AN INNOVATIVE Irish publisher, that has developed an online course to turn primary school pupils into real published authors, is challenging traditional perceptions.
With the new school year in full swing, the Emu Ink Schools’ Publishing Programme – which was founded by former Journalist and Newspaper Editor, Emer Cleary, and her Software Developer husband Brian – is a free online course that uses technology to encourage literacy skills in children – and rewards them by publishing their work.
As the publisher of Ireland’s youngest independent author (Joe Prendergast was just nine-years-old when he wrote his trilogy and went on to become RTE’s Young Person of the Year) Emu Ink uses its knowledge and industry experience, to bring the unique programme to the classroom – and give children countrywide the opportunity to see their name, and their work, in print.
The course itself, is a series of lessons and exercises, that can be accessed online and projected through the interactive whiteboard or viewed via tablet, computer or phone; on completion of which will see each student having written a short story.
All short stories are then published in a paperback anthology.
Ms Cleary said, “Ireland is a country with the richest of literary histories.
“The Emu Ink Schools’ Publishing Programme was developed with this in mind and aims to encourage new writers – those who will enhance the very fabric of that reputation.
“In doing so, these children – these newly-published authors – are making history right now!”
For more information on the Emu Ink Schools’ Publishing Programme log onto emucourses.ie