About Compass

Strategic aim

Compass' current programme of activities aims to promote good practice within formal sector primary level development education in Ireland.

Objectives

To promote good practice and provide capacity building support for development education and intercultural education in-service delivery
To support pilot group of recently qualified teachers (new NQT pilot project)
To develop strategic partnerships with key organisations

Recent Compass activities have included:

In-service training

Compass organised a number of in-service training workshops targeted both at development educators and teachers which aimed to tackle topical issues relating to current challenges e.g workshop on ‘Teaching about natural disasters', for primary teachers, Diversity in the Arts workshop series for educators and artists, Seminar on ‘What Development Education can do for the Decade for Education for Sustainable Development', for educators and other stakeholders etc.

Pre-service work

Compass has been involved with the DICE project since its inception in 2001 and continues this liaison both in its capacity as a member of the DICE Policy and Strategy Committee and the Research Committee, and also through collaboration with DICE on joint activities e.g., participation in college Global Days, RQT support, development of shared database etc.

Awareness-raising

Compass has drawn up guidelines for publishers promoting the fair and positive portrayal of all people in the images and language used in primary school textbooks. These guidelines have recently been reviewed and improved by the Images sub-group of Compass and will imminently be published as ‘Images of the Global South: Guidelines for primary educators for working with photographs from around the world'. This flyer will be available by request in hard copy form or as a PDF on this site.

Support for members

Through regular meetings and ongoing information-sharing, Compass members are kept up-to-date on relevant activities and events. Training is organised on an annual basis in response to members' needs and interests. The Compass project is supported by a half-time project officer who is available to support and assist members in their primary-level development education work.

For further information about the work of Compass please contact Lizzie in the Comhlámh office.

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