-west inner city for the past seven years. We are delighted with this evidence that our interventions are resulting in digital literacy levels that are significantly higher than the national average.”

Key findings of the survey published today include the following:

• 60 per cent of the secondary-school teachers surveyed use ICT in their classrooms on either a weekly or daily basis, compared with a national average of only 24 per cent.
• 52 per cent of primary-school teachers in The Digital Hub reported high levels of confidence in using ICT, compared with a national average of only 30 per cent.
• The most common piece of ICT equipment used by both primary and second-level teachers is the desktop PC, followed by the digital camera for primary-school teachers and the data projector for second-level. Nearly a quarter of primary-school teachers in Digital Hub schools use digital cameras in their classrooms, compared with only 14 per cent of teachers elsewhere in Ireland.
• Three quarters of teachers at both primary and secondary level cited the internet as the application they use most frequently in the classroom.
• Over 90 per cent of the secondary-school teachers surveyed have broadband access in their classrooms, along with nearly three-quarters of primary-school teachers.

In addition to evaluating ICT use in local schools, The Digital Hub survey also looked at the obstacles faced by teachers in incorporating technology into the classroom. Lack of equipment and lack of time were two of the main obstacles cited by teachers at all levels, which is in line with findings from international research.

“The obstacles faced by teachers in The Digital Hub are no different to those faced by teachers throughout the country,” said Michael Hallissy. “Interestingly, the survey indicates strong demand for ongoing professional development amongst local teachers and a willingness on the part of local schools to avail of a range of support services from The Digital Hub.

“Teachers in Digital Hub schools are predominantly using ICT to support students in acquiring better literacy and numeracy skills. Through the use of tools such as PhotoStory, gaming for learning, mobile phones and digital cameras, students are building skills in teamwork, problem-solving, collaboration, communication and digital literacy.

“The survey findings published today show that teachers in The Digital Hub are well-positioned to equip local students with the skills they need to function effectively in the 21st Century. Teachers are creating learning environments that engage students actively in the learning process, while ensuring classes are stimulating, relevant and meet the needs of their pupils. As a result, students in Digital Hub schools are amongst the most digitally literate in the country.”

The results of The Digital Hub’s learning survey were unveiled at a celebratory event in The Digital Hub today, which was attended by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Eibhlin Byrne. More than 100 students from local schools were also in attendance at the event.

A full copy of the survey is available here elevatesurvey2009

ENDS

Contact: Martina Quinn / Dermot Ryan, DHR Communications, Tel: 087-6522033 / 086-6002306

Notes:
The Digital Hub’s learning survey was conducted in April 2009 in the 16 schools that participate in the Digital Hub’s learning programme. 167 teachers responded to the survey: 97 at primary level and 70 at second level. Respondents represented teachers from Junior Infants right up to Leaving Certificate.

Comparisons with ‘national average’ figures cited above are based on the schools’ inspectorate report on ICT in Schools, published by the Department of Education and Science in 2008.

Read more

• Silicon Republic: Digital learning makes a notable difference in inner-city schools
• Inside Ireland: ICT investment helping schools says Digital Hub