Climate Action Junior Cycle short course

 

What is the Climate Action short course?

The course specification and assessment guidelines have been developed in accordance with NCCA guidelines template and feedback for 100 hours of engagement over the three years of Junior Cycle. 

Download the Course Specification here and the Assessment Guidelines here

Since the introduction of the Junior Cycle Framework 2015, teachers and schools themselves have had the option to create school-developed short courses. A Junior Cycle short course is a course designed for 100 hours of student engagement. Other agencies can also develop short courses and make them available to schools, with a view to schools being able to use them as published or adapt the short course to their local context. This short course was developed by a partnership of educators, Educators for Sustainability.

 

 

Why this course?

Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humanity in modern times. It is a challenge that touches all aspects of our society and our personal lives – from where and how we live, what career we pursue to how we feel about ourselves and sense of connection and solidarity with other people. Young people today are more affected by climate change than previous generations.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This course aims to support learners to develop the knowledge, skills, values and motivation for climate action, and to empower themselves to become life-long participants in social change towards a sustainable and just world for all by creating space and experiences that support learners to develop personal motivations for climate action and become organisers for social change; explore root causes of climate change and linked global injustices; and develop visions of positive futures.

 

 

Learning Approach

Responding adequately to climate change and reaching a goal of youth empowerment requires educators and school communities to draw deeply on established knowledge and skills as well as significant new learning. The learning approach to this short course has been developed as a means by which students can be equipped in a practical and emotional way for engagement with climate action and lifelong active global citizenship.