Agus Coláiste Ghlór na Mara ina scoil a úsáideann teicneolaíocht iPad 1:1, bhí deis ag Múinteoir Amy, atá i bhfieghil na teicneolaíochta sa scoil, turas a ghlacadh chuig Oifigí Apple i Londain. Seo a dialann taistil, thíos!
Bhuail muid le chéile in Aerfort Bhaile Átha Cliath ag 5.30am agus d'eitil muid go Heathrow i Londain. As sin, ghlacamar an tiúb go príomhoifigí Apple i mBattersea Power Station. Tá sé sraitheanna sa bhfoirgneamh agus spás oifige ann do thart ar 3,000 fostaí. Le linn an turais threoraithe, d’fhoghlaimíomar nach bhfuil aon choirnéil ghéara sa bhfoirgneamh ar fad—tá gach rud cuartha chun cuma imeall an iPhone a thabhairt. Tar éis an turais, chuamar chuig an gceaintín úr-aimseartha áit a n-ullmhaíonn cócairí béilí d'fhoireann Apple gach lá.
Chaith muid an tráthnóna i roinnt ceardlanna. Rinneamar iniúchadh ar na gnéithe 'Acessibility' atá ar fáil ar an iPad chun tacú le scoláirí agus múinteoirí le réimse leathan riachtanas foghlama. Fuair muid oiliúint freisin ar an aip nuashonraithe Schoolwork agus ar chumas Apple Classroom. Ina dhiaidh sin, chualamar ó dhá scoil i mBaile Átha Cliath a bhfuil stádas Apple Distinguished School bainte amach acu. Roinn siad léargas ar a dtaithí ag cur iPads 1:1 i bhfeidhm, na dúshláin a bhaineann le pobal scoile atá ag fás, agus na modhanna nuálacha atá acu i dteicneolaíocht agus Dearadh Uilíoch don Fhoghlaim.
Ina dhiaidh sin, thaistil muid chuig ár n-óstán—suite díreach timpeall an choirnéil ó Stamford Bridge!
An mhaidin dár gcionn, thaistil muid go príomhsiopa Apple in Covent Garden le haghaidh ceardlainne praiticiúil ar fhíseáin oideachasúla a chruthú le iMovie. Ansin fuair muid deis an Vision Pro nua-aimseartha a thriail. Mar dhuine a chaitheann speáclaí bhí mé buartha nach mbeinn in ann iad a úsáid. Ach, is féidir leis an Vision Pro do spéaclaí a scanadh, rud a ligeann do dhaoine a chaitheann spéaclaí é a úsáid gan stró. Bhain muid triail as neart rudaí —ó rásaíocht Formula 1 go meicneoireacht agus fiú safari fíorúil. Faoi láthair, níl an Vision Pro ar fáil ach sa Ríocht Aontaithe, ar phraghas £3,600!
D’fhill muid ar Heathrow ar an tiúb níos déanaí agus—in ainneoin moill ghearr mar gheall ar Stoirm Bram—shroich muid Baile Átha Cliath go sábháilte. Turas den scoth a bhí ann, lán foghlama agus inspioráide don phobal scoile.
As Coláiste Ghlór na Mara is an Apple 1:1 school, Múinteoir Amy, who is in charge of technology in the school, was recently invited to the Apple Offices in London. Check out her travel journal, below!
We arrived to Dublin Airport at 5.30am for a smooth flight to London Heathrow. From there, we travelled by tube to Apple’s European Headquarters at Battersea Power Station. The impressive six-storey building accommodates up to 3,000 employees. During our guided tour, we learned that there are no sharp edges anywhere in the building—every surface is curved to mirror the design of an iPhone. After the tour, we enjoyed lunch fresh from Apple’s state-of-the-art staff kitchen, where chefs prepare meals daily on site.
Our afternoon was spent taking part in a series of workshops. We explored the powerful accessibility features available on the iPad to support both students and teachers with a variety of learning needs. We also received training on the updated Schoolwork app and the potential of Apple Classroom. As an established school using iPads for many years, we were also able to share advice and our own experience with schools who are considering introducing iPads in the near future. Following a short break, we heard from two Dublin schools that have achieved the status of Apple Distinguished Schools. They shared insights into their journeys implementing 1:1 iPads, the challenges of growing school communities, and the innovative ways they are using technology and Universal Design for Learning.
Afterwards, we made our way to our hotel—conveniently located just around the corner from Stamford Bridge!
The following morning, we travelled to the Apple Flagship Store in Covent Garden for a hands-on workshop on creating educational videos using iMovie. We then had the opportunity to try Apple’s Vision Pro headset. As a glasses user, I was nervous I may not be able to use it! However, the device can scan a user’s prescription lenses, it then adds your lenses to the headset. This allows those who wear glasses to use it comfortably without needing to worry about lack of vision. We experienced a range of immersive simulations, from Formula 1 racing to car mechanics and even a virtual safari. For now, Vision Pro is only available in the UK, retailing at £3,600! They hope to launch in Ireland soon. We learned that Vision pro is being used currently to train future surgeous and aircraft engineers!
We returned to Heathrow by tube later that afternoon, and—despite a brief delay due to Storm Bram—landed safely back in Dublin. It was an excellent and engaging trip, with plenty learned and lots to bring back to our school communities.