Carlos Gomes de Sá

The Digital School is a programme of the Portuguese Education Ministry that aims to do much more than provide computers and the internet. As the project’s website states, “We want all pupils, teachers and schools to be able to collaborate, teach and learn in a digital environment.”

The programme is based on key initiatives, namely: 1. Making equipment and internet connections available to pupils, teachers and schools; 2. Training and empowering teachers to go digital; 3. Providing digital collaboration platforms and access to digital teaching resources for pupils and teachers; 4. Establishing an action plan for digital development in each school.

As there are some known limitations on the delivery of devices, given the rules applicable to each type/phase and ASE bracket, there are huge constraints in terms of repairs, in addition to the expiry of warranties on many machines, as well as the blocking of access via the hotspots made available to students. On 16 February, a national meeting was held with DGEstE, but the issues associated with maintenance/end of warranty and access to the internet network still remain unanswered.

Nevertheless, the school is already moving forward with streamlining some basic procedures in line with the possibilities of the Digital School rules, in order to reduce the number of computers awaiting intervention, having acquired various materials and adjusted internal procedures for dealing with situations. In addition to the creation of a platform for registering and processing occurrences, with the history of the equipment and automatic communications with the students’ teachers, during the Carnival break, an update on the state of the equipment was promoted, with the registration of anomalies that do not limit its use (e.g. hard keys, audio output not working); dozens of missing screws were also applied, chargers replaced, backpacks repaired… which made it possible to deliver around 30 more pieces of equipment to the students. We would like to highlight the collaboration of IT technician António Cunha, as well as the technical and operational assistants, in a process that, given the volume of data/equipment involved, is not easy to manage, and during the Christmas break, an adjustment was made to the support storerooms.

This process will end by the end of February, with new assignments, reinforcement the requests for intervention with devices under warranty or waiting at school for decisions.Those situations resulting from misuse/irreparable damage will also be charged to the EE, under the legal terms of the loan, with the aim of reducing the number of outstanding repairs by 15 March, which was over 80 at the beginning of February.

Alongside all this, there has been constant concern about the fixed items of equipment in classrooms/services, the maintenance of which is carried out by the ICT teachers working at the main school, using the system for reporting problems, via the tickets on the school’s website. The headteachers have worked together to keep a record of abnormal situations with the students’ equipment, since regular use of digital equipment is promoted, as this is the only way to gradually familiarise students with and prepare them for the Final and Benchmarking Tests.

In addition, in the 1st cycle, the conditions for internet access will be reinforced, with the City Council approving the suggested intervention by the School Group, and the purchase of new equipment to replug the Wifi signal in all the classrooms has already been awarded, and it is expected that by the end of the 2nd term all the classrooms will have efficient internet network coverage. This work will be carried out by the school’s IT technician, António Cunha, so that all classrooms will have a network capable of allowing consistent use of IT equipment, considering that, since last year, all classrooms have multimedia projectors, one of the axes of the Digital School.

Of course, we don’t have perfect settings and there are always aspects that can be improved, so we would like to thank all the students/Guardians,Parents, Teachers and staff for their collaboration, in the certainty that the use of digital devices requires extra care, not only in terms of transporting/keeping the equipment, but also in its regular use.

The Aver-o-Mar School Group is setting up a sensory stimulation room in the main school, which is associated with the concept of the Snoezelen Parlour, a project supported by its own funds and resulting from Erasmus projects, also counting on the partnership of community companies, in this case Quantal SA, as well as funds from the Pingo Doce “Happy Neighbourhood” project.

The Snoezelen atmosphere stands out from other multisensory environments because it is organised to offer sensory experiences that generate pleasure and well-being, in a relational climate based on freedom of choice, respect for the rhythm of the child/young person/elderly person and their safety.

This room is a safe space, with positive therapeutic and pedagogical effects on various pathologies in order to promote:

• Motor skills: fine and large motor skills, range of movement, postural control;
• Cognitive skills: attention/concentration, language, communication, memory;
• Psychosocial skills: social skills, motivation, self-esteem.

The room is currently set up with the following facilities:

Ultraviolet (UV) projectors for visual stimuli: this is an invaluable means of having a safe light that has a wide range, in order to stimulate visual and cognitive abilities, through fluorescent and shiny materials that attract attention;

Optical Fibres: provide this stimulation with less energy power. A person with epilepsy entering the room cannot be subjected to strong visual stimuli, such as those involving movement or rotation;

Water bubble column: this is one of the most attractive pieces of sensory equipment and is essential in any sensory space. It is perfect for stimulating the user as it cycles through various colours, such as red, green, blue and much more! The constantly changing lights produce a very calming effect and can help work on colour recognition. To be interactive, get the button controller, with which you can choose the colour you want to see on the column, and work on communication, interaction, cognition and learning. The water column attracts attention and interest through the constantly changing colours and moving bubbles, ideal for visual stimulation, developing cause and effect skills, colour sequencing and matching, and touch through vibration;

Sensory swing: cradles for comfort and relaxation, provides gentle movement to help relax. Excellent for stimulation and sensory integration;

UV puff: relaxation;

Liquid projector: provides visual stimulation, attention and visuomotor coordination:

Tactile kit: works on fine motor skills and posture;

LED gloves: cognitive and visual stimulation.

The creation of this space is an added value, both as a response for all students with specific needs and for the older community. In this way, as well as complementing the full development of the students, alongside the measures already in place, the school aims to contribute to improving the quality of life, well-being and inclusion of the entire community.

The room is in the final stages of installation and is expected to open soon.

Susete Araújo

Some recordings of the project’s execution.

On the 24th January, the Aver-o-Mar School Group was awarded the 1st Cooperation and Solidarity Prize for the “Ala-Arriba” project, in the iconic Voz do Operário venue in Lisbon.

Carlos Gomes de Sá, along with Andreia Teixeira, the social worker from the Aver-o-Mar School Group, proudly wearing our handmade Poveira jumper, explained the Ala-Arriba project to dozens of guests, including the Secretary of State for Social Security, Gabriel Bastos, and Eduardo Graça the chairman of the CASES organisation.

The brief description of the project,  ended with the audience cheering in one voice: “Ala-arriba”!

In addition to the €5,000 prize, the school was also awarded the “Todos Contam Prize – National Financial Training Plan”. The meeting took the opportunity to strengthen a network of partnerships with higher education institutions and the social sector, which will soon be unveiled.

The school group will be back in the capital on 3rd February (Culturgest) and in Porto (Super Bock Arena) on 2nd March to present “Projects for Inclusion and Sustainability” as part of the 12th Meeting of Early Childhood Educators and Primary School Teachers, organised by Areal Editores, with the motto ” Together for a sustainable future”.

Photos from the event and the awarded diplomas.