I am sure that you have been following the conversations around Senior Cycle reform, and you will know it is about much more than changing a few subjects. This redevelopment is centred on seven Senior Cycle Key Competencies (see figure above).
The key competencies underpinning this change aim to give ‘young adults the power and potential to meaningfully take part in their schools, families, communities, and society, in the here and now, and in the future’ (NCCA 2024, p.2). Crucially, the NCCA (2024) insist as ‘students mature, these key competencies can be combined to help students handle and respond to more complex and varied tasks, as appropriate to their needs and abilities’ (p.2)
This is where iPad can make a real difference. The iPad enables you to combine these key competencies in ways that match your students’ individual needs and/or your learning objectives. Whether through creative expression, collaborative projects, or flexible assessment, iPad enable you to create a purposeful learning experience without spending a lot of time on planning and preparation.
Purposeful Learning Experiences
In English, Irish and Modern Languages, the iPad opens up possibilities beyond traditional essays. Students can record oral performances in GarageBand, collaborate in real time on shared documents in Pages, Google Docs or Microsoft Word, or create multimedia presentations that merge text, image, and sound on Keynote. The iPad allows you to replace a written character analysis with a student-produced podcast – complete with interviews, role play and research. This transforms a standard task into a creative collaborative project that includes several key competencies such as working with others, communicating, being creative, etc whilst also allowing you to assess your students’ learning.
In Science, iPad help move learning beyond the textbook. Your students could use Numbers to track experimental data in real time, generating graphs as they work or use iMovie to combine slow-motion footage with clear voice-over explanations. When experiments or investigations do not go to plan, the video evidence becomes a valuable tool for reflection, encouraging problem-solving. Similarly, students can articulate their observations in real time, thereby deepening their understanding of the subject matter while also refining their communication and collaborative skills.
In PE, iPad turn students into their own performance analysts. They can film their technique, slow down the footage, add annotations, and compare their technique. Progress over time can be documented in video diaries, supporting your students’ ability to manage themselves and their learning.
In Art and Music, the iPad enables students to push creative boundaries. Using Freeform, they can build digital mood boards with photographs, create sketches and find inspiration online. Using GarageBand, students can compose, arrange, and record original pieces. They can layer multiple tracks, experiment with different instruments, and produce polished recordings ready to share with their classmates!
In Business, Accounting, and Economics, your students might work in Pages to design a professional business plan, incorporating charts, infographics, and embedded video pitches recorded in Clips or iMovie. By simulating real-world tasks, these activities develop entrepreneurial thinking, numeracy and digital presentation skills.
The Power of Student Voice
One of the most exciting opportunities iPad offer in Senior Cycle is the amplification of student voice. The iPad empowers students to create podcasts, interviews, digital portfolios and documentaries, helping them develop essential skills for future participation in society.
Final thoughts
The iPad does not replace great teaching; it supports great teaching. It makes UDL, resource sharing and feedback easier to manage, so you can spend more time on student engagement. In this way, the iPad becomes a catalyst for creative, student-centred, evidence-informed practice across the redeveloped Senior Cycle. For further guidance on optimising iPad usage in the classroom, please contact Select. We will connect you with one of our Apple Professional Learning Specialists who can design a customised plan tailored to the needs of you and your school.