Classroom of the future opens in Coláiste Phadraig in Lucan
By Brendan Grehan
A ‘Classroom of the future’ was opened in Lucan’s Coláiste Phadraig last week by Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald TD. The opening was held in conjunction with the school’s Open Night for prospective students.
Speaking to students, teachers and parents at the open night, Tánaiste Fitzgerald said: “First and foremost we are celebrating this fantastic new classroom . . . a wonderful, colourful, innovatively designed classroom for the benefit of students and teachers alike.
This is a classroom which most definitely has the needs of the modern-day student at the heart of it. The classroom has a unique design – it is split in two with areas for computers and moveable furniture on either side.
The artwork which covers the walls was designed by former Coláiste Phadraig pupil, Daniel Whelan, with the intention of positively inspiring students.
Tánaiste Fitzgerald told The Echo: “The room puts students at the centre of the learning process, giving them more responsibility for their own learning. The design promotes peer-to-peer mentoring and collaboration, and incorporates and enables project learning”.
Tánaiste Fitzgerald said school is about much more than what is learnt in the classroom.
She added: “It’s about finding your passion, setting goals and ideals and working towards them. It’s about thriving to continuously develop and improve yourself both academically and personally throughout your future.”
She concluded, “I want to congratulate Principal Tony Brady, the Board of Management, the Parents Association and the teachers for this excellent and unique initiative.”
