[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Barbara,

Thank you for your post. I can only imagine the devastation that this would have caused to the local area, as I can recall seeing some of the images from the time. Such devastation and description can elicit a sense of duty among locals to ensure events like these are not repeated. You have provided a number of potential steps that could be taken in schools, all of which are managable and can be actioned with appropriate leadership and vision.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Anna Lucia,

I fully agree with you in terms of children often being pigeon-holed within gender stereotypes from birth. The whole concept of pink and blue being dedicated to the different genders is a prime example of this. I feel Aistear may be a key place to challenge some of these misconceptions and opinions, as they will invariably occur during this time.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Siobhan,

Thank you for your post and for raising awareness around this particular SDG. Deforestation is clearly a global issue, but you have also managed to tie a local aspect into your suggestions around how you would use this in your classroom. Very often, when children can see the impacts of certain practices in their locality, it can heighten their receptiveness to campaigning and fighting for issues on a more global scale.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Conor,

Thank you for your post and for raising awareness of this particular SDG. In Ireland, we are in the lucky position to often take the provision of ‘quality education’ as a given. However, the reality is very different for many millions of children around the world. Like you have mentioned, the investigation of a ‘case study’ type country could be a very useful way of creating a drive in Irish children to wish to make a difference, and you have provided many examples of how this could be achieved.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi David,

Welcome to the course. Thank you for your overview of both Sway and Forms. Both Microsoft tools are extremely useful in an educational setting, for both students and teachers. I like how you have recognised this point within your description of Sway. The opportunities for collaboration within Sway have also been identifies and this is a key selling point for technology enhanced learning.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Orla,

It is great to hear that you found such a practical and useful use of AI within your own practice. Thinking about the amount of time and effort that such a task would require makes the advent of GenA-AI seem all the more remarkable. From your post it is also clear that you are viewing AI in a wider context, and looking at societal benefits and implications as well as educational.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Kate,

Welcome to the course and thank you for your contribution here. You have offered many practical and useful examples of how AI can enhance our teaching and reduce our workload as educators. While many are worried about AI being used to plagiarize, you have shared how it can actually be used to check and guard against this (particularly relevant at second level).

[Eoghan O’Neill]

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.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Sarah,

Thank you for your post. I am sure that it is the experience of many. This video where Douglas Clements shared his views on play in mathematics (https://vimeo.com/167398222) may be of interest. Here he explains how gender stereotyping can have a significant impact on the ability of boys and girls in mathematics, particularly Shape and Space. Such attainment differences can have an impact on the choice of subjects at second level and on career choices.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Laura,

Thanks for your post. I fully agree that children come to school with gender stereotypes firmly ingrained in so many cases. Experiences will differ, and I actually spoke to someone today who had the opposite experience – she said she found girls were more reluctant to get involved in construction play. Regardless of this, its so important that we provide children with the opportunities to challenge these stereotypes and ask themselves ‘why’ they think or feel like this.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Rachel,

Thank you for your post here. Personally, I couldn’t recommend Immersive Reader enough for use in the classroom. I have seen transformative effects for children on the back of its use. For those with only Google devices, a variety of Chrome add-ons can be used as a substitute, such as HelperBird.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Emer,

Thanks for your post. I love how you have used such a topical and relevant example to demonstrate how it is possible for females to break into traditionally male-dominated fields, such as jockeying. Sports stories have been to the fore recently – the Irish women’s team at the World Cup are a perfect example of this. The more examples we have of gender stereotypes being broken down, the more we will be able to challenge them from all perspectives.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

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.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

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.

[Eoghan O’Neill]

Hi Catherine,

While many schools have welcomed children from different countries in recent years, it is astounding that as many as 40 nationalities are present in your school. It truly is a sign of the welcoming nature of the Irish people and local communities across the country. It is wonderful to hear about all of the great work that is being done in your school, and across Longford, to help welcome these new families. I really like the cultural days you have mentioned – these sound like they would bring great fun and colour to the whole school, whilst also serving a very important purpose.

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