Applied A Levels

Applied A Level Pilot

Current Status

Various documents, forms etc for the Applied A Level pilot scheme.

1. Summary information page

2. Pilot overview (more detail)

3. Programmes for inclusion (I have separated this from the overview and summary to avoid duplication)

4. Web site page (preview at https://rosmore.campus.itsligo.ie/owa/redir.aspx?C=a13432d2c3a84e43b9f9b4687613a2a6&URL=http%3a%2f%2fitsligo.ie%2f%3fpage_id%3d17548)

5. Application form

- Word docx form for filling out and e-mailing back (restricted editing capabilities; password: pilot)

- PDF for printing and posting

6. E-mail / Newsweaver doc for sending to NI schools

7. Sample letters for acknowledgement of valid app / invalid app

Before going live:

1. Check that all required courses are included in all the above.

2. Check that admissions are happy with the application form / application process / contact name & e-mail address

3. Assign resposnibility for managing/processing applications  

All will have to be approved/smoothed by the External Communications gurus!

1st Year Survey

We carried out a Polldaddy survey in November 2011 to set down an information benchmark for 1st Year Computing students.

A summary of the results was presented to the Computing lecturers at the Programme meeting on 19th Jan 2012.

A full report is now available. It will be placed on the shared space for the Computing Department, probably Basecamp. I have also e-mailed it to staff who are involved in the mentoring programme.

Scratch at the Ursuline College, Sligo

The Transition Year classes in the Ursuline College, Sligo are doing a Scratch programming as part of their Technology module. Over a period of 6 weeks the different groups will be working on some Scratch projects. It is hoped that some of them may enter the Scratch competition.

Computing Courses pull-up featuring the Imagine Cup

The new set of marketing material for the computing Courses kicked off with the "pull up" for Computing. The new colours, design, logo and QR code are included. The Imagine Cup photo is used in the background.

Of course nothing is perfect...  Given the shape and size of a pull-up not all of the photo could be used, so some members of the team are left out...in the overall scheme of things this is not likely to be a problem for anyone. It is also likely that the image will date - however, marketing material is never for life, it's for today!

It has its first outing in St Mary's Secondary School in Ballisodare at their careers evening on Monday 16 January.

Summerhill School Visit

I talked to approximately 50 "pre-leaving" students from Summerhill College today. They enjoyed the ICS Choose IT movie. Some interest in computing courses. Careers teachers Teresa Kelly/Grainne Brehony would probably like another talk for LC students after CAO applications are done (Change of mind options).

Need to find easier way of hauling equipment around. PC with strong speakers or Projector with speakers would be very useful.

Win an iPad 2 Competition - Presentation

The prize winner was an Ursuline Sligo student, Amanda McLoughlin. We presented the prize at her school on Monday 19 December. Keith did the presentation and I took the photos for the ITSligo Facebook page. I sent text for a press release to Sinead for publication.

Open Day iPad Competition

The IT Sligo 2011 Open Day took place on 24 November.

The Information Systems Department ran a competition  / draw for an Apple iPad 2. Approximately 150 students entered the competition.

Each student filled out an application form and answered six questions. The idea was that the students would have to speak to people at the stands to get the answers. The objective of the competition was to

• Capture students interest
• capture students details
• Get them to talk to us!

The winner will be announced on the IT Sligo Facebook page week starting 12 December. The prize will be presented at the winner's school by Keith McManus. All the students who entered the competition will be contacted by the college. The Career Guidance teachers will also be contacted.

If the competition - or similar - is to be run again
- more than one prize (lesser ones will do)
- ask for block capitals on form
- wider range of questions - could link with other departments?