The National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) is an Irish Government agency established to provide advice, support and information on the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in education. It is working to empower young people to be safe, effective and autonomous users of the internet for life. As part of the Teacher Skills Initiative (TSI) NCTE offers a new interactive online course 'The Internet: A Teaching & Learning Resource' which demonstrates how to integrate the internet & email into teaching & learning. For more information click on the link below:
http://www.ncte.ie/ICTTraining/Courses/TheInternet-ATeachingLearningResource

TSI has been operating since 1998; in excess of 20 courses have been designed by the NCTE in partnership with teaching professionals, third level institutions and teaching unions. The programme of courses ranges from a purely skills based focus to a pedagogical focus emphasising the practical application of ICT to teaching and learning. TSI working with Webwise (www.webwise.ie) have incorporated internet safety components into this new online course as well as all other relevant internet focused courses for secondary and primary school teachers.

The NCTE, through its Webwise internet safety initiative (www.webwise.ie) and through the ICT Advisory Service based in 20 regional Education Centres, is providing support and advice to schools on internet safety issues. Webwise focuses on raising awareness of online safety issues and good practice among students, their teachers and parents. The Webwise website features a range of information, advice and tools including Internet Acceptable Use Policy templates, streamed videos, interactive online resources, advice sheets, and classroom activities. Webwise is the Irish node of Insafe, the EU Information Society's Safer Internet Network.

Gráinne Walsh, Internet Safety Project Officer