Curriculum

Business Studies These is a unit on ethics and sustainability. Focuses on: Ethics and business ethics, Global Consumerism at Junior Cycle. This looks at the use of fossil fuels, our carbon footprint, and what businesses and individuals can do to reduce, reuse and recycle. In Economics, in the new course there is a chapter on Economic, Social and Environmental Sustainability. This refers to the Sustainable Development Goals, steps to Zero landfill and Sustainable Development as well. The notes are attached also for your reference. Sustainable development. Sustainability issues e.g. use of fossil fuels, disposal of old electronic devices etc Also what can consumers do to contribute to sustainable development. Would be a mention of corporate social responsibility also Ethical and Global Consumerism Ethics What is ethics? Ethics is about moral rules It involves listening to one’s conscience and distinguishing between right and wrong. Examples of ethical business practice: Paying employees a fair wage Providing employees with safe and healthy working conditions Providing consumers with products that are safe, good quality and reasonably priced Adhering to legislation, for example, the Environmental Protection Act Examples of unethical business practice: Child Labour Pollution/illegal dumping Overcharging customers or selling them unsafe products Paying employees less than the living wage Minimum Wage v’s Living Wage Minimum Wage is the lowest legal hourly rate that can be paid to workers. Living Wage is the average wage that will enable full time working adults across Ireland afford a socially acceptable minimum standard of living. Fossil fuels Non-renewable resource For example, turf, coal, oil, gas and diamonds. We are consuming more of these fossil fuels than we are discovering. We cannot make any more fossil fuel – when it’ gone, it’s gone. The consumption of fossil fuels has also caused pollution that has damaged the planet and created what is known as the ‘greenhouse effect’ and climate change. It has made our world hotter and causes more extreme weather conditions such as flooding and droughts. Carbon Footprint The carbon footprint measures the effects of human use of carbon products, for example, oil on the environment and how it affects climate change. A family car using petrol and covering 16,000 kms in a year releases 3.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The USA has 5% of the world’s population but consumes 30% of the world’s resources and generates 30% of the worlds waste. If all countries consumed at US rates, we would need three to five planets! Food Miles Food miles measures how far food travels before it reaches the consumer. Check out www.foodmiles.com Sustainable Development What is meant by Sustainable Development? Sustainable Development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. The main idea is that we must act responsibly so that the resources on the planet will be able to support many generations to come ‘Reduce, reuse, recycle’. Everyone on the planet is responsible for producing and consuming goods ethically and sustainably. What can businesses do? Make sure raw materials are sourced in an ethical way and from sustainable sources Look at how products are manufactured – use wind and solar power instead of fossil fuel Production facilities should be located close to the source of raw materials and consumers in order to minimise transportation and its environmental impact. Use packaging that is recyclable Dispose of waste correctly Ben and Jerry’s Use eggs that come from local cage-free farms and the ice-cream is frozen using ‘lean and green’ climate-friendly freezers. Voya cosmetics An Irish company that produces cosmetic products from organic ingredients. The products are packaged using recyclable and biodegradable products. What can consumers do? Use recyclable products and packaging Dispose of waste correctly Buy locally sourced goods Stop buying goods with high food miles Fix instead of buying new Use solar power instead of fossil fuels Globalisation Have you heard the saying ‘it’s a small world’. Globalisation is where all the people of the world trade, communicate, share ideas and cultures. The main reasons for globalisation Improvements in ICT have brought people together through: Faster communication, for example, e-mail and videoconferencing Websites – buying and selling on-line, advertising and marketing World Wide Web Improvements in Transport Goods and people can travel quickly between countries The cost of transporting goods between countries has decreased Consumer Demands Consumers demand choice and variety, for example, oranges from Spain and chocolate from Belgium Consumers demand quality at competitive prices Impact of Globalisation One of the biggest impacts of globalisation has been the development of multinational companies (MNCs). These are large companies that set up their shops, factories and customer-call centres in more than one country. MNCs come to Ireland because: Skilled and educated workforce Low corporation tax Impact of Globalisation on Consumer Choice As a result of globalisation, there is more consumer choice because there are more goods produced by more companies in more countries. This means: More choice for you the consumer Lower prices for the consumer Better quality for the consumer However: The people producing these goods may not be paid a fair wage or work in safe working environment. Producing these goods may damage the environment A cheap product may not be of merchantable quality Technology Globalisation is happening faster than ever before because of developments in technology. Technology is taking knowledge and turning it into something you can use to solve a problem or make a task easier. Impact of ICT on consumer choice and behaviour World Wide Web Companies can advertise their products on websites and consumers can easily research and buy goods and services online. Broadband This increases the speed at which consumers can access online information. This means we can buy things online more easily and keep in touch with friends and family. Wireless and mobile networks Allows us to use our smartphones, tablets and laptops to communicate, find information and buy products anywhere there is a mobile network Social media Allows us to create and share content online. Most companies now use social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter to share information and advertise products to consumers. Chapter Questions What is ethics? List 3 examples of ethical business practice and 3 examples of unethical business practice. Examine the following situations and comment on the ethics involved: Copying another student’s homework Making a donation to charity Telling a teacher that another student copied your homework Lending a friend €2 to buy lunch Telling everybody that you lent your friend lunch money What is the difference between the minimum wage and the living wage? Explain what fossil fuels are and their effect on the environment. Explain what we mean by carbon footprint What is sustainable development? Explain 3 ways an organisation can be ethical and sustainable. Explain 3 ways that you, as a consumer, can contribute to sustainable development. What is globalisation? Give 3 reasons for globalisation. Check your kitchen cupboards and list five items that are not manufactured in Ireland. Give 2 reasons why MNCs are attracted to set up business in Ireland. Do you think the advantages of globalisation outweigh the disadvantages? Explain. Write a profile of a MNC based in Ireland. Present your work in a poster. Explain 4 ways that technology impacts on consumer choice and behaviour. http://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/ethical-shopping-on-the-cheap-1.1328900 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5r4loXPyx8 https://youtu.be/i-7u7Y52sPM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTamnlXbgqc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5NiTN0chj0

Materials Technology Wood

At JC, MTW students have to consider the environmental aspect of their wood project. Sustainable timber from managed forests/using recycled timber/waste timber etc. There is also a topic on how deforestation effects the planet.

At LC there are 2 topics on sustainability on the Construction Studies paper.

1. The Passive house. A house which uses on average 75% less energy than other houses.

2. Environmental impact of housing. How houses can be altered to reduce their environmental impact and reduce their carbon footprint. 

Geography

Sustainability is one of the core concepts in geography. Students learn about the impact of fossil fuels, climate change and pollution. Students also examine their role at local and global levels and discuss how they can make changes that will benefit our environment.

The following are the learning intentions based around sustainability:

 • Students consider the balance between economic, environmental and social systems necessary for meeting the needs of the present without compromising the needs of the future.

 • Students recognise how their decisions and actions impact on local and global sustainability.

 • Students critically reflect on current concepts and practices in relation to sustainability.

 • Students develop knowledge, skills, behaviours, and values to live sustainably.  

In Maths for STEM, we are incorporating Green Schools from a number of angles, including data analysis, statistics, pattern spotting, probability, and general algebra manipulation for calculations. I am extremely passionate about educating students on their role in society as future scientists and engineers, who are tasked with solving the issues that we face. As a Maths teacher with a background in Sustainable Energy Engineering, I focus on developing maths skills particularly from the point of view of Climate Change, Energy, and Sustainability. Or lessons involve looking at the UN Global Goals for Sustainable Development, and we cover areas including

• Population variation and its cause and effects
• Energy consumption calculations and energy saving initiatives
• Calculating electricity costs
• Pattern spotting for predicting future patterns
• Responsible consumption and production
• Waste and water treatment, waste disposal, etc
• General problem solving 

Art

students in art class are working on a number of promotional projects for "Green schools" as well a producing environmentally minded  artworks for an exhibition to be held in April 

Science

Central to the science curriculum is teaching and learning around  the concept of energy , how we use energy , energy conservation and renewable energy sources.

Ecological diversity and the impact of human activity on the natural ecosystem are also taught.

Endangered Irish species .

In STEM at the moment I have students completing projects on ecological diversity of species in Ireland and why it is reducing

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"Colaiste Chiarain have paired up with a school from the Netherlands to explore European cultural identity and to share ideas on becoming more eco-friendly. The students will meet on April 10th 2019 and will discuss green strategies in place in their schools and local areas. At the end of the discussion, the students will share ideas on what can be done to help improve both schools and local areas in becoming more eco-friendly in the future."

https://www.grotiuscollege.nl/juniusstraat/ons-onderwijs/leren-over-de-grens/european-parliament-school

Survey carried out by the European Studies department across the school looking for ways to make the school a cleaner environment

Install cleaner toilets

Recycling

Working radiators in classes

Reduce the amount of cardboard and plastic used

Different labelled bins

Save energy

Reduce waste

Turn out the lights when leaving a class

Stop using excess plastic

Place more bins around

Less packaged goods

No more/less plastic usage in the canteen

Heaters off when don’t need to be used

More hand dryers so less toilet paper is used

More heat

Recycle whiteboard markers, use refills

Turn lights off when they are not needed

Recycle batteries

Don't put food and water in with recycling

Less plastic in the canteens

Pick up litter if u see it

PUNISHMENT WORK/BAD NOTE  if caught littering