Web Resources

The NCTE has been instrumental in developing educational portals and websites, often in conjunction with other partners. A number of these are listed below.

Scoilnet: Scoilnet is the Department of Education and Skills official portal for Irish education. It is responsible for the promotion and use of the Internet in education under the Government's ICT in Schools Programme. Launched in 1998, the website is managed on behalf of the DES by NCTE. Scoilnet offers a wide range of services and supports.

Webwise: Webwise is the current NCTE internet safety initiative and is the Irish Internet Safety Awareness Node of Insafe, the European network of internet safety awareness nodes. It provides parents, teachers, and children with educational resources, advice and information about potential dangers on the Internet and empowers users to minimise or avoid these risks.

Scoilnet Schools Showcase: Popular area within Scoilnet which highlights a school ‘star site’ as well as the favourite sites that are submitted by teachers. Also contains information on using blogs and social media in education.

ImageBank: ImageBank is a photo library web site where people can search for and share photos for educational use. It is a supportive resource for students and teachers in Irish education. ImageBank has been developed by NCTE and Scoilnet.

Scoilnet Maps: Featuring a comprehensive range of Ordnance Survey Ireland (OSi) maps, world maps and lots of GIS data that can be viewed as "layers" over the maps. It's available now in all primary and post-primary schools on the Schools Broadband Network. Teachers can also access from home by using their Scoilnet account sign-in.

FÍS: FÍS (literally translated as 'Vision') is an initiative from the Department of Education and Skills in the Republic of Ireland and is a project designed to introduce the medium of film as a support to the Primary School Curriculum/Curaclam na Bunscoile. The FÍS project is managed by NCTE, in collaboration with Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology.

CensusAtSchool: CensusAtSchool is an international project that started in the UK in 2000. Ireland became involved in this exciting initiative in 2009. The project involves collecting and disseminating real data for use by teachers and pupils in data-handling, ICT and across the curriculum for teaching and learning. A collaboration between the NCCA, the CSO and NCTE.

Digital Schools: This award is an initiative which aims to recognise excellence in a school’s approach to the integration of ICT in learning and teaching. The NCTE led this initiative until 2013 in partnership with CESI, the INTO and the IPPN. It is now managed by Dublin West Education Centre.

French.ie: French.ie provides support for the French Junior and Senior Cycle curriculum in Ireland. Resources, Podcasts, Dossiers and up-to-date News are all part of the website. A collaboration between NUIM, Alliance Française and NCTE, it is part of the Scoilnet portal.

German.ie: German.ie is a portal site created by and for German teachers and students in Ireland and is part of the Scoilnet portal. The development of the site is a result of collaboration between Scoilnet, The Department of Education (Inspectorate), the Goethe Institute, the German Teachers' Association and the Austrian Embassy in Ireland.

HIST.ie: The History In-Service Team (HIST) was established to support Leaving Certificate History teachers in implementing the revised syllabus introduced into schools in 2004. The HIST website, hosted by Scoilnet, provides relevant resources and links.

I Am An Artist: I AM AN ARTIST is a visual arts initiative aimed at primary school children. It comprises 30 short TV programmes and an interactive website with factsheets, weblinks and interactive games on a wide range of visual arts topics. A collaborative project between RTÉ and NCTE.

Ingenious Ireland: The Ingenious Ireland Online website provides an insight into the inventions, discoveries and natural wonders of Ireland. Alongside these fascinating stories the site utilises the best in online learning to present interactive investigations, educational resources and careers information for students and life-long learners.

Laptops Initiative: An NCTE innovative project consisting of a DVD, book and associated website, containing advice, information and practical ideas for use of laptops and software for post-primary principals and teachers, particularly those involved in learning support and resource teaching.

Look at History: 'Look at History through the RTÉ Archives' is a collaborative pilot project between the NCTE and RTÉ in which clips from media preserved by the RTÉ Archives are presented for use in second-level education.

Sci-Spy: Sci-Spy is a science initiative aimed at primary school children in 5th and 6th class. It comprises 29 short TV programmes and an interactive website with factsheets, interactive games, quizzes and experiment sheets on a huge range of science topics. A collaborative project between RTÉ and NCTE.

Science Unleashed: Science Unleashed is a science initiative aimed at second-level students studying the revised Junior Cycle science curriculum. It comprises 15 videos and an interactive website with notes, interactive games, quizzes and weblinks on a wide range of science topics. A collaborative project between RTÉ and NCTE.

ThinkB4UClick: 'Think before you click' has been specifically designed for teachers of Junior Certificate CSPE who wish to explore the issue of online privacy in the context of online rights and responsibilities. Jointly developed by the National Centre for Technology in Education (NCTE) and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL).

Watch Your Space: This website is part of a campaign to raise awareness and promote safe, responsible practice by young people when online. Developed by NCTE as part of their Webwise Internet Safety initiative.