Stimulating Educational Digital Content Development for the Irish Language Michael Hallissy, National Co-ordinator, NCTE Interactive Software in the Curriculum

Software Industry Global Market Consolidation –Small number of big market players Internet –16 million in 1995 (.4%) –378 million today (6%) CD-Rom Versus Web –US Schools 1998 $13 million online $340 million software

Market Size Number of SchoolsNumber of Pupils Primary3,592470,000 Post Primary763371,000 Total4,355841,000 Department of Education and Science, 1998

Computer Levels Total number of computers up 65% since 1998 Average number –Primary = 9 –Post Primary = 43 Computer Ratio –Primary = 18:1 –Post Primary = 13:1 100% of schools connected to the Internet –69% of post primary have ISDN –62% of post primary have the Internet on more than one machine.

Software Market in Ireland £15 million – May 1998 (Predominantly hardware) £10 million – grant aid to schools in December 1999 –Further £60 million earmarked for Phase 2 Decision making at the school level Industry sources estimate market worth £3-5 million at present Two main categories –Content Rich –Content Free Predominantly UK and US software –Small Irish software publishing sector

Issues for Developers & Distributors Small market New market –Formalised Teacher Training two years in existence –Teachers now recognising that software/digital content holds the key –Annual software budget to schools –Educating teachers to appropriate software Software Evaluation Programme – Home Versus the School Market –Primary Market more developed

Development Models Funding Mechanisms –Grants –Competitions –Public Private Partnerships Types of Product –Localization of existing software –Development of new digital content

Localization Software Developers -build products with localization in mind Teacher Support Materials Curriculum Examples Suggested lesson plans How can government agencies fund localization? –Selection criteria

New Content Development - Grants Grants –NCET Example –Research at national and European level (Fabula) Advantages Identified –Market stimulated in the right direction –Encouraged a climate of change –Schools had no computers due to lack of software Disadvantages Identified –Industry dislikes subsidising competition –Some projects will fail (Risk) –Deadlines tend to slip

Competitions Portugal and Canada Public body runs a competition –Identifies a particular need –Draw up tender specification –Allows private companies to compete for the development Teacher involvement Downside – Unfair advantage in the marketplace

Public Private Partnerships Typical Characteristics –Bring public/private sector partners together –Partners work toward shared goals or objectives –Each partner contributes time, money, expertise and/or other shared resources –Decision making and management responsibilities are shared among the partners Could it work with digital content creation?

Moving Forward Action is needed – define the best role for the NCTE Funding –Grants –Competitions –Public Private Partnerships Provide better information to publishers Evaluate ROI