Climate Action Short Course

A new Junior Cycle short course on climate action was published in July 2021. The course has been developed by a team of educators with expertise in Education for Sustainability, including two Educate Together post-primary teachers. The development process included consultation with youth groups, teachers, and experts in pedagogy. Three Supporting Organisations also provided written input to help guide the development process: The Irish Second Level Students’ Union, Fridays for Future Ireland and the Students’ Climate Action Network.  The course specification has been developed in accordance with NCCA guidelines template and feedback for 100 hours of engagement over the three years of Junior Cycle.

The course is designed to exemplify good practice in terms of the Junior Cycle Framework 2015, and international standards of good practice in Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship Education. The learning approach of the short course is based on:

●        Holistic learner-centred education, including starting from students intertwined feelings and thinking, students’ life experiences, students participating in decision-making, and co-creating learning and action;

●        Democratic citizenship, involving critical reflection, democratic participation and informed action; and

●        Approaches which build students’ sense of belonging and connection to place, nature and community, including enjoyable outdoor experiences, group experiences and learning in my local community.

The ISSU and Educators for Sustainability are collaborating in running a pilot programme of the short course in the school year.  Approximately 19 teachers in 14 schools are teaching the short course this year.

The pilot programme is providing initial online teacher training, quarterly peer-support meetings, and online resource sharing between the teachers of the short course in each school, and in the course of the year, a project website will be developed. These activities are funded through a WorldWise Global Schools NGO/School network grant, and through the Community Foundation for Ireland’s Youth Fund.

For any queries about the short course, you can email info@climateactionshortcourse.ie