Taoiseach’s Public Service Excellence Awards 2010

FÓN: FOGHLAIM ÓN NUATHEICNEOLAÍOCHT / LEARNING THROUGH NEW TECHNOLOGY

A PROJECT BY NCCA (NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR CURRICULUM ASSESSMENT)

The FÓN project incorporates mobile phones into the teaching, learning and assessment of Irish in post-primary
schools. More than 16 teachers and 570 students have participated in the three phases of work, in schools North
and South of the border.

Why did we embark on this work?

“I think using mobile phones to teach teenagers Irish is a good idea because most teenagers are always stuck to
their phone and they couldn’t live without it...” (FÓN project student)

Research has shown that Irish post-primary school students rated Irish among the least popular and most difficult
subjects to study.

In 2007, the Minister for Education & Science announced a doubling in the marks to be allocated to the Junior and
Leaving Certificate oral examinations – an attempt to promote the communicative use of Irish in schools and oral
competence in Irish.

We matched the most desirable technology — mobile phones — with the least desirable subject —Irish — to
improve student motivation. This also proved useful as a teaching, learning and assessment tool.

HOW ARE THE MOBILE PHONES USED?

s to schedule vocabulary SMS delivery to students;
sto facilitate student-to-student chat, which is recorded for the teacher to listen back;
sto record student responses to teachers’ questions or practice sessions.

Teachers can listen back to and monitor everything recorded by students through the FÓN system via an online
interface. Students can also log in to access their own recordings and teacher feedback.

WHAT DID WE FIND OUT?

The FÓN system has improved student motivation and engagement with Irish. Students are participating in
meaningful communication with other students from schools around the country, at any time, in any place and
at their own pace. Traditionally, oral language production is a time consuming and difficult element of language
learning to track and assess. The FÓN system records everything that students produce and has proven a useful
tool for teachers to monitor and assess students and students in self-assessment.

But that’s not all – the FÓN system could be used for learning any language or subject, or indeed to help with
school administration. It could also be used in distance education, and to differentiate for a variety of learner needs
and levels.

CONTACT:
Judith Ní Mhurchú Anne Looney
Tel: 087 996 2920 Tel: 01 799 6400
Email: judith.nimhurchu@ncca.ie Email: anne.looney@ncca.ie