development education practical suggestions for moving forward august 2014
TRANSCRIPT
Development Education Development Education
Practical suggestions for moving forward
August 2014
What?
• The aim of development education is to increase awareness about the root causes of local and global poverty and injustice and to find meaningful ways to take action for change.
Why?Why?
• Social justice is a core element of the Loreto Mission – students should be ‘active citizens for change.’
• Students are increasingly reminded of the interconnectivity of our world – climate change, globalisation, UN, EU, IMF/WB, etc - but do they understand the impact on the Global South?
• Research tells us that Irish students need to develop critical thinking skills. Development education places emphasis on being a critical questioner of world systems and power structures. Hence, development education content and methodologies are very much in line with current educational objectives and reform.
What’s currently happening?• 1/3 of Loreto schools report that justice education is discussed either
‘often’ or ‘sometimes’ at staff meetings.
• 2/3 of Loreto schools report that it is ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ discussed.
• Yet lots of teachers are doing a lot of work in this area…
Most common subjects mentioned are Religion, CSPE, History, Geography, Business, English, Home Ec.
11 schools provide DE modules as part of TY programme
Estimate how many teachers in your school bring development education topics and methodologies on a regular basis.
Answer OptionsResponse Percent
Response Count
1-5 33.3% 65-10 61.1% 11More than 10 5.6% 1Other (please specify) 3
What would enable your school to be more effective in promoting local and global justice?
Sample responses to our survey
•Continuing to further CPD for teachers. •Training of all new teachers every year to promote DE within their subjects. …Solidarity not charity -adjustment in perspective on 'doing' DE
•Better collaboration between staff regarding teaching / events
•Using the Student Council more to ensure activities etc. are student led
•Perhaps a more formal, synthesised programme. (Less is more!)
•Resources provided that are accessible and up-to-date.
•Integrate Development Education into the Junior Certificate, rather than waiting until Transition Year.
•Time table Dev Ed as a compulsory module in TY.
•Also, try to have a more cross-curricular approach.
•A whole school approach to Development Education . To achieve this we need to develop an awareness campaign among staff and students
Moving forwardMoving forwardSubject Planning•When meeting to do subject planning, identify at least one opportunity each term where you can incorporate a local or global justice theme•Use the subject guidelines to help you to identify opportunities. Subject ideas for English, Mod Languages, History, Geography, Maths, and Business can be found at www.loretoeducationcentre.ie
Additional subjects will be added soon!•Contact Miriam Barragry (Development Education Coordinator, Loreto schools) if you need ideas or support. [email protected]
Cluster training • A series of cluster training events have been organised to support
development education within the Loreto schools
• Each school may register 4 teachers (from different subjects) to attend one of these training days. Substitution is provided. They will then report back and share ideas with the whole staff. Applications to [email protected] before Sept 2nd.
DATE VENUE
Sept 16th Clonmel
Sept 17th South Dublin
Sept 18th Monaghan
Sept 19th North Dublin
Other possible ideasOther possible ideas
• Agree a way of sharing ideas and useful resources – Set up a ‘Dev Ed’ folder on the shared IT system. Edmodo? Google docs?
• Set up a dedicated noticeboard?• Role of Student Council and JPIC? • Would it be useful to agree a
programme of DE activities for the coming year?
Any other suggestions?