Technological Skills and Global Challenges:
Engaging with the complexities of technological projects develops problem-solving skills. By analyzing diverse perspectives and crafting innovative solutions, students harness their technological expertise for effective problem-solving in a global context.
Sustainability and Environmental Awareness:
Exploration of eco-friendly design principles resonates with the global citizenship's emphasis on environmental consciousness. An understanding of widespread concerns, including climate change, nurtures a commitment to sustainable technological practices, fostering environmental responsibility.
Ethical Considerations:
Participation in discussions surrounding ethical dimensions within technology encourages an exploration of justice, fairness, and human rights disparities on a global scale. These dialogues cultivate ethical awareness and promote responsible decision-making aligned with global citizenship principles.
Communication and Collaboration:
Active engagement in collaborative technology projects underscores the pivotal role of cooperation in addressing global challenges. Effective communication and collaborative skills become vital tools for promoting cross-cultural engagement and effective problem-solving.
Cultural Awareness and Diversity:
Exposure to a spectrum of technological contexts enriches cultural appreciation and understanding. This alignment with global citizenship's emphasis on respecting different cultures is vital in fostering inclusivity and sensitivity through technological exploration.
Social Impact and Responsibility:
Comprehending technology's societal influence prepares students to responsibly tackle global challenges. Their ability to contribute positively to local and global communities through considerate technological solutions highlights their commitment to social impact and global responsibility.
Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
Encouraging innovative thinking within the technological domain aligns with the global citizenship's call for creative problem-solving and proactive engagement.
Integration into Global Citizenship Education:
By incorporating these dimensions of the Leaving Certificate Technology curriculum into the framework of Global Citizenship Education, students develop holistic skills and values. This integration nurtures well-rounded individuals who are not only technically proficient but also ethically conscious, culturally sensitive, and ready to contribute significantly to a globally interconnected society.
Sustainability and Ethics:
1. Analyze and assess the environmental impact of different technological design choices, examining variables such as resource utilization and waste generation, in order to make informed decisions that align with ethical considerations and sustainable practices.
2. Apply principles of sustainable design to engineer solutions that minimize their negative environmental footprint.
Global Context and Diversity:
1. Investigate and compare how technological solutions can adapt across diverse cultural, geographic, and social contexts, fostering an appreciation for cultural sensitivity.
2. Recognize and emphasize the historical and contemporary contributions of various cultures to technology, demonstrating a capacity for cross-cultural understanding and an awareness of the global diversity in technological advancements.
Innovation and Problem Solving:
1. Collaborate effectively with peers to address intricate technological challenges, showcasing the ability to incorporate diverse viewpoints and create innovative solutions that address complex global issues.
2. Analyze and refine technological designs iteratively, incorporating feedback and real-world constraints to enhance solutions, highlighting adaptability and creative problem-solving prowess.
Communication and Collaboration:
1. Communicate technological concepts fluently through presentations, reports, and discussions, displaying adeptness in conveying complex technical ideas to diverse audiences effectively.
2. Collaborate within team settings to identify shared technological objectives, fostering teamwork, coordination, and interpersonal skills essential for addressing multifaceted global challenges.
Cultural Awareness and Diversity:
1. Engage with technological problems from multicultural perspectives, demonstrating the ability to consider diverse cultural influences and adapt technological solutions accordingly.
2. Recognize the contributions of various cultures to technological innovation, showcasing an inclusive mindset aligned with global citizenship's emphasis on valuing and understanding cultural diversity.
Social Responsibility and Impact:
1. Evaluate the potential social ramifications of technological projects on local and global communities.
2. Reflect on personal and collective roles in shaping a more equitable and just world through responsible technological practices, aligning with global citizenship's values of social responsibility.
Critical Thinking and Decision Making:
1. Assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of different technological solutions using critical evaluation.
2. Make informed technological decisions that account for both short-term and long-term consequences, showcasing a holistic approach to problem-solving.
Civic Engagement and Action:
1. Identify pressing global challenges that can be addressed through innovative technological solutions, demonstrating an awareness of the role technology plays in addressing global problems.
2. Actively participate in technological projects that contribute positively to local and global communities, exemplifying the values of civic engagement, responsibility, and global citizenship.
A design-based approach is central to the study of the subject Technology where there is also a focus of health and safety issues and the impact of technology on the environment.
Core areas of study: A Process of Design · Project and Quality Management · Materials and Production · Communication and Graphic Media · Information and Communications Technology · Structures and Mechanisms · Energy, Electricity, and Electronics
Students must take any two from the five options below:
· Electronics and Control · Applied Control Systems · Information and Communications Technology · Manufacturing Systems · Materials Technology
Both sections emphasize global awareness, social responsibility, sustainable development, and understanding our world's interconnectedness. Global Citizenship Education aims to prepare students to be informed and active global citizens who contribute positively to a sustainable and inclusive global society.
Two Assessments:
Assessment is in the form of one written examination paper and a student assignment which the students will complete in their final year of the course.
The assignment's purpose is to allow students to display their understanding of the core knowledge and two electives.
For the project, there is an emphasis placed on the application of technology in a societal context, with the student is required to provide a solution to an identified problem or situation. The project will involve the design and production of an artefact and an accompanying folder.
GCE: These assessment methods aim to push students to communicate effectively, think critically about global issues, and find innovative solutions to global technological challenges.