Professional Documents
Culture Documents
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.
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.
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.
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