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The CROSS-Connect project is a joint initiative between Cavan
and Leitrim Vocational Educational Committees, the Western
Educational and Library Board and the Faculty of Informatics at the
University of Ulster’s Magee campus. Funding has been obtained
from the Special Programme for Peace and Reconciliation for a
programme of curriculum enrichment in small rural schools on both
sides of the border in Cavan and Leitrim and Fermanagh and Tyrone.
The project also aims to identify professional development
opportunities for teachers and to help sustain small rural
communities.
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In Northern Ireland, schools are participating from Plumbridge
and Strabane Co Tyrone, Claudy Co. Londonderry and Lisnaskea and
Roslea in Co Fermanagh. From Cavan, schools in Belturbet, Bawnboy, and
Virginia have been selected and in Leitrim, schools in Drumshanbo, Drumkeerin and Carrigallen are taking part. All the schools
are small - the largest has just over 450 pupils - and want to offer
their pupils a wider range of subjects than they do at present.
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The CROSS-Connect
project uses interactive videoconferencing and new
communications technologies - e-mail and Internet. Multimedia PC
equipment and ISDN2 lines have been installed in the schools -
enabling teachers and their pupils to make global links part of their
everyday classroom experience. Videoconferences have just been
completed for French and German GCSE and Leaving Certificate revision
exercises.
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