Far from it, says a recent report from the DEA on the impact of global learning on public attitudes and behaviours towards international development and sustainability. The report concludes that an education which embraces global issues throughout the curriculum is essential if we want to get the next generation engaged in the fight against poverty worldwide.

I’m going to Nepal to see for myself the work being carried out by Practical Action which uses science and technology to improve the lives of some poor people.  I will record my experience and incorporate the resulting visual and written material into innovative teaching resources which support the  Uk’s new national curriculum.

Projects such as those involving renewable energy are particularly welcomed by science teachers because they show real-life applications of science to solve a problem with the additional advantage of being set within a global context.

Teachers know that incorporating material with a global dimension throughout the curriculum will help pupils see themselves as part of a global community and in so doing will encourage them to become responsible citizens who feel they can make a difference.

To see the full DEA report go to http://www.dea.org.uk/resources/item.asp?d=2076

For those of you who understand the significance of the title (!) and fancy watching/listening to Pink Floyd’s The Wall got to  http://tinyurl.com/yhwfpmr

Please do follow me on Twitter  juliepollard1 or whilst I’m in Nepal #julieinnepal

Do young people care about climate change or even know what it is?
Some people are concerned that they don’t but that wasn’t what I experienced at the Big Bang Fair in Manchester today. 

Thousands of school children from all over the country attended the first day of the event and many took part in the Science Council’s activity where they were asked to write a postcard to the Prime Minister describing what they think about climate change.  The responses will be collated, drafted into a report on Young Peoples Attitudes to Climate Change and sent to No.10 Downing Street.

 Responses included:

Dear Prime Minister
I think climate change

….………….is affecting each and every one of us.  From all the statistics the situation is getting worse.  I hope it won’t be as bad as they say it’s going to be.
Elaine, age 14, Cheltenham Ladies College

…………..is getting out of hand and you should do something about it!
Rabiaca, age 13,   Ali-Islah

………….is something we all need to focus on and do something about.  Instead of just complaining about it let’s make a difference!
Hattie Codfrey, age 14, C & C

………….is destroying our world.  It may cause an ice age. If we don’t act fast our world will be no more.
Sultan Munshi, age 12, Pleckgate

What surprised me was not how important they thought climate change was, but how excited they were that the Prime Minister would care what they thought!

To find out what Practical Action are doing to help communities in developing countries adapt to climate change go to
http://www.practicalaction.org.uk/our-work/ourwork_climatechange

To look at our educational resources on climate change go to http://www.practicalaction.org.uk/education/climate_change

I’ve been rushed off my feet at the UK Education Show this week. Primary and secondary teachers have been really keen to find out more about our great education resources and Practical Action’s work.  Over 800 have joined our schools list and signed up to our e-newsletter so they can find out more about us.

“I don’t think children really understand how climate change affects  poor people in other countries and that it’s not them that’s causing it,” said one teacher to me. “I’m definitely going to have a look at your website to see what resources you’ve got that I can use with my class to help them understand climate change better.”

“Thank you so much, this is brilliant. I’m really glad I came now, I will do this with my year 4 class in science week next week,” said Victoria Meir, a Primary school teacher from Suffolk, when she saw the wind power challenge activity.

So all in all a really successful three days. Just all that follow up work to do now!!

If you would like to see what the teachers got so excited about please go to  www.practicalaction.org.uk/education

Last Tuesday together with Joseph Nunns our new initiatives executive I attended the DEA launch of the Global Learning Charter at a reception in parliament.  A number of parliamentarians were there from across the political spectrum including Malcolm Bruce MP and former education secretary Charles Clarke MP.  Signatories to the charter include individuals, schools, NGOs, institutions, trade unions, local authorities and Universities, all committing to support UK citizens to learn about global issues.

I’m the one in red by the way!

If you or your organisation would like to join Practical Action and the other 200+ signatories by signing up to the charter please follow the link below:

DEA Global Learning Charter