Dream day for kids

MORE than 60 students from St Laurence’s Boys National School, Stillorgan were treated to a dream day out at Microsoft’s new innovation and education hub, DreamSpace, at its campus in Leopardstown, One Microsoft Place. 

These students were among the first to have the opportunity to participate in a fully immersive technology experience which has been developed by Microsoft in Ireland to inspire, encourage and challenge students at primary and secondary level to further develop their digital skills.

Microsoft has invested €5m to develop DreamSpace and is committed to bringing 100,000 primary and Transition Year students and their teachers to One Microsoft Place over the next four years to participate in the DreamSpace experience.

Students and teachers who visit will leave equipped with critical collaborative, problem-solving and learning skills that will help them to participate fully in today’s and tomorrow’s digital world. 

By engaging students in a series of creative and innovative tasks, Microsoft is hoping to shift their perception about the role technology will play in their future. 

Minister Josepha Madigan said she was delighted to join Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton TD to launch Microsoft Ireland’s Dreamspace programme at the new Microsoft campus in Leopardstown.

“A total of €5 million has been invested in the DreamSpace programme which aims to bring 100,000 primary and secondary school students and their teachers into direct contact with the emerging technologies being developed in Dublin Rathdown,” the minister stated.

“The programme will expose local students to new technologies and help develop the digital skills that are of such important in today’s world.

“This is a very welcome educational programme for the local area and I look forward to it greatly benefitting our students in the years to come.”