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ASSIGNMENT
Review the paper: ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ (Ehigie, 2021) and consider why Development Education is important and how you would try to include it in your own teaching and encourage colleagues to plan development education activities throughout your school.
Post a reflective piece (150 words min) to this forum as a reply to this post.
Think about School Self-Evaluation (SSE) and how Development Education can feed into SSE.
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Development education helps understand and engage with global issues and challenges in a meaningful way. It raises awareness about global challenges such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and human rights. In the classroom development education encourages critical thinking. In the school we could encourage pupils to participate actively in their school community, communities and in global efforts to promote sustainable development. This year the pupils in my class took part in the microsoft Dreamspace showcase. They had to chose one global goal for sustainable development and create a group project that supports that goal, using a micro-bit to enhance it.
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Development Education is about global challenges and problems we face today and how we can understand and meet these challenges. We are all global citizens and our individual actions and words can impact what is happening all over the world.. Development Education is important as it provides pupils with the knowledge and skills to tackle problems such as poverty, inequality, and climate change as individuals, as a school community and a global citizens. It is very important that pupils develop the skill of critical thinking and have empathy. I think SPHE, circle time, SESE are all areas where global citizenship can be developed. I think CPD for staff and whole school initiatives can also create awareness of global issues and develop critical thinking. I think celebration, recognition and tolerance around differences within the school community are also importance and a great starting point for younger children. I teach in an infant school and Green School projects have been fantastic to encourage whole school participation. We focused on waste and sustainability this year and even very young children could talk about recycling, energy conversation and sustainability as it was taught and managed in a fun way.
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Ehigie’s (2021) paper, “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” emphasizes the importance of Development Education (DE) in fostering global awareness and responsible citizenship. DE nurtures understanding of global issues, critical thinking, and values of justice, equality, and sustainability, preparing students for an interconnected world.
In my teaching, I would integrate DE by embedding global perspectives across subjects. History lessons could explore colonization from multiple viewpoints, while literature classes might include works by diverse authors. Project-based learning addressing real-world problems, like climate change, would also be key.
To encourage colleagues, I would propose professional development workshops on DE benefits and practical strategies. Collaborating on interdisciplinary projects can demonstrate DE’s impact, fostering a culture of shared learning.
For School Self-Evaluation (SSE), DE can enhance reflective practices. Setting specific goals for global citizenship and assessing progress through student feedback ensures DE remains a focus, enriching education and supporting school improvement objectives.
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Completely agree with having more CPD in this area for staff in how to engage students practically with this material. Setting specific goals as a school to reach will really engage the students and I find they get very passionate when given the opportunity and the support to feel like they can make a meaningful change.
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Ehigie’s 2021 paper ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” highlights the importance of education and our collective humanity. Rather than eight billion humans thinking that they cannot make a difference vis-a-vis climate change/global warming, wars, pandemics and the myriad of challenges facing us all in the 21st century, we need to be empowered to work together and do what we can.
I teach fifth and sixth years in a special school where I am also Green School’s coordinator. I see Developmental Education projects as a key part of the curriculum, of looking outwards as they transition from being citizens in their school and local communities, to responsible young adults in the wider world. I emphasise leadership skills, teamwork (via committee membership and on the student council); self-advocacy, empathy, sustainability and using their voices through walking debates, project work, mini-enterprises and fundraisers, as applicable. Colleagues are generally informed in advance via staff-meetings or CP hours; and are very supportive of their efforts. We also hold annual Global Citizenship Days to raise awareness of the particular theme/topic at hand, to which parents are invited.
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The promotion of leadership, teamwork, self-advocacy, and sustainability through various activities and projects is an excellent way to prepare students for their roles as responsible global citizens. I agree with response about including Global Citizenship Days and engaging parents, highlight the importance of community involvement and support.
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Reflecting on Development Education, it’s evident that it is essential in shaping students into knowledgeable, empathetic global citizens.
I would incorporate DE in my classroom by introducing and incorporate global themes like environmental sustainability, poverty and inequalities into various subjects across the curriculum. For example utilising project-based learning to encourage students to explore and address real-world issues. For example, in a geography lesson, students could research the impacts of climate change on different countries and propose solutions.
Encouraging colleagues to embrace DE involves promoting a collaborative approach. I would share resources and make the inclusion of DE an seamless task. Similarly by establishing a DE committee could also help maintain focus and drive school-wide initiatives.
Regarding School Self-Evaluation (SSE), DE can significantly enhance this process by providing a framework to assess how well the school is preparing students for global citizenship. Incorporating DE into SSE involves evaluating the impact of DE activities on student outcomes, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and ensuring a holistic approach to education. This reflection can guide strategic planning, resource allocation, and professional development, ultimately fostering a school culture committed to continuous improvement and social responsibility. By prioritizing DE, schools can better equip students to navigate and positively impact an interconnected world.
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Development Education encourages students to learn about and connect with the world around them. The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (2014), states that the aim of GCE is to equip learners with the knowledge, skills and the values that enable them to become informed active citizens who act for a more sustainable future world. The INTO emphasises the importance of entire school communities learning about development education and global citizenship while engaging in “appropriate,” “regular” and “consistent actions”; to help to “make the world a better place for all.” Development Education focusing on advancing the knowledge, skills and attitudes of learners to change the thinking about how to work towards a sustainable and equal future. The paper highlights the importance of Global Citizenship to create a sustainable word. Irish Aid’s Development Education Strategy 2017-2023 further advances Global Citizenship Education as both education for sustainable development and development education. Development Education is vital and each school should be focusing on it to empower their students to become active global citizens.
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Hi Anna,
Thank you for your post here. You have made a really important point when you have stressed the need for ‘regular’ acts to make the world a better place for all to live in. Very often we can get caught up in trends or fads that make small changes, but are not sustained for the long term. Through the pursuit of development education goals in primary school, children can really see the value of small, consistent actions that are taken on a large, collective scale (and the changes these can bring about).
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Ehigie’s (2021) paper, “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” underscores the significance of global citizenship in fostering a cohesive and sustainable world community. It highlights the need for individuals to understand global issues, promote cross-cultural understanding, and engage in sustainable practices.
Development Education (DE) is crucial as it equips students with the knowledge and skills to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. DE fosters critical thinking, empathy, and cultural sensitivity, preparing students to be proactive global citizens.
To integrate DE in my teaching, I would embed global issues into the curriculum, utilize project-based learning, and encourage reflective practices. For example, incorporating discussions on climate change in science lessons and human rights in social studies can provide practical insights into these issues.
To encourage colleagues, I would organize professional development workshops, promote collaborative planning, and create a repository of DE resources. Additionally, initiating school-wide projects like sustainability drives and Global Citizenship Days can help inculcate a culture of DE across the school. By adopting these strategies, we can collectively nurture informed, empathetic, and active global citizens, as envisioned by Ehigie.
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Hi Orla,
Welcome to the course and thank you for your insightful post. NCCA research from 2016 points out to how upskilling ourselves as teachers can allow children experience different learning opportunities in school. I feel the tone of your post really speaks to this – it is so important that we ourselves become education on these global development issues. You have correctly identified ongoing CPD as a significant factor in enhancing our knowledge around this. I also like the way you have incorporated ideas around getting the whole school community involved, such as the Global Citizenship Days.
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Hi Orla,
Your approach to integrating development education is excellent. Embedding global issues into the curriculum and using project-based learning ensures students gain practical insights. Organizing professional development workshops and promoting collaborative planning will effectively engage colleagues. Initiatives like sustainability drives and Global Citizenship Days are fantastic ways to foster a school-wide culture of global citizenship.
All the best, Kate -
Great points on integrating Development Education into your teaching Orla. I like the idea of embedding global issues into the curriculum and using project-based learning to make it more engaging for students. Hosting professional development workshops and school-wide projects like Global Citizenship Days sounds like a fantastic way to get everyone involved.
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Ehigie’s (2021) paper on the role of global citizens underscores the necessity of equipping students to tackle global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and conflict. The paper emphasizes that education is crucial in developing individuals who are informed, empathetic, and proactive in contributing to a sustainable world. This aligns closely with the principles of Development Education, which fosters awareness, critical thinking, empathy, and action.
Incorporating Development Education into my teaching involves integrating global themes across various subjects, encouraging project-based learning, and utilizing diverse resources. For instance, I plan to introduce projects that address real-world issues and facilitate cross-cultural exchanges through virtual collaborations. Reflective practices, such as discussions and journals, will be employed to help students critically analyze global issues and their roles as global citizens.
To encourage colleagues, I will organize professional development workshops focused on Development Education, showcasing successful initiatives to inspire them. Collaborative planning sessions will be fostered to design interdisciplinary units addressing global issues. Advocating for supportive school policies and promoting a school-wide culture of global citizenship through events and campaigns will also be key strategies.
By adopting these approaches, we can collectively nurture a generation of students who are not only aware of global issues but also equipped and motivated to make a positive impact.
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“The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” by Ehigie (2021) highlights the significance of global citizenship and the importance of development education in fostering a sense of responsibility towards global issues. Development education aims to promote an understanding of global interconnectedness, social justice, and sustainable development.
To incorporate development education in teaching, I would utilize interactive and engaging activities that encourage critical thinking and empathy towards diverse perspectives. I would integrate global issues into the curriculum across subjects to provide a holistic understanding of complex global challenges.
To encourage colleagues to plan development education activities throughout the school, I would propose collaborative projects, workshops, and events that promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy. By creating a supportive environment that values global citizenship, we can inspire students to become active agents of positive change in the world.
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Gender stereotypes can profoundly impact students even at a young age, influencing their self-perception, interests, and aspirations. For instance, I’ve observed a scenario where boys gravitated towards building blocks and girls towards the play kitchen/dolls. This separation often stems from societal norms that dictate ‘appropriate’ activities for each gender, limiting their experiences and development. I found it is good to introduce students to diverse role models who defy traditional gender roles, such as female scientists or male nurses, broadening their understanding of what is possible. Reflective discussions and storytelling can also help students understand and appreciate gender diversity, fostering a more inclusive mindset. Through these methodologies, DE can empower students to move beyond stereotypes and embrace their full potential, creating a more equitable classroom environment.
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<p dir=”ltr” style=”line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;”>I feel that Development Education is incredibly important to teaching and learning as working and living with others who are a different race/ethnicity is how Ireland is now. Ireland’s face has changed hugely in the last 40 years to now and it is important that each child has the ability to understand/empathise with what their neighbour has experienced.</span><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;”>“The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” by Ehigie (2021) highlights the importance of Development education in promoting an understanding of global interconnectedness, social justice, and sustainable development.</span><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;”>. I admired the quote in the article too from Daniel O’Connell, the great emancipator and feel that our former leaders have a wonderful insight/empathetic relationship into the lives of those in the minority or those who were oppressed.</span></p>
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<p dir=”ltr” style=”line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;”>To be a global citizen is to care and when teaching children in the senior end I feel it is always important to go back to History and to quote from the 1916 proclamation “…it wishes to cherish all children of the nation equally and oblivious to the differences”. By using this quote it would be an ideal way to encourage children & staff alike to appreciate the differences in humanity and the importance for all to be treated with love and respect. </span></p>
<p dir=”ltr”><span id=”docs-internal-guid-325ad61a-7fff-e5c6-4c92-a6b9c0b0b755″><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; color: #000000; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-position: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;”>To encourage fellow teachers to plan lessons developing global education I would encourage collaborative projects, and special events that promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy like taking part in the Concern Primary debating competition or the Microsoft Micro-bit Global Goals challenge would be excellent ways to engage senior classes in particular too. </span></span></p>
<span id=”docs-internal-guid-2e82c392-7fff-68fd-15e0-ad68b35a27aa”> </span>
<p dir=”ltr” style=”line-height: 1.38; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;”><span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; color: #000000; background-color: #ffffff; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;”>To encourage fellow teachers to plan lessons developing global education I would encourage collaborative projects, and special events that promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy like taking part in the Concern Primary debating competition or the Microsoft Micro-bit Global Goals challenge would be excellent ways to engage senior classes in particular too. </span></p> -
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I feel that Development Education is incredibly important to teaching and learning as working and living with others who are a different race/ethnicity is how Ireland is now. Ireland’s face has changed hugely in the last 40 years to now and it is important that each child has the ability to understand/empathise with what their neighbour has experienced. “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” by Ehigie (2021) highlights the importance of Development education in promoting an understanding of global interconnectedness, social justice, and sustainable development.. I admired the quote in the article too from Daniel O’Connell, the great emancipator and feel that our former leaders have a wonderful insight/empathic relationship into the lives of those in the minority or those who were oppressed. To be a global citizen is to care and when teaching children in the senior end I feel it is always important to go back to History and to quote from the 1916 proclamation “…it wishes to cherish all children of the nation equally and oblivious to the differences”. By using this quote it would be an ideal way to encourage children & staff alike to appreciate the differences in humanity and the importance for all to be treated with love and respect.
To encourage fellow teachers to plan lessons developing global education I would encourage collaborative projects, and special events that promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy like taking part in the Concern Primary debating competition or the Microsoft Micro-bit Global Goals challenge would be excellent ways to engage senior classes in particular too.
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Hi Catherine,
It is certainly fair to say that Ireland has changed so much over the past 40 years, and we are now a truly multicultural society. This has heightened the need and importance of development education and global development themes in our schools. I like the way you have highlighted the importance of collaboration in terms of developing this, and you have provided some excellent concrete examples of projects they could become involved in.
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Hi Catherine, I really like your idea of the debating competition. I think it would be a great way to involve the children in an engaging and meaningful way while having fun debating with their peers. I wasn’t aware Concern had a competition. It is something I look forward to learning more about in September.
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Reviewing ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ by Ehigie (2021) highlights the critical importance of Development Education (DE). DE helps students understand global issues, fosters empathy, and promotes responsible citizenship. In today’s interconnected world, it is essential for students to develop a sense of global responsibility and awareness.
In my classroom, I incorporate DE through projects on global issues like climate change, poverty, and cultural diversity. These projects encourage critical thinking and empathy. For example, we recently did a project on the impacts of plastic pollution worldwide, connecting it to our local environment and actions we can take.
To encourage colleagues to include DE, I suggest integrating it into our School Self-Evaluation (SSE) framework. By setting DE as a priority area, we can develop specific goals and actions, such as incorporating DE themes into various subjects and organising school-wide events like cultural days or charity drives. Sharing resources and successes can also motivate and support teachers.
Overall, DE enriches our curriculum and prepares students to be compassionate, informed global citizens. Through thoughtful planning and collaboration, we can embed DE into our school’s ethos and practice, benefiting both students and the broader community.
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Your review of Ehigie’s work on ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ underscores the vital importance of Development Education (DE). DE not only deepens students’ understanding of global issues but also nurtures empathy and responsible citizenship, crucial in our interconnected world. Your classroom projects on topics like climate change, poverty, and plastic pollution really show effective DE practices, fostering critical thinking and local-global connections. Well done.
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I completely agree with your perspective Catherine on the importance of Development Education in teaching and learning. As Ireland becomes increasingly diverse, it is crucial for children to understand and empathize with the experiences of their neighbors from different backgrounds. Ehigie’s (2021) article on the role of global citizens indeed underscores the significance of social justice, and sustainable development through education.
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From reviewing the paper, Ehigie (2021) underscores the significance of Development Education in fostering global citizenship. Development Education equips learners with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to understand and address global issues, promoting a sense of responsibility and engagement in creating a just and sustainable world.
Development Education is essential as it cultivates critical thinking, empathy, and a deeper understanding of intertwined global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental sustainability. By integrating Development Education into the primary curriculum, we prepare students to become informed and active global citizens who can contribute meaningfully to society.
In my teaching, I would include Development Education by incorporating global issues into lessons across the curriculum, promoting collaborative projects that address real-world problems such as helping local charities and organisations, and encouraging community engagement through guest speakers or awareness days. To encourage colleagues, I would share resources and successful examples of Development Education activities, and create a supportive environment where teachers can collaborate and share ideas.
Additionally, integrating Development Education into school-wide activities, such as inter-cultural days can further enhance its impact. By fostering a school culture that values and actively promotes Development Education, teachers can collectively nurture children to become compassionate, informed, and proactive global citizens in the future.
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Hi Seán,
You have highlighted some of the key themes and sub-themes that can be addressed through development education, such as critical thinking and empathy. These make up central themes of the key competencies located in the Primary Curriculum Framework, and will be key to future curriculum rollouts, particularly in Wellbeing and STE. As you have pointed out within your post, the organisation of simple things like intercultural days can also be transformative for progressing these themes.
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I like your link to critical thinking which is a key competence that we aim to instill in children through a variety of curricular areas and activities. Children need to be aware of the society and world in which they live. Sometimes I think so much emphasis is put on children knowing about the geography of their area or the science of the world around us which is incredibly important but societal issues and scenarios can be left at the wayside.
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I found this module to be very informative and I decided that I would do this course as I was not sure as to what Development Education was about and it is something that I would like to introduce in my own school. After completing the module, my understanding is that the aim is to ensure that teachers and children are aware of what is happening around the world and to enable us as teachers to empower our pupils to take action and show them how they can make positive changes in the world. In the article it says “Change is the mantra of the global citizen” and how the task of improving ourselves and taking small social actions is a sufficient starting point in embracing our role as a global citizen. I think that this is an important message to bring back to my school if we are to engage in Development Education.
I really found the input from schools in the module that are engaging in Development Education very interesting. Even though they were from post primary schools I could see how we could develop it in our own school. It was clear from the schools participating in Development Education that it was a positive experience and enabled students to understand and respond to challenges of global injustices.
I like that there is a resource to use at primary level from 1st to 6th that allows for differentiation and integration into other subject areas. As a teacher of 1st and 2nd class, I like the idea of using games to explore fairness and social inequalities. To encourage all staff to engage with Development Education I would organise professional development in the area and I would also use the slides from this module to give them an understanding of what it entails.
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The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” by Ehigie emphasises the importance of developing a united world community in order to promote understanding of each other and progress in developing a more sustainable co-existence. Education is the key to this and Development Education at all levels of schooling will teach pupils about the important issues that the world faces – issues such as poverty, climate change, diversity and inequality. Development Education will promote the 3 key elements of understanding through the Head, Heart and Hand so that pupils will understand the issues, empathise and then act on what is needed. This is Active Education. In Primary school pupil are very involved in Green schools which has a Global citizenship element within it. This is a great way of encouraging active involvement in Global issues – environmental issues like recycling and water conservation to name but two. But classes must be taught on specific issues and problem to ensure that these important message are brought to all pupils at the level that they will understan
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Hi Emer,
Welcome to the course and thank you for your post here. You are correct in pointing out that this area, like so many others, requires education for us all. I love how you have been able to relate something that exists in many schools (Green Schools) and have tied it in with the themes of development education. This model and approach is one which we could take and apply to other themes within this area.
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The paper “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” (Ehigie, 2021) highlights the importance of development education.
As a primary school teacher, I recognise its value in fostering global citizenship. By integrating diverse perspectives, global issues, and cross-cultural understanding, development education equips students with the skills and values to navigate an interconnected world. I incorporate development education by creating an inclusive classroom environment that promotes critical thinking and empathy.
To encourage colleagues, I collaborate on workshops and professional development to share strategies and resources. By fostering a shared vision and emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches, we inspire fellow educators to plan development education activities throughout our school.
Together, we empower the next generation to become compassionate global citizens, capable of making positive contributions in our changing society.
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<p style=”box-sizing: inherit; border: 0px; font-size: 12px; margin: 0px 0px 1.6em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #163c42; font-family: ‘Hind Madurai’, sans-serif;”>Development education is so important in today’s diverse world. We are seeing that global issues and challenges are impacting on local communities across the globe. I think his idea of common humanity has great appeal in a classroom environment. Development education helps promote empathy and address issues such as social injustice, poverty and inequality. Theses are all issues that children need to be aware of and through education hopefully can empower to effect positive change both locally and globally.</p>
I would try to incorporate development education in my classroom by reaching out to local and national organisations that work in this area. Classroom visits from these organisations or a video call would help children to become aware of local issues. Our school has become much more diverse in the past few years. Children from these different countries could speak to their class about some of the issues affecting other areas globally. Parents would also become a great source of knowledge here too.Development education would easily prioritised as a focus for SSE in the future
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<span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: ‘Segoe UI’,sans-serif; color: #242424;”>Development education is crucial as it helps students understand global issues, promote social justice, and foster critical thinking skills. In primary schools, I would include it through activities like discussions, games, group projects on different cultures, global challenges, climate change, poverty, diversity and encouraging empathy towards others.</span>
<p style=”font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;”><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: ‘Segoe UI’,sans-serif; color: #242424;”>Teachers can integrate development education by incorporating diverse perspectives in lessons, organising projects on sustainable practices, and promoting understanding of global interconnections. By engaging students in these topics, they can develop a broader worldview and become more socially aware individuals. My own school has become extremely diverse over the past few years. This September I will only have three Irish pupils in my 6th class. I will most definitely look at prioritising</span><span style=”font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: ‘Arial’,sans-serif; color: #163c42;”> </span><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: ‘Segoe UI’,sans-serif; color: #242424;”>Development Education as an SESE topic for the year ahead. </span></p> -
<span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: ‘Segoe UI’,sans-serif; color: #242424;”>Development education is crucial as it helps students understand global issues, promote social justice, and foster critical thinking skills. In primary schools, I would include it through activities like discussions, games, group projects on different cultures, global challenges, climate change, poverty, diversity and encouraging empathy towards others.</span>
<p style=”font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; widows: 2; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; word-spacing: 0px;”><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: ‘Segoe UI’,sans-serif; color: #242424;”>Teachers can integrate development education by incorporating diverse perspectives in lessons, organising projects on sustainable practices, and promoting understanding of global interconnections. By engaging students in these topics, they can develop a broader worldview and become more socially aware individuals. My own school has become extremely diverse over the past few years. This September I will only have three Irish pupils in my 6th class. I will most definitely look at prioritising</span><span style=”font-size: 9.0pt; font-family: ‘Arial’,sans-serif; color: #163c42;”> </span><span style=”font-size: 11.0pt; font-family: ‘Segoe UI’,sans-serif; color: #242424;”>Development Education as an SESE topic for the year ahead. </span></p> -
Development Education is important because calls attention to global issues and highlights how we as global citizens can take action to improve or help to eradicate these issues. It shows us how that simple actions taken by individuals can evoke a big change. In my own classroom I would show different examples of what it means to be a global citizen, and of how the seemingly small actions of a few may make a significant change on a global scale: Example when the Dunnes Stores workers in Dublin refused to handle fruit from South Africa in protest of apartheid.
I would teach about the UN Sustainability Goals, and facilitate different student led projects based on the student’s particular interest in different global issues.
As part of the Green Schools, I would collaborate with my colleagues to explore and take local action in the themes of global development such as travel, food and biodiversity.
I would encourage my colleagues to participate in Global Goals Week.
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Hi Anna, I agree Development Education raises awareness of global issues and empowers us to make a difference. In the classroom, showcasing how individual actions impact the world can inspire students. For instance, the Dunnes Stores workers’ strike demonstrated how collective efforts can drive meaningful change globally.
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Hi Anna Lucia,
Welcome to the course. Thanks for your post here, and your clear overview of the importance and relevance of development education. You have touched upon a number of key themes, which will be discussed in greater detail later in the course, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Green Schools programme, within the context of climate change.
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Hi Anna
Nice idea to encourage staff to take part in Global Goals Week, as staff in schools are similar to leaders of countries. By working to change the school environment, staff are supporting Goal 17:Partnerships for the Goals. If each school does their bit in Ireland, the country is then fully supporting this very important goal.
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Development education is crucial as it helps students understand global issues, promote social justice, and foster critical thinking skills. In primary schools, I would include it through activities like discussions, games, group projects on different cultures, global challenges, climate change, poverty, diversity and encouraging empathy towards others.
Teachers can integrate development education by incorporating diverse perspectives in lessons, organising projects on sustainable practices, and promoting understanding of global interconnections. By engaging students in these topics, they can develop a broader worldview and become more socially aware individuals. My own school has become extremely diverse over the past few years. This September I will only have three Irish pupils in my 6th class. I will most definitely look at prioritising Development Education as an SESE topic for the year ahead.
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Hi Emma,
Welcome to the course and thank you for your post here. It is amazing that you have said that you only expect to have 3 Irish pupils in your class next year. Whilst development education is important in all classrooms, I can see your point around how you will prioritize this area in particular within SESE. Subsequent modules of global development issues and migration should prove helpful for you.
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From reading through Ehigie’s 2021 paper ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ it is clear that although
we have come a long way in relation to being Glabal citizens and understanding equality and social issues, however
we still have a long way to go. It is essential that we are all aware of the importance of global issues such as poverty,
inequality, hunger and political instabitiy and how these can impact our daily teaching and what the children infront of
us are being exposed to on a daily basis. Given children an awareness of Development Education helps them become more
empathetic towards the plights of others. This is something that we can look at doing with children of all ages as it’s
important that all children regardless of age become aware of the needs of others in an age appropriate way. It is
important that we teach children from an early age that regardless of our differences, we are all members of the same
global family. -
Development education should be an important part of all student’s education in Ireland. When planning for why development education is important we have to consider the landscape of the modern Irish education system compared to the education system over the last 40 years. We live in a society which is becoming increasingly multicultural and we would be doing a disservice to students if we did not explore the topics that fall under the umbrella of development education, especially as these topics will become some of the central social issues in the future. Using the SDGs to explore Development education in the classroom can be a wonderful approach and open the door for further thinking and discussions. As the paper points out, we have come such a long way already, however this is only the beginning of the journey with development education.
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Hi Orla,
Thank you for your contribution here and you are very welcome to the course. It is absolutely true to point out the changes that have occurred in Irish society and Irish education over the past 40 years. Development education can provide a pathway to children becoming more informed about local and global issues, and the plight of people in other countries. The new draft Wellbeing & SEE curricula may be a useful reference point for you to consider as you progress through the course.
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Development Education means to increase knowledge and understanding about the inequalities in the world. It is important as it provides students with the knowledge and skills to address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. Development education fosters critical thinking, empathy thus preparing students to be active global citizens.
To integrate development education in my teaching, I would integrate global issues into the curriculum particularly in the area of English. I would integrate it into project-based learning. For example, incorporating the global goals into STEAM by asking pupil’s to design projects to target the global goals for a better world.
To encourage staff, I would introduce professional development workshops on this matter for staff that are unsure about how to introduce this topic into the classroom and provide accessible resources for each class. Additionally, introducing school-wide projects like sustainability promotes Global Citizenship which can help develop a culture of Development Education across the school. -
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In his paper, “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” Ehigie (2021) underscores the critical role of development education in fostering global citizenship. Development education is vital as it promotes awareness of global interconnectedness, social justice, and sustainable development, thereby cultivating a sense of responsibility towards global issues.
In my teaching, I would integrate development education by employing interactive and engaging activities that encourage critical thinking and empathy towards diverse perspectives. This could include discussions, role-playing, and project-based learning centered on global issues, providing students with a holistic understanding of complex challenges.
To encourage colleagues to adopt development education, I would propose collaborative projects, workshops, and school-wide events that foster cross-cultural understanding and empathy. By creating a supportive environment that values global citizenship, we can collectively inspire students to become proactive agents of positive change.
Incorporating development education into School Self-Evaluation (SSE) can provide a framework for assessing and enhancing the school’s commitment to global citizenship. SSE can help identify strengths and areas for improvement in teaching practices, ensuring that development education becomes a core part of the curriculum, thereby empowering students to engage meaningfully with global issues and contribute to a better future.
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Having read through Ehigie’s (2021) paper, “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” I was struck at how powerfully I was effected by the section entitled – ‘the power within the system of self’. The author writes eloquently about how important education is and the effectiveness of individual thoughts and experiences as noted by the authors inclusion of O’Connells speech, Dr. King’s ‘moral arc’ and Darwin’s scientific observations. He values these contributions to the development of societal norms but emphasises the equally important efforts of all, comparable lesser known, humans. It brought to mind the quote from Van Gogh that; ‘’If I am worth anything later, I am worth something now. For wheat is wheat even if people think it is a grass in the beginning’’. I fear I was victim to mental fatigue regarding my faith in the effectiveness of individual efforts as of late and yet I found that this article and course was very much needed to reignite my own sense of collective social justice and awareness that every little effort does in fact help. It really resonated with me on what development education is and why it is so important for us as educators to include it in our classrooms and for the cultivation of these ‘citizenship’ traits and beliefs in our young people.
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Hi Cora,
Welcome to the course and thank you for your thoughtful post here. It is really clear that the Ehigie piece has really resonated with you and you have highlighted many relevant and pertinent points from the article. Your comment around ‘every little helps’ is such a powerful little nugget from your piece – if we all can do that ‘little’ bit, it doesn’t be long until it becomes quite large.
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Development education is educating for a just and sustainable world. It is an essential tool now in schools to learn about some of the complex issues in the world such as poverty injustice and human rights. When children have an understanding of issues from their primary education and in an age appropriate fashion they are more likely to make connnections between their own lives and social issues and will be more empowered to make a difference.
At the core of development education is that we are all global citizens. Developing cross cultural awareness in schools and promoting diversity is at the core of this. The green flag and Yellow flag work in tandem in this way. For e.g. We may be celebrating diversity and culture in our school through the yellow flag while the theme of Global citizenship may allow us to look at the area of fair trade.
We have incorporated this into our DEIS plan in the school to develop partnerships with parents from different cultures and to invite them in at different times during the year to speak to classes. -
Ehigie’s piece on ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ highlights the many issues faced by people in the world today like poverty, inequality and climate change and it gives us the empathy and understanding needed to help tackle these issues. Development Education teaches and reminds us that we as individuals can make a difference with these global issues by making small changes to our daily lives. I think this topic could be incorporated very easily into SPHE lessons and research projects etc could be completed with classes so they get a vast understanding of it. The Green Schools initiative is a great way to spread the information too as it is whole school based and the school has targets they need to meet so children might be more focused. Each class in the school could take one of the SDG’s and learn about it and how to help achieve that goal. These could be presented to the school then in a slideshow or at assemblies to reiterate the importance of everyone doing what they can to help achieve these goals.
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This paper was particularly interesting and relevant in that it was written from the perspective of someone who identified as Black and Irish. It showed development education in a local, national and global context and in doing so, showed its relatability to the Irish classroom.
Development education is a vital component of contemporary education that aims to raise awareness and understanding about global issues, such as poverty, inequality, social justice, and sustainability. It fosters a sense of global citizenship, encouraging individuals to take action and make positive changes. It is rooted in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
As a teacher in an Educate Together school, development education has particular relevance in the context of the new Learn Together Curriculum that is coming on stream this year. It too, is rooted firmly in the SDGs and in global citizenship education. I always address issues of development education in my classroom both incidentally and explicitly through Learn Together lessons. Through my post, I oversee the promotion of the Ethical Education programme in the whole school and have worked on revising the Whole School Plan in line with the Revised Curriculum last year. In the coming school year, it will be a priority in the school and I will use aspects from this course to promote it, including the youtube video on What is International Development
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After reviewing the paper the role of global ceiticitizens In todays world I have begun to realisee why development education is so important in Primary schools. and how it is vital for all teachers to include developemtn education in their teaching and learning and also model justice within our classes. This paper has reinforced social issues such as poverty and hunger and how we can take action locally and globally to fight social injustice. It is very important that we teach our children about social action and how to be global citizens. Within school we ould start this by making sure eeryone is represented in our classrooms and school building e.g. culbook from different cultures, resources such as aistear toys with people from all cultures and faiths. Everyone needs to be repreenented to feel like they belong. We all want to be visible and identify with someone. Our student council could take action on local and global issues and get the whole school involved. Fianlly weith an SSE we can identify if we are being fully inclusive.
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Development education is essential aspect in the holistic education of our students. It opens up a deeper understanding of global issues, cultural diversity, and their own role as global citizens.
Teaching beyond academic subjects is crucial and hugely important in developing skills in critical thinking, building empathy alongside a sense of social responsibility. Students are encouraged to think, feel and take action by learning about global challenges, such as poverty, inequality, environmental sustainability and human rights.
Our school staff this year collaborated with the local community to organise an International Day. The various different cultures and countries had a table/stand in our school hall and they shared their foods, information of their religious beliefs, flags, sports jerseys and national history. It was a hugely successful day celebrating cultural diversity within the school and it promoted a more inclusive environment and appreciation for different cultures while bringing the school community together.
The Green Schools initiative is an excellent pathway to generate environmental awareness in the entire school in a manner that links across the curriculum and puts development education into action. Meaningful development education is an ongoing process that requires continuous reflective practice to ensure a more profound understanding, improved teaching and empowering action.
By creating an environment that fosters global citizenship and facilitating the students on a journey of learning, reflection, and action we can equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to make a positive contribution to the world.-
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Hi Janet,
Thank you for your post. I like the way you have zoned in on environmental awareness and deepening knowledge around the impact of climate change and how humans can generate the conditions to accelerate or decelerate this. The Green Schools Initiative is a great way to raise awareness and achieve buy-in from the whole school community. However, like you have said meaningful development education is an ongoing process, and initiatives like this need to sustained and built on after the ‘flag’ has arrived.
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Ehigie’s (2021) paper highlights the importance of preparing students to address global challenges such as climate change, inequality, and conflict. It emphasizes the role of education in developing informed, empathetic, and proactive individuals who contribute to a sustainable world. This approach aligns with the principles of Development Education, which promotes awareness, critical thinking, empathy, and action.
Incorporating Development Education into my teaching involves integrating global themes across various subjects, encouraging project-based learning, and using diverse resources. For example, I plan to introduce projects addressing real-world issues and facilitate cross-cultural exchanges through virtual collaborations. Reflective practices, like discussions and journals, will help students critically analyse global issues and their roles as global citizens.
To inspire colleagues, I would encourage colleagues to engage with CPD on Development Education. Development Education can be included across many areas of the curriculum but especially as part of literacy, SESE, SPHE.
By adopting these approaches, we can nurture a generation of students who are not only aware of global issues but also equipped and motivated to make a positive impact.
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Hi Catherine,
Thank you for your post and welcome to the course. You are so right to point out the value of CPD in relation to development education (and all other areas). It is clear that this course will provide you with knowledge, skills and ideas around the incorporation of these global themes into your teaching. If all teachers had access to relevant CPD, this could be seen across the board.
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Development education has never been more important to me as a teacher than this year. Teaching in a very small country school for a number of years now, I have to admit I was somewhat blinkered into the comfort of our safe, stereotypical Irish environment. The introduction of many nationalities in the last year and a half has changed this somewhat and it is for the better. As these cultures have 100% integrated with us and our traditions, it is only fair that we make an effort as a staff and a school community to acknowledge some of theirs. It was shocking for us to realise that our Irish children were not aware of the term ‘human rights’. Things that they take for granted every day are not enjoyed and granted to all children. They were empowered by knowing that they are entitled to these rights. They were also saddened by the fact that some of their classmates had been denied these rights. Palestine has also been top of the children’s curiosity. While they were somewhat shielded from the true horror, they were still affected by the fact that while we were at school working everyday, there were some children fighting for their lives and living in terror. Next year we hope to carry on these new themes and hopefully this course will help me to do just that with more information and resources.
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Ehigie’s (2001) paper was particular interesting. It highlighted the importance of the role that global citizens play. It also emphasises the importance of providing students with the knowledge to develop an awareness of global challenges from a young age. It is vital that humans have an awareness of how they can contribute to a more sustainable world.
Development Education is very important now more so than ever! It allows children to develop an awareness of worldwide global issues including poverty and climate change. There are lots of opportunities for teachers to incorporate development education into lessons in particular in the SESE subjects. Perhaps, there is more opportunities to teach development education at the senior end of primary school by carrying out research projects and organising fundraisers. However, it is vital it is introduced to children at a young age so an awareness is developed. I particularly enjoy teaching children in the junior classes about Fairtrade. This is a lesson that always works well as I bring in products for the children to see. The children can make connections to the lesson as many of them will have bought fairtrade products whilst doing shopping with parents. The story of the coffee bean is also a great hit!
A development education week could definitely be something integrated into a Whole School Plan. It could take a similar approach to active schools, science or maths week. I would suggest maybe two important topics to be focused on during development education week. There could be a competition at the end of the week- colouring, poetry. This would give the children a chance to highlight their new learning!-
Hi Alyson,
Thank you for your post and your response to Ehigie’s article. As you have pointed out, SESE is the perfect place for you to integrate development education themes within the curriculum. I really like your idea around a Development Education week, which could be treated in a similar way to Active Schools Week. Especially when starting out, this can be a great way to raise awareness and build a culture of this around the school.
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Development Education addresses the global challenges and problems we face today, helping us understand and respond to these issues. As global citizens, our actions and words have a worldwide impact. This education is crucial as it equips students with the knowledge and skills to address problems like poverty, inequality, and climate change on an individual level, within the school community, and as global citizens. Developing critical thinking and empathy in students is essential.
Subjects such as SPHE, circle time, and SESE are ideal for fostering global citizenship. Additionally, professional development for staff and whole school initiatives can raise awareness of global issues and enhance critical thinking skills. Celebrating and recognizing differences within the school community is also important and serves as a great starting point for younger children. In my infant school, Green School projects have been excellent for encouraging school-wide participation. This year, we focused on waste and sustainability, and even very young children learned about recycling, energy conservation, and sustainability through fun and engaging activities.
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After reading the paper, I have learned that development education is a lifelong educational process. It is very important because it is not only about recognising inequality, injustice and unfairness in our world today, but also about trying to change it and do something about it. We, as teachers, can include it in our classrooms by encouraging our students to think independently for themselves. We can also push back against stereotypes and other injustices which we see daily. With children nowadays spending so much time online and on social media, it is easy for them to become overwhelmed by misinformation and false facts about what is going on in the world. Development education gives us the opportunity to empower children to feel as though they can make a difference in the world around them by taking action. I currently teach 5th class and I can see some real benefits to encouraging development education in my classroom with this age group. However, I can also see how younger ages would benefit especially if development education was encouraged at a whole-school level.
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Ehigie’s (2021) paper, “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” explores the importance of global citizenship in creating a sustainable global community. It encourages humans to understand and consider global issues and to engage in sustainable practices for the greater good of the world.
Development Education (DE) is so important in today’s everchanging world as it provides pupils with the knowledge and skills to tackle global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. It encourages children to critically think, to become more empathetic and to be aware of all of the different cultures in the world.
I would integrate DE into my lessons by adding discussions on climate change in science lessons, human rights lessons in SPHE, multicultural days where children get the opportunity to educate their peers on their own culture. I would study different countries in Geography and create projects and presentations on various countries.
I would organize a Croke Park hour on DE to encourage collaborative planning and to create some DE resources among my colleagues. I would invite a guest speaker in to give us more information also. -
Development education is important across the board. As teachers and educators it is our duty to impart awareness to kids in our class and the wider school community.
Children love when things are fair-rules in the class, everyone being treated fairly and this generally follows suit when you discuss issues in our society.
Children often find it hard to understand why people would be treated unfairly due to where they live, colour of their skin, gender etc
Therefore it is so important that we nurture this from a young age.
Using the teacher handbook discussed in module 1 and the lesson plans provided is a great starting point and something to think about for SSE, every class picking a lesson from this and expanding on it. Involving parents and the wider school community, possibly picking a month in the year to highlight ‘Development Education’, projects, art work, a month or even a fortnight of celebration within the school community. It is all about taking action and getting the children active.
As was mentioned in the article it can be overwhelming when we try to overcome all the issues at a global level or even think how are we helping at a global level, but every action counts and hopefully bringing awareness to the children in our care will have a bigger impact, as they impart their wisdom in the local and wider community.
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I agree with the points you have made Catherine. It is very important as adults and role models to our students that we promote equality in the classroom. Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment ensures all students feel valued and included, which enhances their engagement and motivation. It helps students appreciate and respect diverse backgrounds and perspectives, fostering a more harmonious classroom atmosphere.
Encouraging Equal Opportunities – Academic Achievement: Provides all students with the same opportunities to succeed, irrespective of their background. Skill Development: Ensures that all students can develop their skills and talents to their fullest potential.
Fostering Social Justice – Equity and Fairness: Contributes to a more just society by addressing and reducing educational disparities. Empowerment: Empowers marginalized groups by recognizing and addressing systemic inequalities.
Promoting equality in the classroom is not just a moral and ethical responsibility but also a practical necessity for creating an effective and enriching educational experience. By fostering an environment where every student feels valued and has equal opportunities to succeed, teachers play a crucial role in shaping a more equitable and just society.
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The paper by Ehigie (2021) emphasizes the importance of development education in fostering global citizenship. As an educator, I see the value in equipping students with knowledge, skills, and perspectives to engage with global issues and become agents of change.
In my teaching, I would integrate global perspectives across subjects, fostering open discussions, critical thinking, and empathy. Through case studies, current events, and interactive activities, I aim to inspire students to analyze and reflect on global challenges.
To encourage colleagues to plan development education activities, I would share my experiences through workshops and professional development sessions. I would emphasize integrating global perspectives into the curriculum and offer support in designing engaging activities. Collaborating on cross-curricular projects, we can collectively inspire students to become active global citizens.The paper reinforces my commitment to promoting development education. By nurturing global citizenship skills, I empower students to understand and address global challenges in an interconnected world.
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The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ emphasises the critical need for fostering global citizenship to tackle challenges such as climate change, inequality, and social justice. Development education is crucial as it aids students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to understand and address global issues, promoting a sense of responsibility.
Incorporating development education into teaching can be transforming. I plan to integrate it into my curriculum through projects that explore global issues, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving. Activities such as global issue debates and sustainability projects can help students understand different perspectives of the world.
To engage my colleagues, I will propose professional development workshops focusing on the benefits. Collaboratively, we can develop school-wide initiatives, such as a global awareness week and guest speaker sessions By fostering a school culture that values global citizenship, we can collectively become informed, compassionate global citizens.
In conclusion, development education is essential for preparing students to contribute positively to our world. Through collaborative efforts, we can integrate these lessons into our classrooms, ensuring our students are well-equipped to face and shape the future.
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Development Education has a vital role to play in our education system as it promotes understanding and awareness of global issues that affect people ,communities and societies throughout the world. Development Education strives to empower the future generation to take action for a more just world.
According to Ehigie “To be a global citizen, is to care. It is to empathise” These are extremely important qualities we as teachers model and nurture on a daily basis. In primary school children develop foundations that they will take with them throughout their lives as active citizens.
Completing this module has reminded me of of a course I completed in college on Development Education and how much focus I placed on it on teaching practice and as a nqt with older classes. I used the brilliant photo resource packs and lesson plans from NCDE. Having moved to teaching infants I had missed the chance to incorporate it into a younger class. Through this course it has refreshed my interest in DE and having looked through the Plan International lesson packs and other resources I feel excited to try out some of the lessons, for example on gender issues in my senior infants class in the coming year or lessons concerning where their chocolate bar/clothes came from.
I teach in a multi cultural Deis school in Dublin. As part of a recent SSE DEIS policy review we worked on how we can make our school more of a welcoming place for all. We looked at promoting cultural awareness and a sense of belonging not only to the school and community but also celebrating the many lands our pupils have come from. We have a welcome area in the foyer we a map labelled with pins on all the countries our children come from. We have ‘hello and welcome’ displayed in al the different languages. On the door of each classroom is a world map where the nationalities of the pupils in that particular room are celebrated. Classes also did projects on countries and presented them to other classes. In previous years we have, as part of our efforts to make parent welcome too, had a World Cafe showcasing food from our various cultures. Stemming from this we created a school cookbook to showcase and celebrate our multiculturalism.
This year as part of our Green Schools we looked at reducing food waste caused by the new hot lunch scheme. We also completed a school wide project on Fairtrade. All of these activities were easy to run as the children were interested and motivated as it related to their world.
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I believe that teaching Development Education is important for children in our primary schools from the very beginning in Junior Infants as it helps to conceptualise the fact that we are part of a global society as stated in the article. When children learn of this wider community that they are part of, they can begin to see how interconnected we are as our actions have consequences that are felt world wide, such as buying a bar of chocolate and the positive influence it could have if it had a fair trade cocoa mark on the wrapper. Creating awareness about global issues encourages the critical thinking skills acquired during learning about Development Education as children must learn how to analyse information about issues through different perspectives and variety of sources.
At a class level, Global Education would be at the forefront of the lessons I deliver as part of the Learn Together ethical curriculum as a teacher in an ET school. Schoolwide approaches could be included during assemblies. A small group of students in my school were pushed into action to practice global citizenship as they took on the challenge of completing the Green Schools initiative. A sample project that they conducted this year was an audit of the schools food waste as a result of unwanted hot lunches provided. The Eco team were able to give evidence to the company to change choices on the menu to cut back on food waste. The children felt intrinsically motivated to take on wider issues in the locality to lobby for litter reduction and more consistency in local city council bin collection.
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Ehigie (2021) argues that global citizens play a crucial role in fostering a more equitable, sustainable, and interconnected world. Development Education is instrumental in achieving this by equipping the children with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to understand and address global challenges such as inequality, climate change, and social justice. Integrating Development Education into teaching enriches pupils’ perspectives, encouraging them to become proactive agents of change.
To incorporate Development Education in my teaching, I would design cross curricular projects that connect local issues with global contexts, fostering critical thinking and empathy. For example, a project on water conservation could link local water use with global water scarcity issues, encouraging children to think globally while acting locally. Additionally, I would use multimedia resources and guest speakers from diverse backgrounds to bring global perspectives into the classroom.
Encouraging colleagues to plan Development Education activities involves collaborative planning sessions where we can share resources and strategies. Professional development workshops focused on it can provide teachers with the tools and confidence to integrate global themes into their lessons.
In the context of School Self-Evaluation, Development Education can be a valuable component by highlighting the school’s commitment to fostering responsible global citizens. Regularly assessing Development Education initiatives within SSE frameworks ensures continuous improvement and alignment with educational goals. Development Education can enrich SSE by providing metrics on students’ global awareness and engagement, contributing to a more holistic evaluation of educational outcomes.
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“The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” emphasises the need for people to understand global issues and to appreciate both our own place in society/the world as well as the place of others. I loved the line in this article that said “to be a global citizen is to care. It is to empathise.” As educators, this is something that we can foster and encourage in our students. By teaching social justice in our classrooms we can enable the children to identify with issues of unfairness, to make connections and to have a say/voice. We can teach lessons through various subjects/curricular areas e.g. History; Geography; Art etc I work in an Educate Together school which provides even more scope for teaching through the Learn Together curriculum. Strands of the curriculum include Values and Ethical Perspectives, Equality and Justice and an Ethical Approach to the Environment. Children are encouraged to develop an understanding of right and wrong and to look at values such as respect, kindness and co-operation. They are encouraged to develop an awareness of human rights, equality, diversity and social justice. Issues such as climate change, pollution, endangered species etc are addressed throughout the the curriculum. This curriculum complements DE in the primary classroom. Staff and colleagues would regularly engage in training linked into the Learn Together curriculum. We have set up a Student Council which enables the children to have a say in how the school is run/organised as well as a Green Schools committee which strive towards earning various awards/flags for our school. This is a big part of school self-evaluation for our school each year.
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Development education is an educational approach that encourages students to understand and critically engage with global issues such as poverty, inequality, sustainability, and social justice. To incorporate it at the primary level, teachers can:
1. Integrate Global Themes: Include topics like environmental conservation, cultural diversity, and human rights in the curriculum.
2. Interactive Activities: Use projects, storytelling, and games that reflect global issues.
3. Cultural Exchanges: Facilitate pen pal programs or virtual exchanges with students from different countries.
4. Community Involvement: Organise activities that connect students with local and global communities, such as charity drives or awareness campaigns.This fosters critical thinking, empathy, and global awareness among young learners.
This topic is a fantastic topic to use as a them throughout the year or term. There is so much that can be explored and the pupils will really enjoy it as it is so relevant. The videos and online resources are incredible and will make the lessons come alive. Critical thinking and dialogic classrooms are the future in the classroom and this is a great theme to develop these strategies.
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Development Education is crucial in today’s interconnected world because it fosters a deeper understanding of global issues, promoting empathy, critical thinking, and active citizenship. By learning about global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and climate change, students become informed citizens capable of contributing to a more just and sustainable world. Development Education encourages students to view themselves as part of a global community, cultivating a sense of responsibility and empowerment to drive positive change.
To integrate Development Education into teaching, I would start by embedding global themes across the curriculum. For instance, in geography, students could explore the impact of globalization on different cultures. In science, lessons on climate change could include discussions on its social and economic consequences. Literacy lessons could feature works from diverse authors to highlight different perspectives and experiences.
Encouraging colleagues to plan development education activities involves collaborative efforts. I would propose professional development workshops focused on the principles and practices of Development Education. Sharing resources and successful lesson plans can also inspire and equip teachers to incorporate these themes. Establishing a school-wide initiative, such as a Global Awareness Week, can unify efforts and highlight the importance of these issues, providing a platform for students to engage in projects, discussions, and activities that reinforce their learning and commitment to global citizenship. -
Development education is an educational approach that fosters critical awareness of global development issues, promoting understanding and action on topics like poverty, inequality, and sustainability. It aims to empower learners to contribute to a just and equitable world through informed perspectives and active citizenship.
Promoting development education in Ireland’s primary schools involves integrating global issues into the curriculum, fostering critical thinking, and encouraging active citizenship to nurture a just and sustainable world.
Ehigie suggests that Education can kick-start global citizenship by fostering awareness. I teach in an Educate Together school with an equality based ethos. We strive to ensure that no child is discriminated against on the basis of their social, cultural or religious background in either access to the school or within the classroom during the school day. We are part of the Green Schools initiative, celebrate Earth Day, encourage our pupils to embrace diversity and love and allow opportunities for active citizenship through activities like community clean-ups, recycling projects, fundraising for local causes, participating in the student council.
I found the Eric Ehigie’s artice insightful and agree that ‘promising developments have been made up to this point and this certainly provides hope for the future.’( THE ROLE OF GLOBAL CITIZENS IN TODAY’S WORLD, Eric Ehigie)-
Hi Alexine,
As an island country there’s has been a historical disconnect from global goings on. However, as you’ve mooted to embrace Development Education we need to highlight global issues and develop global citizenship. From what you’ve outlined here, your school is already very progressive with the underlying ethos, celebrating difference and getting the students involved in the locality with cleanups and recycling projects. All of these things help students become responsible and aware global citizens. The challenge is, to get them active in this role and interested in making the world a better place and that’s what Development Education is all about, developing understanding and empathy. Your school seems very much up to that challenge.
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Ehigie (2021) in “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” emphasises the importance of individuals who are informed, responsible, and active in addressing global issues. The paper highlights how global citizens contribute to solving challenges like climate change, inequality, and health crises through awareness, advocacy, and action. Development education is crucial as it equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to engage with these global issues critically and empathetically.
To include development education in my teaching, I would integrate current global issues into the curriculum through project-based learning, encouraging students to research and present on topics like sustainable development, human rights, and global health. Collaborating with international schools for cultural exchanges and pen-pal programs can provide a broader perspective. Utilising multimedia resources, such as documentaries and guest speakers, can further enrich students’ understanding. This approach fosters a sense of global responsibility and prepares students to become proactive global citizens.
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Having reviewed the paper, I feel it is really teaching us how to be global citizens and a summary of the different injustices that are faced in the world. This is so important as the world is facing many serious issues that we hear about on the news everyday. Developmental education empowers learners to understand and engage with global issues, cultivating a sense of shared responsibility. This educational approach not only enriches students’ knowledge but also prepares them to be agents of change, capable of contributing to a more equitable world. .To integrate Development Education into my teaching, I would embed global themes across various subjects through project-based learning. For instance, students could investigate the impacts of climate change in science class or explore human rights issues in History or SPHE. Using multimedia resources and digital platforms would also bring these issues to life, making them more relatable and engaging. To encourage my colleagues, I would share successful projects and resources, offer collaborative planning opportunities, and recognise their efforts in implementing DE activities.
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Development education is crucial as it equips students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to understand and engage with global issues, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and a sense of global citizenship. It helps students grasp the interconnectedness of the world, promoting values like equality, justice, and sustainability.
Incorporating development education in my teaching, I would integrate themes such as environmental conservation, human rights, and cultural diversity into various subjects. For example, in a geography lesson, I might explore the impact of climate change on different communities worldwide, while in history, I could highlight the contributions of diverse cultures to global development.
To encourage colleagues to adopt development education, I would organize workshops demonstrating its benefits and provide resources and lesson plans that align with the curriculum. Collaborative projects, such as school-wide sustainability initiatives or cultural exchange programs, could also be implemented to engage the entire school community, fostering a collective commitment to global citizenship
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Having read ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ by Eric Ehigie, it is clear to me that the development of a world that is united as one, with the aim of ending stereotypes and encouraging people all over the world to become more understanding of each other and learn to live together in peace and tranquility. As we are one big global family, it is important that we educate children about the challenges faced across the globe; such as poverty, disease, famine, inequality etc. I will teach my fourth class all about the challenges many people face on a daily basis, to help them gain an awareness and understanding of the seriousness of these issues. I will also teach the children the importance of appreciating what we have here in Ireland and what other countries have all across the earth. As I will have an extremely diverse class next year, I will integrate international issues into the various subjects and allow children to work in groups to develop various skills while learning. I would also set up a professional development workshop for teachers to understand what’s the best way to start teaching this topic and the significance of teaching this area to a high standard.
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Hi Michael, teaching your fourth class about global challenges such as poverty, disease, and inequality will certainly help them develop awareness and empathy. Integrating these topics into various subjects and encouraging group work is definitely a worthwhile plan, especially in a diverse classroom. Setting up professional development workshops for teachers is also a great idea to ensure this important area is taught effectively.
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Upon reading ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ by Eric Ehigie, it is important that we all work together to create a world that encourages people to learn about different cultures, end stereotypes and promote peace. As Global Citizens, we can all make a differences and it is vital that children are made aware of this from a young age.
In my own teaching, I will teach about the challenges some people face across the world. This is effectively done through integration. Integrating these topics throughout a wide variety of school subjects such as SESE is an effective teaching strategy which will encourage critical thinking and develop empathy. Teaching children the knowledge and skills they need to make a difference will help them recognise and promote diversity.
To encourage colleagues, I will share resources, knowledge that I have and present workshops based on how we can implement Development Education throughout the school day. As well as that, encouraging the school to host events and promote inter-cultural days will create an informed, respectful and welcoming school community.
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Hi Niamh, I agree that integrating global citizenship and Development Education across various subjects is indeed effective for fostering empathy and critical thinking. Your plans to share resources and promote intercultural events will certainly help create a more informed and welcoming school community.
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‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ by Ehigie (2021) highlights the critical importance of Development Education in helping students to develop skills in becoming global citizens. DE supports students in understanding global issues, fosters empathy, and promotes responsible citizenship. This is essential for students to develop a sense of global responsibility and awareness in navigating today’s world.
I’ve integrated this topic in a number of ways including looking at the effects of climate change around the world, our carbon footprint and what climate justice is. We have looked at fast fashion and how that affects others and looked at ways of reducing our consumption through clothes swaps and book swaps. We have also promoted reducing the use of plastics across the school and our Dreamspace ambassadors used some helpful peer to peer info videos on recycling in our school.-
Hi Fiona and welcome to the course.
I agree, developing student’s empathy is essential for meaningful development education and I think we can only achieve this through active and discussion based learning. Development Education is an important tool in making sense of the complex issues and needs to be active, reflective and interactive and exploring and interrogating topics like carbon footprints and fast fashion make the students cognisant of their role and impact and how they can address it. This builds empathy but also optimism and positivity on how we all can play role in a more just and sustainable world.
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After reading ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ by Eric Ehigie, it is clear that Development Education (DE) is of crucial importance in helping foster a sense of global citizenship and promoting equality and social justice. It encourages us to address global and local challenges as individuals and also puts emphasis on our shared humanity and interconnectedness.
As a teacher, I can include DE across many areas of the curriculum to promote critical thinking about social justice and global issues. It is a great way to encourage students to become more active not only in their local area but engage more with wider issues across the globe. It also helps students understand their roles as global citizens and motivates them to contribute positively to the world.
To encourage my colleagues to plan and use DE activities I could create a collaborative planning/ shared resource area in our school where teachers can create cross – curricular projects and resources that link to DE. The shared resource area would lighten the workload around the school, giving people access to a bank of resources they can use. This strategy may help embed DE into the school culture and curriculum in an effective way.
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I found The Role of Global Citizens in Todays World an informative and useful read. It highlights numerous important and key issues relating to the role of development education. As educators we play a vital role in guiding the children in our care to think and act as global citizens, promoting an equal, sustainable and peaceful world for all, which is in essence the aim of Irish Aid set up in 1974. Developing global citizenship from an early age is key and it has been a privilege to say that I have played my part in helping to guide 19 different groups of children to date , and hopefully numerous more , through active learning and leading by good example in the classroom. Monkey does what monkey sees comes to mind as I consider ways that I lead by good example for the children I teach e.g. recycling, equal treatment of all, encouraging active involvement in a number of initiatives such as Green Schools.
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“The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” by Ehigie (2021) highlights the importance of global citizenship. A global citizen should have two core values in abundance. The ability to care for others and the ability to empathise with others are of utmost importance. Ehigie refers to the change that each of us can do to make a difference in our world today even though it might seem futile- like our small step to change might seem unimportant in the grand scheme of things. However, he refers to the “power within the system of self” where he alludes to the process of reforming our own self is of a greater importance and of deeper value and that we should never underestimate the role that we play as an individual in society.
Incorporating Development education into our teaching practices would deepen our students and our teachers understanding towards taking action for a more just and equal world. More importantly it provides a unique opportunity for students to reflect on their roles and responsibilities as global citizens. It is fundamental that we as teachers equip students with the skills and motivation to consider local and global issues themselves, to use their creativity to imagine the possibility of change and to engage in projects that raise awareness and produce actions for positive change.
Organising professional development workshops and promoting collaborative planning would be a great way of encouraging colleagues. At a whole school level having a key focus on promoting a caring and empathetic environment that values global citizenship through whole school projects like Green schools and Student Union representatives. By embracing these whole school initiatives, we can inspire children and teachers that their voice matters and that we each can make a positive impact in our homes , our school and our society. -
The author saw a change in “culture attitudes” towards racism in especially Irish young people (Ehigie, 2021). This is no doubt due to the increase in Development Education in schools around the country in recent years. This has caused many young people to become more involved in “global activism”. (Ehigie, 2021)
Development education is important as in order to improve our global society we must first teach ourselves and others about our global compatriots. Although there are many issues at hand in our own local society it it’s important not to let this distraction us from real injustice happening all around the world today. (Ehigie, 2021)
In my own teaching I would take the advice from Ehigie’s (2021) paper. I would try to include “insights on the common humanity we share with those around us, and the work we can do to impact members of our community in positive ways.” (Ehigie, 2021)
This could be done in many subjects such as Geography, History and Learn Together in my Educate Together school. The concept of Global goals was used as our learn together theme last year so following on from this we could have a whole school focus on these next year. In my own classroom I would assign research projects and complete whole class guided discovery activities to allow the children to explore the concept of global injustice and what we can do to have a positive impact on our global society.
References
Ehigie, E (2021) ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’, Policy and Practice: A Development Education Review, Vol. 33, Autumn, pp. 135-144.
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Hi Clodagh and welcome to the course.
The change in “culture attitudes” you cite from the Ehigie paper and you’ve attributed to increased levels of Development Education in our schools is really positive progress. I’ve already mentioned previously on this forum, as an island country there’s has been a historical disconnect from global goings on. Whilst as you reference we have many issues both locally and nationally that need to be considered we cannot let these be the entire focus, understanding the global picture is so important too. You school’s focus on Global goals as a learn together theme is a great approach as you can first explore the broader global issue and then drill down to impacts/effect locally.
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In Ehigie’s (2021) paper, “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” Development Education is highlighted as essential for fostering global awareness and responsibility. Development Education equips students with the skills and values needed to address worldwide challenges like climate change and social justice.
In my teaching, I would integrate Development Education by discussing global issues in everyday lessons, using real-world examples to make the topics relevant. Project-based learning would allow students to explore and propose solutions to global problems, making the learning experience engaging and practical.
To encourage my colleagues, I would share successful Development Education activities and resources that have worked in my classroom. Organising workshops and creating a collaborative space for teachers to exchange ideas and support each other can make integrating DE more manageable and exciting.
By embedding Development Education throughout our school, we can help students become informed, empathetic, and proactive global citizens.
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Hi Roisín and welcome to the course.
You have made a number of interesting points regarding the importance of developmental education and it’s cross curricular linkages. Key I think is your contention that DE needs to be active and empower children students to be more informed, empathetic, and proactive This is one of the most important things we can do as educators. I also think your idea of developing a shared support space for DE that colleagues can tap into is an excellent idea and should lead to these DE Themes being explored across all grades rather then just in classes where the teacher has a particular interest in Development Education, making it’s delivery much less hit and miss. With such a busy curriculum it is essential that teachers are supported particularly with curricula they may be less au fait with.
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I completely agree with your ideas that project-based lessons can really develop our students interest in development education and encourage them to take action and get involved in their school and local communities. Providing a bank of resources to share with teachers can be an extremely positive way to promote the teaching of development education in our schools.
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was This reading was an extremely interesting read and was a great catalyst for reflection on potential roadblocks or challenges to development education in primary schools. In particular the part on the power within the system of self. It can be difficult to understand the impact one person making changes can make on the wider world and this can be a challenge when young people are trying to commit to making changes. In order to tackle this in school, teachers could teach students about the young people who have made huge impacts on the world through making small changes or developing new projects. Teachers could look at students from the BT young scientists or activists like Greta Thunberg. As part of SSE, schools could develop and edit their whole-school plans to include teaching on the global citizenship goals in different year levels and through different subjects. It is important that we, as educators, promote, encourage and provide opportunity for our students to engage with development education and to complete projects to tackle some of these issues in their local communities.
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Hi Ciara and welcome to the course.
I agree, getting student’s to realise that what they do can have a big impact is really important. It is only natural for all of us to feel powerless to a certain extent when faced with huge global issues such as climate change, poverty and injustice. However, we all have a part to play and to use the adage ‘Every little helps’. Highlighting some of the impacts some of the BT Young Scientist projects have is really powerful as these are local/national examples. Something worth considering too which directly relates to primary schools is getting involved in Microsoft’s annual DreamSpace Showcase (If your school is eligible) which began as a pilot in 2023 but is extending its reach each year. Participation involves, students developing and then presenting technology solutions which address sustainability challenges including wearable tech for wellbeing, accessible voting systems, ocean cleanup initiatives, and water wastage reduction measures. More at Dream Space Ireland
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Development Education is important because our society is ever evolving and children are far more exposed now to social media and news outlets.
As mentioned children are far more exposed to social media and hear a lot more about what is going on the world. For this reason development education is important as it is vital that children receive truthful and accurate information. We as teachers can show children how to access this.
Also classrooms in today’s society are far more diverse. There are many different ethnicities, cultures, social backgrounds and it is important that children understand this to help develop mutual respect amongst each other.
I would encourage this in my own teachings by having cultures days, allowing children and their parents to discuss with the class their culture. Also I would introduce friendship groups whereby children have to play with each person in their class at certain parents of the term to encourage children to mix. -
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I believe Developement education should play a vital role in the Irish curriculum. We have seen so many global issues arising time and time again and it is up to us as educators to help our students understand these global concerns. As the article states ‘a time of revolution, a time when there’s got to be a change.’ We are all responsible for helping to make this change, whether it is small or big. But one way that I see we can do this is through education. I have used the book ‘The Lorax’ to help my students understand global warming and climate change. I believe using books can help children get a deeper understanding of the 12 development goals. I would encourage my colleagues to teach their students about development education through picture books and I would happily offer to step into their classroom to teach about this too. The final line of the article really resonated with me and I hope we can work together as educators to create a ‘better future’
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- I like your idea of using the Lorax to help students understand global warming and climate change. It would be great to have a list of age appropriate literature for use in various areas of development education. Perhaps this is something schools could do among staff .. or maybe there is already such a resource online!
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I Think that development education is extremely important to include in a popular in primary schools. We all face money problems in today’s world, such as poverty, inequality, global warming, and unfair treatment. These topics are all very relevant and importance in the society that children live in. Therefore it is our role as an educator to teach the children about this topic, as well as having open discussions questions and reflections in class where they can both ask questions on the subject and voice their opinions and concerns.
For example, global warming.
Global warming, and this song is a cute problem in today’s world and very topical subject. All children should be exposed to the to this subject matter in school. Learning more about global warming and allowing discussion and lessons based on the topic , will not only educate the children on the problem, but encourage them to take action.For my undergraduate degree, I study human development. Because of course I’m very aware of the importance of teaching development educational school. Furthermore I have a good knowledge on this helps me in planning active lessons in school.
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This module on Development Education has been very beneficial for me and it has reminded me of it’s important role within the curriculum. DE empowers students with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to understand and address global challenges such as poverty, inequality, and environmental degradation. It fosters critical thinking, empathy, and a sense of global citizenship, encouraging students to contribute positively to society.
As teachers, we can integrate Development Education by incorporating global issues into the curriculum across subjects, using real-world examples and interdisciplinary projects. In my classroom, I aim to create a classroom environment that encourages open dialogue and critical discussion on these topics, and try to relate topics to current affairs. To motivate colleagues, teach-meets or workshops teachers can be organised to share resources, and opportunities to collaborate on school-wide initiatives, such as themed days or service projects, that highlight global development issues. Encouraging a whole-school approach ensures that Development Education becomes a shared responsibility, creating a cohesive and informed community committed to fostering sustainable development and social justice. Looking for opportunities to integrate with the Global Goals would be of benefit to the SSE process.
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In Ehigie’s paper ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’, he mentions that we need to recognise our role as a global citizen and that we need to work together with all humans as part of a global family. It is important that we understand our place in society but also the place of others too. Even though other people might have challenges that we do not have, we need to understand that by working together that we can all help one another to face these challenges. Mentioned in the paper too is that to be a global citizen, we must care and empathise with others.
In our classrooms, we can encourage and show children that we need to address global challenges such as inequality and poverty. We could start by doing a short project on global warming and the consequences of it in everyone’s lives. We could make a list of things that we as a class, a school and a community could do to recycle, cut down on our carbon footprint and create a more sustainable lifestyle. -
Ehigie’s (2021) paper describes global citizenship’s role in taking on the challenges the world faces through collective education, action and advocacy.
The paper addresses an issue that we as a species have been aware of for centuries but fail to tackle collectively, the fact that we, as a species, are one. When this line of thinking takes place we lift humanity up but as far as we’ve come there is so much more to do. Without developmental education we tend to think on a micro level, family, country, race, religion etc… and this leads to a lack of understanding about how the world works and precipitates and repetition of past failures. Education can lead us to see the world in terms of communities and “global neighbourhoods”, thereby giving impetus to the idea of looking out for each other on a macro level.
We already engage in global citizenship through our green-schools program and switching this focus from how our action after others around the world environmentally to the other ways we engage in global citizenship should be the goal.
Similarly our SSE targets for sustainability can be altered to reflect poverty, inequality, human rights etc…
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Ehigie’s paper : ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ highlights the importance of development education for all members of society. Ireland’s society is so diverse now that it is important that our students learn about issues facing everyone in society and in the world. Students need to learn empathy and the importance of doing whatever they can to make a difference to these issues. We need to make students aware of issues such as inequality and poverty and the importance of everyone trying their best to improve these issues and to make other people aware of them.
Students can learn about global issues through subjects such as SPHE and SESE and can collaborate on projects to develop their understanding of the problems faced in different countries around the world. Getting guest speakers in and hosting days in school to raise awareness of what is going on can all help to raise interest and awareness and make the students part of their own learning.
Arranging CPD for staff in developments education and getting them to collaborate and take part in different events would be very beneficial and as part of the schools SSE staff can reflect on what the school community is doing to promote development education in the school and wider community.
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Arranging CPD for staff on development education and involving them in collaborative events is a terrific idea. This not only enhances their knowledge but also ensures that the entire school community is on the same page in promoting development education. Reflecting on these efforts as part of the school’s SSE process will help in continually improving and expanding these initiatives.
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Development education is important because it provides students with knowledge and awareness of global issues and their innerconnectedness. Development Education can encompass the study of human rights, inequality, migration, poverty, pollution, climate change. The importance of these issues is multifaceted. Children need to be aware of what is goig on in the world in which they are living, both locally and globally. With this awareness, empathy can be fostered within the students. This can then lead to action. As stated in the paper ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’; ‘o be a global citizen, is to care. It is to empathise.’ In order for society to develop positively and productively, people must have empathy. This is what inspires people to take action and be an active global citizen. As a teacher, I like to incorporate Development Education into Geography and History lessons in particular. Making the children aware of currect societal issues can be done by exposing them to current news broadcasts and documentaries. There is a very active and succesful Green Schools programme in our school where the children are active paticipants in addressing climate change and pollution.
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Ehigie,s paper on Development Education highlights the importance of global citizenship, and examines how development education creates a sense of responsibility around global issues. Development education means to care, and aims to promote critical thinking, empathy, and a better understanding of social justice. It also promotes better everyday choices in relation to global sustainable development.
To incorporate development education in teaching 1sr and 2nd class, I use activities that encourage critical thinking and empathy towards cultures and people in a very positive, informed and fun way. I would integrate global issues into the curriculum across subjects such as history, geography, sphe, to inform children about global challenges. For older children, examples of projects to investigate global issues could be child labour in the plastic industry, and the relationship this has with budget stores in Ireland and online, and how these products often end up in the Christmas Shoe box appeal…. Sent to other disadvantaged children. Older children could critically reflect on this and become empowered to make better choices on where they buy from as future consumers. That we are not ‘better’ just because we send items to help. Again fostering critical thinking, self reflection and empathy.
To encourage colleagues to plan development education activities throughout the school, I would suggest whole school events that would promote cross-cultural understanding and empathy, such as intercultural day where parents could also attend. This would showcase adults in the community leading by example, by demonstrating their empathy understanding and acceptance of other cultures, traditions, cuisine, values etc. thus helping to foster the same ideals for the children going forward.
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Hi Karen,
Welcome to the course. The official international Intercultural Day (Or World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development) takes place on May 21st annually but of course you don’t need to wait for this and indeed possibly a day in September would be more appropriate at the start of a new school year. In fact I’ve seen some schools opt for a full week of activities to raise awareness. If your school was to have a full week you could use the module titles of this course as your daily themes…As you’ve mooted a whole school event like this is a great way to increase awareness of the key issues in DE across the school community and teachers can then use this collective experience as a springboard to deep dive into the DE themes with their own classes.
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Development Education is critical when trying to make sense of the multitude of issues that exist in
our everchanging world. Development education increases understanding and brings awareness to
the world we currently live in and its ever-changing nature. It’s vital that children are made aware
that we are all global citizens and by doing so from a young age, we as educators are creating and
developing that understanding. From further research on this topic I wanted to understand how I
could further enhance the understanding of development education in my classroom. I found a
great example of a game called a walking debate which would be suitable for 5th class. During this
game children are given statements asking them if something is good development education? They
then have to walk around the classroom , debating and deciding if they agree, disagree or don’t
know. I think this is something that I would look forward to doing with my class as it would be very
interesting to hear their own perspectives also . -
It is fair to say that the world is ever changing. This is no different to here in Ireland, a county that is undoubtedly becoming more and more multicultural. Development Education, in my opinion, has never been more important. It is our job as teachers to give the children the opportunity to explore global issues, such as human rights, inequality, migration, poverty, pollution, and climate change. Children must be exposed to these topics in forder for them to understand what is happening in the world they live in. Through Development Education, empathy is developed and fostered. It is through empathy that the want for change will occur within young people. People need empathy for society to grow in a constructive and positive way. People are motivated to act and participate in global citizenship by this. Working in a Community National School myself, we place a lot of emphasis on Development Education, particularly through our ethics programme “Goodness Me! Goodness You!”, which allows the children to access challenging topics in a child friendly manner.
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Incorporating development education into our schools is essential. Children need to be aware of the wider world around them and how they can impact society positively. Numerous global issues can be explored and discussed in classrooms, such as war, hunger, inequality, and political instability. Ethically, our world is progressing at a rapid pace, and we, as a society, are becoming more open to change and diversity. It is crucial for children to understand their role as global citizens and how they can contribute to moving the world forward positively.
As part of my school’s Green Schools’ initiative, we tackled the theme of Global Citizenship. I manage the Green Schools’ Committee at my school, so I was responsible for encouraging my colleagues to highlight global issues in the classroom and engage in open discussions with the children. This involved sharing information at staff meetings and having regular discussions. We successfully earned this flag over the course of a three-year period, which provided the necessary time to thoroughly explore this important theme.
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Development education is more important than ever in schools for a number of reasons. Through the media and social media, exposure to global issues through these channels isn’t always accurate or factual. Children need to be taught how to filter this media and identify accurate sources. However, this has probably contributed to an increased awareness and understanding for children. As educators, we need to foster this curiosity that students have for what is happening in the world around them. Empathy is something that we can scaffold and this in turn will lead to deeper discussion and in time, thinking about taking action. There are so many ways this can take place in the classroom and throughout the school as part of SSE. Through the use of technology and in conjunction with current affairs, students could be enabled to participate in development education learning within the existing curriculum. This could be done through literacy, drama and SPHE. Confidence, presenting and public speaking skills would improve over time as talk and discussion will facilitate critical thinking.
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Development Education is very important for a variety of reasons-It helps children understand global issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and human rights. This awareness develops a childs’ global awareness. DE promotes critical thinking by encouraging children to analyse and question global issues and how the local and international community are so interconnected.
For me most importantly DE promotes empathy by shining a light on the lives and difficulties of people in different parts of the world and creates a culture of wanting to help those less fortunate. When children are introduced to these issues at a young age they are more likely to become active citizens who engage with democratic ways and advocate for social justice.
I would try to incorporate DE in lots of different ways across different curricular areas- E.G Geography, History, Science, SPHE, English and Visual Art are areas which you can cover DE in. I also think that DE lends itself very well to collaborative learning and project based work.-
From reading your submission, I agree that DE also promotes empathy by highlighting the challenges faced by people in different parts of the world, which can inspire children to help those less fortunate. Introducing these concepts early can in reality shape children into active individuals who engage in democratic processes and advocate for social justice. Well done!
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‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ highlights the importance of Development Education. DE helps children understand global issues, fosters empathy, and develops the child as an active citizen Now more than ever the world is smaller and more accessible than it has ever been and it is essential for children to develop a sense of responsibility and awareness on a global level.
Group projects on poverty, climate change and fair trade can encourage critical thinking and empathy. A project on the the impact of pollution on the seas can be easily linked back to the local community and we organised a clean up day on the local beach off the back off this.
The yellow flag programme which our school engaged with this year promotes cultural diversity and also we are hoping to become a school of sanctuary next year where welcome and inclusion are placed at the heart of the school’s identity. It also teaches both staff and children to learn the whys and hows of giving sanctuary especially to refugees, migrants and other marginalised groups.
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The Yellow Flag Programme sounds like a wonderful initiative to promote cultural diversity. We will be working towards getting it in the coming school year. Becoming a School of Support will be a significant step towards making your school a welcoming and inclusive place for all students, especially refugees, migrants, and other marginalized groups. These efforts are key in teaching both staff and children the importance of giving sanctuary and embracing diversity.
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‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ (2021) explores the importance of global citizenship in establishing a more equitable and sustainable world. It refers to how the world’s citizens are essential to addressing the global challenges of climate change, inequality, and human rights abuses. The paper places a lot of emphasis on the role of education in developing global citizens who are informed, empathetic, and proactive in contributing to positive global change.
Development Education is necessary for preparing pupils to be informed, empathetic, and proactive citizens of the world. By including development education into several areas in the curriculum, schools can effectively promote global citizenship. This is particularly relevant in geography and science and the school’s Green Schools programme. Professional development is important alongside teacher collaboration and will further embed development education into the school’s culture, ensuring that pupils are equipped with the knowledge of addressing the issues of sustainability and justice. -
“The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” by Ehigie (2021) highlights and the importance of development education and the significance of global citizenship in fostering a sense of responsibility towards global issues. Development education aims to promote an understanding of global interconnectedness, social justice, and sustainable development.
We have to visualise how we would engage our pupils with activities and would enable them to analyse and think critically. This would lead to developing empathy, a necessary skill when relating to global issues and rights and challenges.
To develop and encourage staff to engage in development education teachers and classes would work collectively through workshops, thematic days and projects with outside school bodies to support the development within the school.
Staff and children would set specific goals for global citizenship and assess progress through student and staff feedback As it says in module one every child can make a difference wherever they may be on the globe.
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I found ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ to be very insightful. The author gives a very interesting account into his experience of growing up in Ireland and his outlook on racism. Development Education is absolutely vital to include in our classrooms. We live in a modern, diverse Ireland, however often children in our schools can be unaware of development education issues, particularly Global ones. I would teach Development Education through SESE, SPHE and English subjects. In History lessons children can learn about key people throughout history that have made significant changes for equality and rights for others. In Geography, we can teach about different parts of the world and different issues people face in these parts, water, education rights etc. In SPHE we can look at morals and challenge the injustices that are faced in the world. I have taught some of the Global Goals lessons and have shared them with colleagues in my school. I found them to be fantastic and the children really learned from them. In English, children can read novels relating to Development Education for example ‘I Am Malala’.
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I found Ehigie’s paper on ‘The Role of Global Citizen’s in Today’s World’ very interesting. I agreed with Ehigie’s outlook on the role of global citizen’s but I found the article interesting as it was written from the point of view of an immigrant who may have faced some level of racism but still believes that those ‘who promote an ideology that paradoxically denies the humanity of others’ are vulnerable and need support in the form of education. Ehigie realises that this may not be easy and the society is not utopian. I agree with Ehigie on this, particularly that a lot can be learned from history. There is a lot in our history that could make those links that we need to establish as global citizens such as we were colonised and we had mass migration from Ireland. In recent years the rise of the far right is a worrying trend which makes our role as educators all the more important. Development education encourages critical thinking so that children can make these historical links and recognise inequality in society and want to make that change.
In terms of SSE, I think the critical thinking that is encouraged by development education can feed into all areas of SSE. Children are better equipped to look at the teaching and learning that is going on critically and suggest ways to improve.-
I’ve found that incorporating historical context into lessons, such as Ireland’s own experiences with colonization and migration, can help students draw parallels and foster empathy. For example, during a history lesson, I encouraged students to research and present on different periods of Irish emigration, leading to meaningful discussions on current migration issues and empathy for immigrants today.
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The role of Development Education has never been more important and relevant in the world we live in today. I teach infants in a DEIS school in which the pupils are predominately EAL students. The children in my class are my most wonderful resource.
We celebrate the children’s unique cultures and differences. The children are so curious and eager to hear about the various holidays, feasts etc celebrated by their peers. We also recognise our similarities as well as acknowledging the uniqueness of our class as a whole.
The Malcom X quote at the beginning of Eric Ehigie’s “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World” paper has never been more relevant in the face of some of the intolerance & injustice we see, in particular the past few months. It’s incredible to see the untainted, unbiased enthusiasm of my young students. Targeted and focus implementation of Development Education is imperative to cultivate a inclusive, open community that strives to call out injustice and inequality as well as strengthening ties to our global family.
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I’ve also found that leveraging students’ unique backgrounds enriches the learning experience. For instance, during a cultural week, I had students present about their traditions, which sparked incredible interest and respect among peers. This not only enhances their understanding but also fosters an inclusive environment.
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Ehigie’s (2021) paper underscores the importance of development education in cultivating global citizens capable of addressing complex global challenges. This type of education promotes critical thinking about issues like climate change, inequality, and human rights, fostering a sense of responsibility and active engagement in students.
Incorporating development education into my teaching involves integrating global perspectives into various subjects and encouraging students to explore and discuss these topics through case studies and simulations. For example, integrating a unit on sustainable development in a science curriculum or exploring global cultural perspectives in social studies can provide a comprehensive understanding of global issues.
To inspire colleagues, I would suggest creating a shared resource bank of development education materials and organising collaborative projects that cross different subjects. Hosting workshops and sharing success stories of impactful student projects can demonstrate the value of development education, motivating others to embrace and implement it in their classrooms.
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Ehigie’s article is a very interesting read in that it gives great insight from an author with firsthand experience of how Ireland has been changing in recent years. I have long subscribed to the ideas that we are all linked as neighbours across the planet and that it is vital for people to take an interest in and to learn about not just what happens in their own state, but in all countries around the world. When we consider the climate crisis, in particular, it is essential that we recognise that the impact of poor and failed policies will not be confined to national borders or frontiers.
It is, in my opinion, essential that children are taught about the inter-connectivity of the world’s systems and about how taking responsibility for actions includes recognising that actions taken in the global north or industrialised countries can have devastating consequences for the global south, and ultimately the global north also. As Ehigie observes: “… it is individuals who manufacture the systems, and those same
individuals, with the conscience and moral vigour they develop from self-reformation, can amend those systems…”.The status quo will never change if we do not engage children and young people in an honest discussion about how the world operates. In ways it is more difficult to teach children who are part of education systems operating in wealthier countries (notwithstanding how the resources of such states are used) to appreciate the lived experiences of those in other, less industrialised countries. It can also be difficult to navigate engaging with children of more affluent societies about the historical practices and injustices that have led to the creation of an unequal and imbalanced world.
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Development education is a lifelong educational process which aims to increase people’s knowledge of the unequal world we live in. It aims to encourage people towards taking action for a fair and equal world. It provides a unique opportunity for people to reflect on their roles and responsibilities as global citizens. It’s about attitude and about social issues that are going on in the outside world. We are living in a world where there has to be change, we all know that people in power have misused their power and poverty, hunger and inequality still exists.
Development education gives young people a voice and they can be active participants in their learning. They will learn how to make positive changes in the world around them
School self evaluation
It is essential that children receive a quality education and development education must be an integrated part of the primary school curriculum thus enabling children to develop socially through living and cooperating with others in society.
Development education explores the link between local and global and gives children the
Support in learning about the wider world.
As Teachers, we must provide opportunities for children to practice these skills and values such as equality, diversity, social justice, interdependence and so on as they learn about development education. Using the internet to bring the world into the classroom and encouraging the children to explore the parts of the world where there is poverty and inequality.
Development education is about seeing things from a different perspective and to understand what it is like to be in their shoes.
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In Ehigie’s (2021) paper, “The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,” the important role of development education in fostering responsible, informed, and proactive global citizens is highlighted. Development education enables critical thinking, empathy, and a deep understanding of global interdependence, which educates students and allows them to consider complex issues such as climate change, inequality, and human rights.
In my teaching, I would integrate development education by teaching global issues across the curriculum. For example, in science lessons, I would explore the impacts of climate change and sustainable practices and what the children can do to counteract these.In terms of encouraging my colleagues to teach and embed development education there are a number of approaches I would try including presenting the benefits of development education, such as fostering critical thinking, empathy, and global citizenship, during staff meetings or croke park professional development sessions.
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Development Education is crucial for fostering global awareness, critical thinking, empathy, and active citizenship among students. It helps them understand global issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, and human rights, and encourages them to think critically and compassionately about the world.
As someone who teaches in a school which has a large population of children from a refugee background given the existence of an EROC centre in the town for the past number of years I feel that our staff is quite well equipped at dealing with the concept of development education as a school we are constantly discussing topics such as poverty, inequality, social justice whilst also trying to equip our students with empathy for those of different cultures.
However I often find that new staff members who join our staff can find this challenging but by working collaboratively with their partner teachers we model the type of lessons that help support development education in the school with a big emphasis on inclusion and empathy for those affected by various different worldwide issues. I personally often draw on history lessons about how Irish people emigrated en masse after the famine and how we built lives for ourselves to further show the interconnectedness of the world and this helps to give more cultural understanding to our pupils and hopefully give them a more compassionate view of the world.
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Hi Fearghal and welcome to the course.
You have made a number of interesting points regarding the importance of developmental education and it’s curricular linkages and your approach to closely linking exploration of DE themes with your Irish History lessons, in particular the famine, is a great way to develop understanding and empathy.It’s also great to hear about the joined up thinking your school has around Development Education across all classes. This whole-school approach ensures continuity, and the collaborative supports and modeling of best-practice to new staff is progressive and highly commendable.
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There are many ways I would try and teach Development Education in my classroom . After reviewing and reading the paper and conducting some more research I have learned that teaching Development Education (DE) to younger children involves making complex global issues accessible and engaging through age-appropriate methods. Some of the ways that I would bring DE into my classroom include : Use Stories: By choosing picture books and stories that illustrate global issues such as diversity, fairness, and environmental care. Stories can help children understand different cultures and lifestyles. Role-Playing is another way to encourage children to act out stories or scenarios from different parts of the world to build empathy and understanding.
I would also use interactive activities such as global Crafts by engaging children in arts and crafts from various cultures. This can include making traditional masks, weaving, or painting. Finally another strategy or tool I would use in my teaching of DE would be to set up a pen pal system . Setting up a pen pal exchange with a class from another country would help children learn about different cultures and develop communication skills.-
Hi Muireann,
You are very welcome to this course. You have touched upon a number of relevant points in relation to the incorporation of development education practices in our classrooms. Making the content accessible and relevant is such a key part of this. Some of the methodologies and approaches that you have mentioned, such as story and role-play, carry significant weight in the existing curriculum areas of drama and history. This means that it is very possible for development education themes to be interwoven with the strands and strand units of the 1999 curriculum.
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‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ by Ehigie (2021)shows how Development Education is very important, especially today as the world we live in grows and changes. I teach in a DEIS school and there are students from a range of different cultures and societies. It is so lovely to be able to celebrate each child’s uniqueness and learn from each other as we do so. I firmly believe every child has a right to the same education despite any factors that may influence that.
I think development education is an important part of every classroom and I think its something that most schools and staff are aware of now. I would continue to incorporate it into my own teaching throughout the curriculum subjects and using project work, investigation and reflective practices following learning. As I teach in a school with a diverse student body it its great to celebrate and learn about different holidays, cultures and traditions as the year progresses in an informal way also.
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I believe Development Education should be a curricular area in its own right in the Irish Primary School curriculum. As mentioned in the article, young people are becoming more and more aware of an interested in standing up against inequality and injustice in the world around us. Furthermore, it emphasises our reliance as a society on interconnectedness. Humans strive on connection and this innate feeling within ourselves to protect and connect with others is what drives us to strive for equality. Learning about this in primary school is vital in order to raise a generation of children who are more socially aware of problems in our world and how we can be responsible in the way we approach them in our daily lives. I also believe that children have the best imaginations and ideas and that we should be tapping into those great ideas when trying to solve problems in our world by getting the voice of the child involved in debates.
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Ehigie (2021) highlights the importance of global citizenship, emphasising the need for education to foster sustainability, social justice, and cultural understanding. Development education is crucial as it equips students with the knowledge and values to engage with global issues, fostering critical thinking and empathy. To incorporate development education into my teaching, I would integrate global issues into interdisciplinary projects, using interactive activities like debates and simulations to deepen understanding. Encouraging colleagues involves organising professional development workshops on global citizenship and collaborative planning sessions to design cross-curricular projects. Implementing a school-wide initiative, such as a Global Citizenship Week, can engage the entire school in activities and discussions about global challenges. This approach ensures students are prepared to be informed, empathetic, and proactive global citizens.
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Development education is important because it is child centered and focuses on education, protection, emergencies and girls rights according to Plan Ireland. As educators theses value should provide keystones to teaching and learning.
Fairness and equality for all is key. In a school based context we can educate children on injustice in the world. We can work within our own schools to make it a ‘fair’ environment for all. We should keep gender equality to the forefront.
In a multi-cultural school community as a staff we can work to acknowledge and celebrate our difference and also come together as a one school community. Our schools motto is ‘Together We Achieve.’ Together we can make a difference in the world. This begins at home and in school. We can work to instill empathetic values in the children and hope that they bring this forward to their adult lives.
In order to create a good global citizen realising our connection with all humans worldwide is key. In our Green Schools program Global Citizenship is explored and the effects the small changes we can make by recycling, reducing waste and looking after the environment as a collective can make a huge difference to the World.
To be Global Citizen is to care for one another and be proud of the difference we can make.-
Hi Stephanie,
Thank you for your post in which you have really captured the sentiment of this course and the work of Plan. The school motto you have mentioned carries significant weight within these principles. It is great that children are exposed to the power of the collective as they move throughout their school years. Constant reinforcement of this school motto allows children to get a true sense of the value of collective effort, and how one small action can have a spiral effect way beyond what may have been imagined.
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Hi Stephanie, I enjoyed reading your post. Our school’s Green School team do great work to lead development education on a wholeschool level, it is alwasy so inspiring and beautiful to witness children engaging with activities and daily actions to care for and create a more healthy and positive collective.
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Because it fosters critical thinking, empathy, and a greater awareness of interconnected global concerns including poverty, injustice, and environmental sustainability, development education is crucial. Development Education is incorporated into the core curriculum to help students become knowledgeable, engaged global citizens who can make significant contributions to society.
I would integrate development education into my teaching by introducing global issues into all of my curriculum’s lessons, encouraging group projects that deal with pressing issues like lending a hand to neighborhood nonprofits and charities, and fostering community involvement through awareness campaigns or guest lecturers. In order to support colleagues, I would provide materials and effective illustrations of Development Education activities, as well as foster a collaborative and idea-sharing atmosphere among educators. As a teacher, I think it’s a good idea to use games to discuss societal injustice and fairness. I would arrange professional development in the field and use the slides from this module to provide an overview of development education to all staff members in an effort to encourage their involvement.
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Hi Odhrán,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts with us. You have touched upon some great points which really capture the essence of the value of pursuing development education in schools. Creating opportunities for children to engage in collaborative projects and forging links with community organisations, and how children can apply what they are learning in their own lives is so important for sustainable growth in this area.
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I found this article to be really insightful and enlightening. The author explaining to the readers about his perspective of growing up as black and Irish was very interesting and to hear that for him over the years there have been great strides in combating racism in Ireland but that this needs to continue. Education I believe is where real change begins. We can feel that on our own it is impossible to make changes as a citizen but there is great power in the bond and enthusiasm you find in a primary school classroom. I think it is crucial we give time to include DE in our curriculum and I believe children feel empowered when given this opportunity to learn about the world around them and at the same time see what privilege them come from. I would integrate DE through SESE, SPHE and English – giving children opportunities to explore the reality of rights of children around the world and a chance to debate and develop their knowledge of the global goals set out , giving them an opportunity to try to understand empathize with children around the world whos rights aren’t being met.
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I found ‘‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World,’ to be a very interesting paper. Development Education (DE) is essential for fostering globally aware, responsible citizens. DE equips learners with critical thinking skills to address global challenges, promoting a learner-centred, holistic approach to education.
In my classroom, I would integrate DE by connecting curriculum topics to global issues. For instance, in geography, students can study climate change’s global impact, exploring its causes and diverse perspectives. In history, students could research the impacts of colonisation on different countries and present how these historical impacts contribute to modern inequalities through case studies and multimedia presentations.
To encourage colleagues to adopt DE, I would share practical examples and the benefits of DE through professional development workshops and collaborative planning sessions. Demonstrating successful DE projects can inspire teachers to integrate these concepts into their own teaching.
On a school-wide level, organising events like Global Awareness Week can engage the entire school community. During this week, students can participate in activities such as cultural fairs, where they showcase different countries’ traditions and issues, and debates on global topics like poverty and sustainability. Another event could be a “Global Action Day,” where students work on community service projects that address local manifestations of global issues, such as food drives, environmental cleanups, or partnering with local organisations that support refugees.
Integrating DE into School Self-Evaluation (SSE) can highlight its impact on student learning outcomes. By evaluating how DE activities and projects contribute to students’ understanding and engagement with global issues, we can continually refine our approach to foster a more globally aware and active student body.
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Developmental education is a method of teaching aiming to promote critical thinking, empathy, knowledge and comprehension of global issues, and active engagement in tackling global challenges. It covers topics including global citizenship, human rights, sustainable development, social justice, and intercultural understanding, enabling students to behave responsibly and make educated decisions for a more equitable and sustainable society. Including global themes into all subject areas, utilising interactive teaching strategies like debates and project-based learning, and making use of multimedia resources are all part of integrating development education into the classroom. I would incorporate development education into different subject areas across the curriculum by providing children with opportunities to explore children’s rights worldwide. This approach allows students to debate and expand their knowledge of global goals, fostering empathy and understanding for children whose rights are not being met. This approach not only broadens students’ perspectives but also cultivates critical thinking, empathy, and a sense of active citizenship, preparing them to contribute positively to society.
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Hi Rachel,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts on development education and the different ways you think it could be integrated within the classroom and curriculum. Many of the points you have raised, such as developing critical thinking and fostering empathy are key aims of the new draft curricula and departmental publications, such as the Wellbeing Framework. This points to development education themes having a key place in the classroom going forward.
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Development Education is hugely important in helping children to understand their role in society, how interlinked we are and how we are all obliged to contribute to society. It helps us to understand and value difference. It helps children in Ireland to see how privileged we are and how we have this privilege at the expense of others. Importantly it gives them options as to how they can contribute to creating a more equal world and helps them to have real empathy towards others. I think there’s lots of opportunities to include development education in our teaching, starting with how we treat each other and how the children treat their classmates. Also by constantly being aware of gender issues and challenging gender stereotypes we can ensure that both boys and girls have every opportunity to achieve their potential and to enjoy and do well at a range of different experiences. In my school we also have lots of children who come from different countries and learning about their experiences and culture is really valuable.
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Hi Leona,
Welcome to the course. Thank you for your contribution here. As you have pointed out, the interconnected and interlinked nature of these themes make them really important for children to explore. Being able to apply these themes to aspects of their own lives can be a really powerful way of creating a sense of empathy for those who have struggles associated with some of these themes. Issues like gender stereotyping and global inequalities will be explored later in the course in greater detail, which should allow you to explore these thoughts and comments further.
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Development education is a topic that is extremely important, especially in what’s going on in the world around us at the minute. Development education is something that necessary to touch on in primary schools as it can raise awareness amongst school children as to what is going on in their world and how life is different for all children, making it a very thought provoking topic to introduce to school children. It also promotes critical thinking, which is an essential skill.
I would introduce development education as part of circle time or through SESE lessons as these type of activities promote group discussion and honest sharing.
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Development Education is perhaps a topic that gets spoken about in parts through other subjects but it is evident from this paper by Ehigie 2001, that we need to raise awareness and teach this topic as a whole to the younger generations. We want our students to care about themselves and others. We want them to understand their place in society and to realise that everyone has a place in society and deserves to be treated with respect. We might not all have the same views or ideas but the children need to understand that that is ok. As the author alludes to, it is vital we make children aware of global issues, racism and how to be empathetic.
In our school, we celebrate many cultural events throughout the year and I think this is a great start to embedding Development Education in the school. Multi-cultural day is always a day the children enjoy in which is class is given a country to research and on Friday, they can dress up in that countries flag colours. The various countries are chosen from children we have in our school from those countries, or parents. In my own classroom, I feel I will be more aware of opportunities next year to highlight global issues and promote diversity.
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Hi Aoife,
Welcome to the course and thanks for your contribution to the forum here. I think you have raised an excellent point in terms of using development education themes to build empathy and tolerance in children. It’s so important to acknowledge contrasting opinions and ways of doing things, with the key being mutual respect between all parties. This is a key skill for modern life, and one which can easily be interwoven into some of the main themes that you will focus on in subsequent modules.
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I think that Development Education helps and encourages our children to learn about the world in which we live in, both nationally and globally. I believe that reviewing the piece, The role of Global Citizens in today’s world, by Ehigie shows us the importance of teaching development education to our children in our schools. Development education gives our children an understanding of issue like climate change and poverty and how these things impact our lives. Having children complete projects on these issues helps them to develop empathy and understanding to problems which might not impact their lives at the moment but may do in the future. It keeps them informed on global and national issues that they might not otherwise be aware of and can help them turn into global citizens who care about what their future will look like. I think that it is vital that all schools help their students learn about and connect with what’s happening in the world around them.
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Hi Pól,
Welcome to the course and thank you for your contribution here. I really like how you have highlighted the importance of teaching development education to children, by placing a key focus on how the themes relate to their own lives. All too often, we can see poverty and inequalities as problems that are rooted in other parts of the world. However, many of these issues exist in Ireland, potentially within the community that their own school is located in. This makes it all the more important that these themes are explored with the children in our classes.
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The Ehigie paper (2021) discusses the important role of global citizens in creating and maintain a more equal, just, and sustainable world. Development Education is important in this process as it gives learners the knowledge, skills, and values to understand and address global challenges such as inequality, climate change, and social justice. Teaching here in a suburb of Dublin in a multicultural school I would incorporate development education by integrating global issues across various subjects, encouraging critical thinking, empathy, and active citizenship. For instance, in a geography lesson, students could explore the impacts of climate change on different regions and communities, linking this to discussions on global responsibility and sustainability.As part of the School Self-Evaluation plan we could encouraging the school community to plan development education activities throughout the school year such as the Gobal Citizenship day and integrate the planning with school community. By including this in the SSE, we can assess and enhance our efforts in promoting global citizenship, ensuring that it becomes a core part of our school’s educational ethos. Annually we have intercultural week and have parents come in and do talks in various classroom, the intercultural exhibition is a chance for families and group to have a stall of their country , the children love visiting this especially when the stall has food from that country to taste!
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Hi Emma,
Welcome to the course and thank you for your overview here on an introduction to development education. Schools have many priorities in developing children both socially and academically, and it can be very hard to pinpoint a focus for SSE, as there are so many competing areas. All of these have merit in their own right, However, I think your suggestion of a focus on development education could be very powerful. Putting it at the forefront of school life and culture would make a significant statement. With SSE comes accountability and documentation, and it would ensure it is being done throughout the school on a consistent basis.
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Development Education: A Catalyst for Change
Ehigie’s paper highlights the imperative for global citizenship. Development Education is instrumental in cultivating this. By instilling awareness of global challenges, critical thinking, and empathy, it empowers students to become active contributors to a more just world.
I aim to integrate Development Education across my curriculum, using real-world examples to make learning relevant. Student-led projects on global issues can foster research, collaboration, and a sense of agency. To encourage colleagues, I will emphasize how Development Education aligns with our school’s values and enhances student outcomes.
By incorporating Development Education into our School Self-Evaluation, we can measure its impact on student learning and overall school ethos. This data-driven approach will strengthen our commitment to global citizenship and demonstrate its value in preparing students for life beyond school.
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Ehigie’s ‘The Role of Global Citizens in Today’s World’ (2021) highlights the critical need for global citizenship in addressing worldwide challenges like inequality, environmental degradation, and social justice. The paper underscores that in today’s interconnected world, individuals must understand global issues, think critically, and act responsibly. Development Education is essential in fostering these qualities, as it equips students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to navigate and contribute positively to an increasingly complex world.
Integrating Development Education into my teaching can be achieved by weaving global themes into various subjects. For example, in geography, students could explore the impact of climate change on different countries, while in history, they might learn about global movements for social justice. English lessons could include literature from diverse cultures that address global challenges, fostering empathy and cultural awareness.
To encourage colleagues, I would suggest participating in CPD as part of our Croke Park hours that provide teachers with resources and strategies for incorporating Development Education into their lessons.
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Hi Claire,
Welcome to the course and thank you for sharing your thoughts here. Most teachers will see the value in exploring the themes of development education with their children, but the question of ‘time’ will always be brought up. In an already overpacked curriculum, adding something extra and expecting it to be done well is probably unrealistic. That’s why integration is so important and you’ve provided some simple but effective ways of integrating these themes with the traditional subjects of geography and English.
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I really enjoyed this article.
It spoke clearly to the importance of Global Citzenship and Development Education. I often think that a classroom, and school community can be a microcosm for national and global communities. Adopting an inclusive, compassionate perspective in the classroom and allowing that to permeate through all learning, class agreements, behaviour management styles etc is fundemental to cultivating an attitude of respect and inclusivity for all people in the community. Empowering children to recognise that everyone matters, and everyone is capable, competant and responsible for contributing to a positivie,healthy and joyful culture and atmosphere in the classroom, and the school communnity, emboldens them to feel that same agency and responsibility in the wider, national and global community.
‘Within the nucleus of recognising one’s role as a global citizen, is the realisation of our deep, symbiotic connection with all humans within the global family. This is an epiphany that sees us viewing the problems of our neighbours, as problems of our own.’
Recognising within the classroom daily how the actions/ inactions of one person can affect the entire classroom climate in positive and negative ways, and how if someone is struggling with something – others can support and share their knowledge and capacity to help them.
‘However, acknowledging a bulk of the major issues that the world confronts at once, can lead to exhaustion and deceptively tempt us into dwarfing our capacity to ‘change’, which can result in melancholy and at times, self-defeating nihilism.’
I appreciated the acknowledgment of this as I often get swept up in overwhelm and exhaustion, and all to frequently find myself in melancholic states that are self-defeating.
‘The key element of being an effective global citizen is appreciating our place, and the place of others, in the interwoven yarn of kinship, that encompasses all people. It is done by seeing right through the superficial elements that distract us from our shared essence. ‘
‘We are living in a global village that we all have a stake in’
‘However, as difficult as it can be, it is important to place those who arise to promote regressive ideals that may not be on the side of social progress within the context of the common humanity that we all share. ‘
Alongside Development Education lessons taught through History, Geography, English etc which can provide knowledge and opportunity to discuss Ireland’s history of emmigration and collonialist suppression of our culture, systemic injustices and stereotypes that affect people locally and globally, I think cultivating a culture of respect and inclusivity through using Restorative Practice as a form of conflict resolution is incredibly valuable for creating healthy communities.
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Hi Ciara,
I agree our classrooms and schools are microcosms of communities both nationally and globally and developing an understanding and appreciation of diversity is a life skill that everyone needs. I also agree looking at our own indigenous history and culture is a great starting point for developing understanding and ultimately empathy. Restorative practice too is a very powerful and meaningful to resolve conflict as it is build on tolerance, understanding and respect.
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I believe that Development Education is of vital importance in the Irish Primary School classroom. Children need exposure to these global issues which effect our world from an early age in order to develop a sense of empathy and understanding of the issues. Children are naturally empathetic in my experience and have a keen sense of justice. Through learning about global development issues, children can become engaged, active citizens who care enough about the world they live in to wish to resolve these inequalities. I would like to encourage colleagues to engage with Development Education in our school as it would benefit the whole school community. Children would support each other in their learning and understanding of these global issues. A whole school approach is very important in order to get full buy in from students and teachers alike in committing to learn about and explore these global issues. Climate change is something that our school has been focusing on a lot in recent years, there are many other areas that we could expand to also.
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