Mentor-a-Parent

Scríobhadh an píosa seo san Evening Echo maidir leis an gclár Mentor-a-Parent atá ar siúl i nGaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin faoi láthair i gcomhar leis an CEIA; Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin students to show parents how snapchat works CHILDREN are set to coach parents in the safe use of online technology through a new “Mentor A Parent” programme driven by the Cork Electronics Industry Association. Young people will educate parents on everyday technology from SnapChat to internet security among other key online skills. The Mentor-a-Parent programme is already being piloted at Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin, and will roll out across Cork in September 2017. “Technology is part of our everyday lives and yet children are using it in very different ways to adults,” says Valerie Cowman, Skills and Education Chairperson of the CEIA. “We felt it was vitally important for parents and guardians to be better equipped with online skills, from using apps to being able to manage their network security and wifi at home, to SnapChat and other social media channels and who better than young people to provide this type of training.” The CEIA are keen to promote the use of technology, which is vitally important for all ages, and yet to ensure through the Mentor-A-Parent programme that technology should not be intimidating but instead good fun for everyone. For young people, the tech coaching empowers them through the training to showcase how they use technology, and why they chose certain applications of technology, particularly through smartphones and devices. The programme is also a novel and valuable way in which parents can equip themselves with the knowledge to discuss technology with their children and to be a pro-technology household that is safe and secure online. “Embracing technology as a learning tool is central to we do at Gaelcholáiste Charraig Uí Leighin,” principal Áine-Máire Ní Fhaoláin explained. “As we guide our students’ learning towards key skills such as communication, creativity, and the ability to manage information, we are excited about the potential of CEIA’s Mentor-A-Parent programme.” If you are interested in getting involved in Mentor-A-Parent, please visit www.ceia.ie for more information.