Development Education:cross-curricular, themed

and community wideNoeleen Leahy

TY / LCVP Programme CoordinatorSt Wolstan's Community School

Celbridge

Geography, Religion, IT, LCVP, CSPE, SPHE.

Development Education Development – any action that improves

lives.

Development Education – Active learning (values of solidarity, equality,

inclusion + co-operation) Move from basic awareness to understanding of

cause/effect, then to involvement and action. Worldwide fight against injustice.

Transition Year is… An ideal place for

Development Education.

Open to innovation.

Based around active learning.

Compatible with aims of Development Education.

Development Education in St Wolstan's

In 2005 – Self Help Africa workshop in NUIM

Religion Department looked at three SHA Transition Year modules and agreed to implement.

Realised we already covered the issues in TY and elsewhere.

But – only basic awareness.

Development Education in St Wolstan's 2006 – 2007 school year

Religion teachers were able to make DE cross curricular through their own range of subjects: (e.g Poverty)

Religion English Drama Geography

Active learning Participated in SHA workshops with other

schools. Schools Across Borders.

Development Education in St Wolstan's

2007 – 2008 school year

Involvement with Worldwise / Leargas

Established a linking project with Ethiopian school.

TY teachers were asked to take Development / Ethiopia / Africa as a theme for their TY modules.

Development Education in St Wolstan's

Subjects involved: History Geography Religion Languages Home Economics Maths

Technology Art Science Music Business English

Development Education in St Wolstan's History Colonisation

Geography 3rd world country

Religion MDG’s Gender / Poverty

Languages Culture

Home Economics Ethiopian food Junk Kouture

Maths Aids statistics

Science Young Scientist Ex

Music Jembe workshops

Business Micro credit

English Film / Debating

Technology Recycled crafts

Art African crafts

Development Education in St Wolstan's

2008 – 2009 school year

Link with Ligaba Hitosa High School in Huruta, Ethiopia was fully established.

Two teachers visit Ethiopia.

Great opportunity for community wideawareness and involvement – both in and outside the school.

Development Education in St Wolstan's

Complete cross-curricular project.

Whole school Fun Walk to raise funds - €10,000 Theme - Ethiopian flag

A Day in the Life

Awareness raised through radio, newspapers, school website, TY blogs, Parent Meetings, school show, Open Day.

Development Education in St Wolstan's

Successful partnership trip to Huruta

Presentation made to students, staff, BOM, Parent Association, local library, WorldwiseConference

Ethiopian Coffee ceremony

Development Education in St Wolstan's

2009 -2010 school year

Action taken and global connections made through production of a book “The Optimism of Youth”

based on MDG No 2 Universal Primary Education.

Development Education in St Wolstan's

This was another community wide effort which involved: All TY students Whole school community Local community Global connections

Towards 2015 blog

The Optimism of Youthfrom awareness to action

Cross curricular English Art IT Religion CSPE SPHE History

Skills developed IT Letter writing Report writing Research Communication Team Planning Organisational

2013 / 2014

New pilot programme in a network of schools through Schools Across Borders.

Create a mini NGO to raise awareness and take action.

www.schoolsacrossborders.org www.agirlfriendlyworld.blogspot.ie www.cornarotyngo.blogspot.ie

Task In small groups brainstorm a cross

curricular plan for Development Education.

Aim: values of solidarity, equality, inclusion + co-operation

Start with Dev Ed and work out to find connections.

Suggest possible projects within each subject for the plan.

Active learning

Workshops Poster / Film sessions Awareness Day Blogging Participation in global projects eg Blog

Action Day, Earth hour. Recording own podcasts + video

responses Writing + acting in own plays

Projects Geography

• World trip – 3rd world / volunteer• Google map • Medical Geography – Dr Snow (cholera)• Vaccinations brochure

Religion• MDG’s – posters, responses• Poverty – TV ads, Visual Verbal squares• Gender – film, reviews, responses, blogs,

images• Conflict – research, film, reviews, current

affairs

History• Colonisation• Conflict – struggle for power – current

conflicts• School tour - Poland

Home Economics • Food science / diet / design• Junk Kouture / recycling / sustainability

Science• Young Scientist

IT• Research• Blogs• Brochures• Google maps• Presentations

English• Drama – write/perform own acts• Debating• Film reviews• Creative/persuasive/poetry writing

Music• Jembe workshops• African choir on Music Night / TY Graduation

Development Education is..

Very hard work Very enjoyable Very rewarding Personally enriching

More to be done – our students still feel they can ‘do more’.

Thank you

@noeleenleahy @StWolstansty

www.stwolstansty.blogspot.com

Jabba Jabba Jembe Self Help Africa Junkouture Leargas TY SLSS (now PDST)