Projects

DEC(SY) is involved with a rich variety of projects. Current projects are summarised below. Also, you can see summaries of our recent projects.

One World Zine

"The pages are class! Well done!" - William, "I think it is cool" - Rebekah "I think children's rights are important" - Emily

One World Zone (OWZ) is a DFID funded development education project which aims to respond to the explosion in popularity amongst young people of social networking services (for example a recent survey indicated that 93% of 16 to 21 year olds use Social Network Communities (SNCs) such as Bebo, Facebook, MySpace etc.)

OWZ exists within two of Intuitive Media’s SNC websites: www.superclubsplus.com (6-12 yr olds) and www.goldstarcafe.net (11-14 yr olds). It has around 2000 active users on its two sites and provides news items, interactive stimuli relating to topical development issues and events and enables young people to discuss their responses using on-line forums.

‘Hotseat’ live web chats are regularly held with people from countries of the ‘South,’ often in response to an issue in the news. These have included Htoo Ku, a teacher from Burma on the democracy protests and cyclone; Rimas, a Maasai from Kenya on the post election conflict, and James from the D.R.Congo on the misuse of the mineral, agricultural and cultural wealth in his country. The external evaluator, Professor Pine from the University of Hertfordshire observed ‘These [issues] are brought to life for the children via real human stories. This is conducive to creating real depth of learning and, in addition, the chance to question people enables the children to be active in the learning process.’

Baseline and follow-up surveys on children’s understanding and attitudes about development issues indicated that children’s understanding of the impact of events in the world affecting other countries increased from 69% to 77% and the percentage of children wishing to take action to tackle global poverty increased from 66% to 85%.

The project ends in 2009 but it is hoped that the learning will inform future ICT initiatives.

To see examples of the One World pages go to Gold Star Cafe and Superclubs for a tour.

For more information on the One World Project contact Rob Unwin at DECSY

Somalia History and Culture

This project, which is being run with Sheffield EMAS, local Somali organisations and individuals and MASH Production, has led to the development of a multi-media resource for schools: Who Am I? The DVD aims to enhance the achievement of Somali young people and to develop an understanding of Somali history and the culture in the wider community.

Find out more by viewing the introduction and samples of interactive materials from the DVD

For more information contact Rob Unwin at DECSY

Slavery and South Yorkshire

Working in collaboration with local schools, museums and archives and former DECSY project Worker, Alison Twells (author of DECSY publication: Colonialism, Slavery and the Industrial Revolution) DECSY has put together a new teaching resource for Primary schools 'Olaudah Equiano in Sheffield'. The materials focus on how certain individuals in the area benefited from the trans-atlantic slave trade, whilst others campaigned against it.

The use of the new resource is enhanced by the availability of supplementary materials for use on an interactive white board click here to visit the publication page containing the extra materials

The Global Dimension of SEAL Project

The key objective of this new project is to provide clear pathways and appropriate resources for embedding the Global Dimension (GD) within the SEAL programme, engaging school pupils across South Yorkshire and beyond in global and development issues.

SEAL (Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning) is an explicit, structured, whole-curriculum framework and resource for teaching social, emotional and behavioural skills to all pupils, encompassing personal and inter-relationship issues. It has been embraced in the Yorkshire & Humber region firstly with celebration days and pilot schemes and now through a roll-out of SEAL to benefit 2,500 primary and secondary schools in the region. However, the potential of the SEAL framework to contribute to understanding global issues has yet to be explored.

DEC(SY)'s work around Every Child Matters and PSHE (Personal Social and Health Education) indicates the importance and value of starting from where children are, recognising their different backgrounds and supporting them to value themselves and others, both in their class and across the world. A national SEAL contact said of this project:

'Social and emotional skills are really important to understanding the global dimension and this in turn is really rich material for SEAL. There is lots of mutual benefit.'

Partner pilot schools in South Yorkshire will trial & evaluate materials which will then be available to download from our website. Training on delivery of the Global Dimension & use of the resources can also be provided by DEC(SY).

Specific project outcomes include:
1. To enrich the whole-school ethos and curriculum by bringing a stronger global perspective into the SEAL National Strategy framework
2. To create motivation and interest in development issues amongst primary and secondary pupils in South Yorkshire through their personal learning experiences
3. To generate confidence and reinforce teacher practice in integrating the GD within SEAL
4. To use and evaluate the materials and experiences in South Yorkshire and beyond to inform SEAL programme development nationally.

An experienced teacher, Nickey Brown, is now in post as the Project Worker and she is supported by a team of consultants who were involved in writing the SEAL National Strategy materials, local teachers, local authority SEAL Advisers and DECSY. To get in touch with the project contact Nickey or Rob via DECSY.

Download a sample lesson plan and activity for New Beginnings.

Resources from the Rotherham PHSE Leaders' Meeting

Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution Plan, Playground Conflict, Mapping Conflict, Arab-Israeli Summary

A full set of materials are being uploaded on the new project website. At the moment access is restricted to teachers trialling the materials but the site will be available to all later in the year.

Aspects of Latin America Day School 11 October 2008

This event organised by Sheffield International Linking Committee (SILC) with the support of DECSY, brought together local groups with an interest in Latin America to share information and ideas and to look at ways to raise awareness of this part of the world in the longer term and where possible, work together.

Our thanks go to CAFOD, Cuba Solidarity Campaign, King Edward VII School and Language College, Languages Sheffield, Wales High School (Paraguay link), Paul May (University of Sheffield), Sheffield-Esteli Society, Sheffield-Venezuela Information Centre, Rosa Diaz-Sandoval and Julio Gonzalez-Gallego from Sheffield University.

Links to material from many of the workshops can be found below:

A view of Mexico through the centuries.pps

México in a year (with sound).pps

CAFOD & Bolivia.ppt

KES - Putting Spanish First.ppt

Preparing visitors to Nicaragua.ppt

FOOD PLANTS HAVING ORIGINS IN LATIN AMERICA.doc

Quiz Latin American Food Plants.doc