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I agree with Caitríona’s observation that we have experienced extremes in weather conditions over the past year or so. Between storms, flooding, extreme heat and even wildfires, we can see first hand what global warming is doing to the world and also to our local towns and villages.
I love that she is teaching children simple, yet effective, ways of making a difference. How we are all global citizens and how we all have our own part to play in combating global warming. Each and every little action combined leads to a greater action in helping turn the tide on global warming.
Climate change was once an issue that seemed to affect those faraway and seemed a more distant problem. However in recent years we have seen the affects of climate change at a more local level and I think that is making children more aware and conscious of the disastrous affects it can have. Living in an area which has alot of forestry children saw huge winds, trees fall and were left without electricity for weeks. Damage was done to buildings, roofs, fences, even cars etc. We have experienced serious flooding also around our towns that have caused people a great deal of hardship. Climate change is real and it is here to stay unless we change our ways. And yet I have to remind children that in the grand scheme of things, what we have experienced is minimal in comparison to the death and destruction that has occurred in other countries as a direct result of climate change.
Children now empathize because they too have been affected. This makes the work I do with the Green Flag in my school all the more relevant to learners. Children want to make a difference in order to help those in a worse situation. You can see how passionate they have become about this issue as they now have lived experience. In the coming year I will try to ensure children understand that it is often those in the poorest countries who are affected worst by climate change. They are already at a disadvantage and this makes things all the worse. This sense of global citizenship and responsibility lends itself well to our School Self Evaluation and can easily be linked to other topics.
I love Rachel’s point about the importance of inclusion in our schools. By adopting a policy of inclusion, celebrating differences and empathizing with those less fortunate, we create a healthy, positive mindset that will encourage children to accept refugees and migrants into our society. Having an understanding of the history of migration, and our own history of having to immigrate, I think we will all become more open to welcoming and helping those who come to our country out of need, having experienced the unthinkable in their own countries. Irish people have short memories of their own history of immigration and we, more than anyone, should be inclusive because of this.
Every town, village and community in Ireland has been affected by refugees and migration in recent years. Therefore it is hugely important that we educate ourselves and the children we teach about who these people are and why they are here.
In Carrick on Shannon where I teach, there is a group called the Borgen Project who helps Kurdish families rehome and settle into the town. The emphasize the similarities between the Irish and Kurdish and help the locals understand and accept them into the community.
However, this takes action and empathy and I think it is important to teach children about the concepts of refugees, migration, etc. With understanding and education comes acceptance. We need to challenge the media and what it portrays these people to be. We are all the same, we all have the same rights and responsibilities and we have a duty to help those less fortunate.
I really like Chloe’s idea of focusing on Climate Action as it is something that affects us all. We have seen the affects of natural disasters all over the world, and also floods and wild fires more locally. Chloe has some lovely ideas about educating children on the importance of water, protecting the environment and saving energy in order to do this. Perhaps she could link up with the Green Schools Program in order to have a purpose to the learning and a goal to work towards. We all have our part to play, and each action like this will help turn the tide on global warming. Well done Chloe.
Given that this Module focuses on Inequality, the Sustainable Development Goal that I would like to look at having finished this module would be that of Gender Inequality. I would specifically look at it through the context of access to education. The video about the Cambodian girl and her dreams was particularly powerful for me. She has the same dreams and goals as western children, but because of where she grows up, her chances of making her dreams come true may be significantly diminished. I love the lesson idea of asking children to build a tower but giving them different resources. I think this really emphasizes how structurally unjust our world is and how we do not all have the same opportunities. I love the idea of the privilege walk at the end of this Module also, and I think this would be a really effective way in getting children to understand and see that we are not all equal in our opportunities. I hope as a result of creating this awareness with children we make spark empathy and a more just world for all. This leads back to our SSE plan by creating more responsible, active global citizens.
I have experienced very similar situations in my own infant class as Laura has outlined here in her comment. I agree with her points made and the need for Development Education Methodologies in order to break down inequalities and show children, at a very young age, that the possibilities for them are limitless and that they should not restrict themselves to gender stereotypes and boundaries. I love seeing boys care for baby dolls in Aistear as many see their dads care for little brothers and sisters and likewise I love seeing girls interested in cars and tractors like their mothers have shown them. We need to look at our own practices in the home and ensure children aren’t picking up these stereotypes from our own behaviours.
Having taught Senior Infants for many years, I have encountered children at a very young age who are already conforming to gender stereotypes. I think these stereotypes are most prevalent when children are engaging in free play activities. It is always interesting to see how girls will gravitate towards the dolls and babies and boys will be more interested in cars and blocks. Is this because they have been subconsciously introduced to these types of toys at home already? Or has someone told them what is appropriate for them to play with? Or is it their own natural interest?
I think by educating children, even at a young age about the idea of gender and stereotypes, it will show them that it is OK for boys and girls to be interested in any kind of toys they like. It is important for them to explore and play at this age and they should not feel pressured into liking or disliking particular things. I plan on carrying out the lesson plan in this module with my class in order to explain to children that they have a choice and that we are all equal and have the same opportunities.
I agree with Caitríona’s point that Development Education is more important now than ever. All we have to do is switch on the news and we can see examples of injustice, inequality and downright racism going on in our own country. With the influx of refugees and immigration into Ireland, our country has become more and more multicultural and diverse. Whereas this should be embraced and seen as a good thing, unfortunately it can be seen as a bad thing. With an energy crisis and cost of living crisis in the country, it is easy to blame the newcomers for more broader problems. We really need to educate our future leaders about what is actually going on and how we must all work together in order to help one another.
Having read “The Role of Citizens in Today’s Global World” by Eric Ehigie it is clear to see how far we have come in becoming a more global society, however one glance at the news or scrolling through your news feed will tell you how much more we have to do in order to help establish a more fair, just, equal and sustainable world. Because of this, it is vitally important that we teach the leaders of tomorrow how to become more responsible, active citizens of today’s world.
It is important to care. To use our heads, hearts and hands and take action when we feel something is not right or unjust. We need to make children appreciate all they have and understand that not everyone in the world is as fortunate as children growing up in Ireland. Because our society has become more and more multicultural it is so important that children understand and empathise with those less fortunate.
I have carried out the school’s Green Flag Programme in our school for many years and will continue to do so this coming year. I think it is important that we look at climate change from the global perspective and understand that our actions affect others and we all have a part to play in ensuring we have a clean, safe and sustainable planet for future generations. Children in our school already have a keen sense of care for the environment and I think this will lead well to them becoming responsible global citizens. It is all connected and many of the natural disasters that cause great struggle and hardship for those in our world are a direct consequence of climate change and global warming. Once children grasp this concept of how we are all connected, I think it will make this topic hit home and encourage children to act with their head, heart and hands.
I love Ellen Downs idea of using a familiar image of the Burren and using them to discuss both the credibility of AI and also the extent to which it can really be quite excellent. There is no doubt about the usefulness of AI and the extent of which it has improved in recent years. I think it could really surprise children to learn what is real and what is AI generated. Hopefully by doing so it will highlight to children the importance of always questioning and checking your sources.
I think one of the main issues with AI is our dependency on it. That we accept suggestions from AI without much thought or consideration, that it does our thinking for us and we lose the ability to think critically.
I think therefore it is hugely important to explicitly teach skills of critical thinking, checking sources and always checking over the credibility of AI. This would be how I would introduce AI into the classroom.
My idea would be to look at a series of statements and pictures and try to determine which are real and which are AI. What are the tell tale signs that it is in fact computer generated and what makes it real? How can you tell the difference?
By incorporating images and statements that could easily be taken as real, it will highlight to children the importance of always questioning and checking information and sources. This is a skill that could also transfer to history lessons where you have to check sources and check for accuracy.
We will focus on the language needed in order to carry out such a discussion and children will have to come up with arguments for and against opinions regarding the statements or images. Children will learn the skills of debate and vocalising their thinking. They can work in groups in order to help the collaborative nature of the lesson.
Once we check the source of the statement or image at the end, it will provide learning and awareness of the need for this kind of thinking when engaging in any activity online.
I really like Emma Fitzpatrick’s lesson review on Fantastic Fairgrounds. It is a way of really opening up children’s minds to the power and possibilities of AI. It shows the importance of having skills to understand, evaluate and utilise AI technology in a safe and effective way. Again, there is a focus on critical thinking, which is an excellent skill to have in all walks of life. As with Bad Connections, it also gives real world ethical dilemmas and scenarios which opens up discussions and reflections on the topic that can be quite useful.
As this is an extremely new topic, it is very relevant and important to teach and gain understanding of the concepts. Children will grow up in a world more and more influenced by AI. It will take over jobs that are currently in existence. Children will need to have knowledge of this area. I would also like to explore this topic with my kids and I think Emma for highlighting it in her post. Some excellent points made. Bualadh bos.
In the coming year I would like to focus on the Digital Learning Framework and strengthening my own response to this area in the classroom. It is important not just to use technology as a fun starter or early finisher task but to really incorporate and embed it into the teaching and learning within the classroom.
I am lucky to be in a school that has interactive whiteboards in every class, as well as a full class set of iPads that can be monitored by the teacher and also a few laptops in each classroom. Whilst we do already use them quite frequently in day to day classes, I wish to take that even further in the coming year.
I love the concept of computational thinking and I can see how that would appeal to children in today’s world who are more and more in tune with technology. I like the ideas of sequencing and checking for bugs and see how this process could be applied to other areas. We are always telling children to check over their work and now they can see what would happen if they don’t. In a way that is real and tangible for them.
I also hope to encourage children to become more responsible online global citizens and ensure they are safe online. I think this should always be the starting point and most basic lesson before carrying out any other lessons online and it is something I try to do with every class I teach. Education is power.
For the purpose of this module I chose to look at the lesson plan for Minecraft Education called Bad Connection. I think this is an excellent topic and first place to start when teaching children about online education and using online tools in lessons.
Technology is very much a part of everyday life and can be an excellent resource when used in the right ways. I love how this lesson gives children different scenarios in order to get them thinking about what they would do. Children are encouraged to think critically and read between the lines in certain situations. It also tells children what they should do if they encounter such a situation online, which is all too common unfortunately. And it also encourages children to always tell an adult and ensure they are being open and honest about their activities online.
This could be easily lined to a Wellbeing lesson on asking for help, bullying, cyber bullying and online safety. I love how this lesson contains activities, scenario cards, letter to incorporate parents into discussions, slideshows, exit tickets, pre/post knowledge check and even relates to standards which can be easily translated to our own curriculum.
Everything is done for you here in order to present a nice block of memorable lessons, using a familiar tool of Minecraft, which will equip children with lessons that will last a lifetime.
I think it is so important to normalize these discussions, not just in school but also with parents at home. It it vitally important that teachers are aware of children’s activities online while in the classroom and likewise for parents at home. This game leads itself to questions and create this vital discussion. Online actions have real consequences and children need to be aware of the dangers while also getting experience online and becoming confident, capable digital citizens. We all have a responsibility to behave appropriately in public, as well as online.
The lesson focuses on building children’s understanding of online safety and digital citizenship. It includes many opportunities for discussion and reflection for the children about their own online behaviour. One thing I particularly liked was how it can be used to start a conversation with children about their online activities without feeling like a lecture. I also really like that the game highlights the importance of reporting unsafe online interactions, and I think the lesson does a great job of making this seem ok and not as big deal.
I would use the world mostly as it is. I would start with the Minecraft game first rather than influence the children and have them tell me what they think I want to hear. I would then pause after each act and discuss what each child experienced and to share openly. As the younger classes are on the slightly less mature side, I would slow the process down and perhaps break into days than a whole devoted session. I think pupils would benefit from talking about real-life situations and working together to create a class internet safety agreement afterwards. I would also involve their parents and tie this in with an online safety talk for parents so that the discussion can continue at home within the family. Parents need to be more aware of children’s activities online and ensure that there is a clear and open line of communication.