Digital Online Education System (DOES) at learning.gaa.ie aims to support role of active members 

The GAA today launched a Learning & Development Community Portal to support the roles of those actively promoting Gaelic games both within the Association and across the educational sector.

GAA volunteers make up 42% of all sports volunteers in Ireland while the Association employs over 300 full-time officers to supplement organisation and development. The portal will provide an additional means of providing key resources and information to support members and non-members in their various capacities.

The website, found at learning.gaa.ie, will be used to publish e-learning content and resources from the Association’s Coach, Referee, Player and Administrator Development Programmes, as well as providing an opportunity for registered users to share and learn from one another.

The portal, built with Enovation Solutions, a leading Irish integrator of Open Source software, uses the popular Moodle eLearning product, and will also be used to publicise local events and information relevant to the various development programmes by presenting calendars and news to members based on their Club registration.

Uachtarán CLG, Liam Ó Néill, launching the portal said: ‘Our mission statement clearly identifies us as ‘a community based volunteer organisation promoting Gaelic games, culture and lifelong participation’, and in this regard it is essential that we support our members to participate to the best of their ability in whatever role they aspire to. Central to this is increasing access to key resources for our active members.

‘This development, using cutting edge information technology, will allow individuals to learn at their own pace, from home or school, and in tandem with the great work of our Coach, Referee and Comhairle (Administrator) Programme Tutors on the ground we aim to provide a ‘blended learning’ solution in tune with best practice in education in the 21st Century.’

Enovation Project Manager for the portal, Paul Bachy said, ‘Enovation were delighted to be awarded the contract to develop this key resource which provides learning opportunities for the GAA membership as well as the public at large. It was a pleasure working with the GAA to deliver this innovative community portal.

“Leveraging our deep eLearning expertise and IT delivery capability, we provided an integrated solution comprising proven open source technology which meets the needs of the GAA. We look forward to our continued partnership to support the development of this resource into the future.’

Content on the portal will be provided in a range of multi-media formats, including video, audio and text, and provide the Association with the facility to track and support individual progress through interactive content and questionnaires. Knowledge sharing will also be facilitated through forums and sharing of user generated content for registered users while the initiative aims to expand to include mobile accessible content and apps in the near future.

The portal is integrated with Coaching Ireland systems to facilitate course approval and formal certification in terms of Coach Education and has the potential to be one of the largest community learning portals in Europe.

Key content that will be published in the coming weeks and months includes:

• Coach 10 / Games Based Approach Coaching Resource
• Foundation Coach Education Award Programmes in Hurling and Football
• Cúl Camp Support Programme
• ‘Gaelic 15 Injury’ Prevention Progamme
• Referee Rules References and Tests in Hurling & Football
• Primary School Teacher Foundation Plus Coaching Programme