Online maths resources ‘as Gaeilge’ given to all Gaelscoileanna

All Gaelscoileanna and Gaeltacht schools in the country have been given access to the online maths as Gaeilge facility, Mata ar Líne. Funded by An Chomhairle um Oideachas Gaeltachta agus Gaelscolaíochta (COGG), Mata ar Líne is a set of 80 fun, curriculum-based maths games, available online, as Gaeilge. Suitable for primary school pupils and teachers, it was developed by iLearn.ie, the popular educational website of online material for Irish schools from Gill & Macmillan Primary, in partnership with SUMS Online (UK) and COGG.

COGG has purchased a licence to provide universal access for primary schools to this fantastic resource for a period of three years. This means that teachers, pupils and parents in all primary schools in Ireland can access the games for free, 24 hours a day, through www.iLearn.ie. SUMS Online’s Managing Director David McAll, said ‘we are delighted at the vision being shown by COGG in making this software so widely available’.

The maths activities are an excellent support to the revised maths curriculum as well as developing general numeracy skills. They will be a useful resource for all Irish medium schools, north and south. Muireann Ní Mhóráin, Príomhfheidhmeannach of COGG said ‘it is fantastic that this is available free of charge to all primary schools on the island of Ireland with sponsorship from COGG. Its online maths activities in the Irish language will be immensely valuable to the Irish medium schools in the country as well as providing an interactive and fun learning resource for the teaching of Irish in English medium schools’.

The announcement will come as welcome news for schools who have recently purchased IT equipment such as Interactive Whiteboards and digital projectors for their classrooms using the Department grants and are now looking for reliable and relevant content to use with them.

Gill & Macmillan Primary’s Commissioning Editor, Jonathan Saint says “Just go to www.iLearn.ie and click on Mata ar Líne – all you need is a connection to the internet and you can access a whole range of fun games and activities to develop key numeracy skills in the Irish language. And thanks to COGG’s sponsorship, there is unlimited access to schools, pupils and parents. We also have an English language version on subscription if required.”

You can view and play try Mata ar Líne games if you visit: http://mal.ilearn.ie/