JCT launches Junior Cycle online classroom resources, supported by RT and the BAI

These new online resources are available from www.rte.ie/learn

(25.11.19) Today, Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT), Raidi Teilif s ireann (RT ) and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) are delighted to announce the launch of an exciting new selection of online classroom resources related to the Junior Cycle classroom. Three television programmes from recent RT and TG4 archives were used to generate classroom resources for teachers and students of Business Studies, Geography, History, Gaeilge, SPHE and CSPE subjects, as well as the Digital Media Literacy (Short Course) in the Junior Cycle.

Speaking at the launch, Director of Junior Cycle for Teachers, Dr Padraig Kirk said 'Junior Cycle for Teachers are delighted to today launch this exciting new range of junior cycle classroom resources for teachers and students. Junior Cycle for Teachers is committed to supporting teachers in their enactment of the Framework for Junior Cycle and this partnership with RT and the BAI offers us the opportunity to make available exciting content to schools around the country. These classroom resources span a wide and varied mix of curriculum areas and we look forward to continuing to further develop work in this area''.

Three Irish-produced and publicly-funded television programmes were used to create the online resources - Ireland's Deep Atlantic, Wrecking the Rising/ ir Amach Am and Cloud Control.

Ireland's Deep Atlantic (Sea Fever Productions) is a natural history documentary series exploring North Atlantic waters, in search of blue whales, sharks and deep-water coral reefs. Supported by funding from the BAI and broadcast on RT , Business Studies students can use this series to learn about consumer behavior, sustainable development and the impact of economic growth on society and the environment. Geography students will learn about the exploitation of water, fish stocks, forestry, and soil and the relationships between the physical world, tourism and transport.

Wrecking the Rising/ ir Amach Am (Tile Films) is a bilingual comedy drama, made with funding from the BAI and broadcast on TG4, in which three modern-day Dubliners find themselves propelled 100 years back in time to 1916. This series has been repurposed for History and Gaeilge students to understand and critically evaluate an audiovisual text and learn about how diverse values, beliefs and traditions have contributed to the communities and culture in which they live. This resource also illustrates the importance of the relationship between past and current events and the forces that drive change.

Cloud Control (Loosehorse) is a documentary, made with funding from RT and Science Foundation Ireland, exploring how digital fingerprints are rapidly becoming the most valuable commodity in the world's economy. From this programme, SPHE and CSPE students learn about rights and responsibilities online, safe and ethical use of the internet and sourcing appropriate and reliable information about health and wellbeing online. The Digital Media Literacy short course aims to use the resource to support extending and refining students' ability to use digital technologies, communication tools, and the internet creatively, critically and safely in social and community life.

Speaking at the launch, Chair of the BAI Authority, Professor Pauric Travers said These online resources are a creative response to the challenge of connecting young audiences with high quality, culturally relevant Irish content. The BAI is delighted to collaborate with Junior Cycle for Teachers (JCT) and RT to make these publicly-funded television programmes freely available as learning tools for Junior Cycle students throughout Ireland and we hope students and teachers alike find the resources challenging and engaging. This initiative highlights the enduring educational value of public investment in quality audio-visual content and the BAI looks forward to building on what this partnership has achieved so far.

These new online resources are available from www.rte.ie/learn where teachers and students can access the educational material and the programme clips referenced in the material and watch the three full programme series.

Commenting, Director General of RT , Dee Forbes said, I am delighted to see these programmes, which we originally broadcast on RT One television, and then streamed on RT Player, being made available as online resources in Junior Cycle classrooms all over the country. RT 's vision to champion Irish culture by captivating audiences with trusted, engaging and challenging content is so well served by Ireland's Deep Atlantic and Cloud Control which touch on important issues which are relevant to a number of Junior Cycle courses. Following the positive impact of the RT Youth Assembly, it is wonderful to see powerful Irish public service content making its way into Irish classrooms and providing such a valuable resource to Junior Cycle teachers and students alike.

Teachers and students are invited to share their experience of using these resources on social media via @JCforTeachers. @BAItweets and @RTE.

LINK:	https://about.rte.ie/2019/11/25/jct-launch-of-junior-cycle-online-clas...
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