Thanks so much to the Irish Internet Association for the recognition! We’re delighted to be among such stellar nominees.

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Microsoft Ventures UK is a strategic partner for promising start-ups focused on business growth & customer development, industrial strength technology and beautiful usable products.

We’re very excited about getting to work with the team at Microsoft — roll on September!

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We’re delighted to announce that, as part of his participation in the EdTech Ireland Exchange, Philip has been invited to curate two panels at the U.S. Embassy’s 2014 annual economic conference in Dublin. ‘Smart People for a Smart Economy: Technology, Education and Filling the Skills Gap‘ will take place on April 3rd, 2014.

The conference will bring together tech leaders, policy makers, educators, entrepreneurs and business leaders from the United States, Ireland and Northern Ireland to explore the next wave of innovation set to hit education with broad implications for growth in the transatlantic economy. Investing in people is key for the success of a Smart Economy, but how can innovation be brought to education?

The conference will launch with a keynote address by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny.

Philip will be curating the following sessions:

Building an Ecosystem for EdTech

From venture capital, to harnessing of university research and encouraging start-ups, what can be done to build an ecosystem to support deployment of evidence-based educational technology?

Panelists:

• Ciaran Cannon TD, Minister of State for Training and Skills
• Martyn Farrows, Learnovate
• Jonny Parkes, Leaf Investments
• Sean O’Sullivan, SOSVentures

Innovating in Education

How can educational institutions ensure that they are embedding innovation into their organizations to capture the opportunities of fast moving technology and solutions coming out of start-ups, social entrepreneurs and companies?

Panelists:

• Anne White, National Council for Curriculum and Assessment
• Deirdre Butler, St. Patrick’s College
• Bernard Kirk, Galway Education Centre
• Lynn Scarff, Science Gallery

We look forward to seeing you there!

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In celebration of World Maths Day, we’ve created a rotational symmetry lesson plan and a whole new set of rotational symmetry print activities to complement Symmetry School: Learning Geometry.

You can find these free PDF packs — and more! — on our supplemental learning materials page.

Now break out those colouring pencils and get learning!

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Philip Lynch of Spraoi School has won one of the ten places on the EdTech Ireland Exchange: Games, Apps and Entertainment in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Education.

The exchange program – a two-week professional development leadership program in the United States – running from 11th to 25th of January, has been organised through the US Embassy Dublin and the US Consulate Belfast. Ten participants from Ireland and Northern Ireland have been chosen from a range of fields including: EdTech entrepreneurs and serious game developers and designers, policy makers, STEM educators, researchers, and academic leaders.

The ten finalists will be provided access to leading academic and corporate organisations in the Edtech, Gaming and Stem sectors. The program will take in the capital Washington DC, New York, Seattle and Boston.

The program involves engagements with organisations including:

• U.S. Department of State
• National Academy of Sciences
• Center for Game Science at University of Washington
• Pacific Science Center
• Microsoft
• Bungie Studios
• VALVe Corporation
• BLOSSOMS Project (MIT)
• MIT Game Lab
• EdLab, Teachers College, Columbia University

Upon return the ten finalists will help in designing a follow up Future of Education EdTech event for a broad range of relevant stakeholders in Northern Ireland and Ireland provisionally scheduled for April 2014.

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Our award-winning Symmetry School: Learning Geometry iPad app has been updated with a new Pattern Mode – perfect for children with difficulty distinguishing colours.

Vision and learning are intimately related, and colour blindness can cause significant problems for children learning through colour differentiation. For this reason, we have developed a Pattern Mode which is perfect for children who have difficulty distinguishing colours.

Two additional languages – Portuguese and Russian – are also included in the new release.

The updated Symmetry School: Learning Geometry can be downloaded on the Apple App Store.

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Our Symmetry School: Learning Geometry iPad App is featured in the ‘Learning Made Fun’ collection in the ‘Kids’ category of the Apple App Store.

Symmetry School: Learning Geometry iPad can be viewed in the ‘Ages 9-11′ age range.

Apple state that “Apps that qualify for inclusion on the Kids category pages are reviewed to ensure a great user experience for younger customers. While many apps on the App Store may be appealing for children, the apps featured on these category pages must comply with additional guidelines set by Apple.”

Download Symmetry School: Learning Geometry here.

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The team at Spraoi School are delighted that our brain-twisting geometry iPad app, Symmetry School: Learning Geometry won two awards at The Appys last night.

Symmetry School: Learning Geometry – the first release in the Spraoi School series – won Gold for Best Children’s App and Silver for Best Educational App.

The Appys, now in its fourth year, is an awards programme that recognises the very best in Irish app development and design.

“The apps that entered this year’s competition were a revelation,” says Edward Conmy, event organiser. “The standard of app development, since this awards show began four years ago, has risen dramatically. The fact that tablet apps now play a big part in The Appys also shows the rise and influence of the larger screen for app fans.”

The Appys 2013 was held at the CHQ Building in Dublin and is an awards programme jointly developed by Alchemy Events and Digital Times. The event was sponsored by HTC, Sony, GSK and Alternatives Digital.

Symmetry School: Learning Geometry is available on the Apple App Store.

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Get ready for the start of the new school year with a special offer on our brain-twisting geometry app, Symmetry School: Learning Geometry. You can download the app for a limited time only at just $0.99/€0.89/£0.69 — a whole 66% off!

Symmetry School encourages learners to use their intuition and imagination to explore symmetrical puzzles. Through gameplay, learners are aided in developing an essential foundation in spatial reasoning, problem solving and visualization. Using an appealing combination of shapes and colours, Symmetry School provides endless rounds of challenges to help learners perfect their mastery of both reflective and rotational symmetry.

Free Print Activities

Download our free print activities to continue the learning!

These print activities are designed to be used in conjunction with the Symmetry School: Learning Geometry iPad app to extend the teaching and learning of reflective (line) symmetry. In addition to the pre-populated puzzles there are blank worksheets, allowing you to create your own symmetrical puzzles with customized instructions for your child or students.

Download Now Reflective Symmetry – Print Activities – Pack 1 (PDF, 3.72MB)

Free Lesson Plans

Download our free reflective symmetry lesson plan!

In this lesson plan, students will use the Symmetry School: Learning Geometry iPad app to explore concepts of reflective symmetry. Students will explore symmetrical patterns using both vertical and horizontal lines of symmetry, and will develop their spatial sense to create strategies to help them solve problems. Students will also verbalize and make connections between mathematical concepts and problem-solving.

Common Core State Standards (Grades 3–8): Math.Practice.MP1, Math.Practice.MP4, Math.Content.4.G.A.3, Math.Content.8.G.A.1, Math.Content.8.G.A.2, Math.Content.8.G.A.3

 Download Now Reflective Symmetry – Lesson Plan (PDF, 867KB)

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