SESE

Social Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE)

The SESE department provides courses for undergraduate students leading to B.Ed. degree and post graduate students leading to H.Dip.Ed. (Primary Teaching)
Social Environmental and Scientific Education (SESE) is presented under three subject headings: history, geography and science.

The focus of the SESE course is to provide students with opportunities to explore the teaching of SESE curriculum in the classroom. The curriculum is based on the study, exploration and investigation of the human, natural, social and cultural environment locally, nationally and internationally.
The environment is the starting point and the bond that unites the three subject areas of history geography and science. The three subjects are taught in an integrated way throughout the three years of the B.Ed. course and eighteen month H.Dip. (Primary) course. Methodologies and approaches in each subject have a distinctive role to play in developing the students’ understanding of SESE and their ability to teach it in the classroom.

History

This course comprises of a study of the strands and strand units of the SESE history curriculum. The strands include Local Studies, Story, Early People and Ancient Societies, Life, Society, Work and Culture in the Past, Eras of Conflict and Change, Politics, Conflict and Society, Continuity and Change over Time at senior level. At junior level the topics covered include Myself and my Family, Story, Change and Continuity. The need to balance content with skills is also a focus and a component of the course. The skills of an historian include time and chronology, change and effect, using evidence, synthesis and communication and empathy.
The students are encouraged to use primary sources of evidence in their teaching of history. Primary sources may include the use of artefacts, documents, oral evidence, media together with pictures and photographs and other sources of evidence. The assessment of the course comprises of one assignment in First Year- “The Granny Project”- where students explore the history of a grandparent through personal and family archives. In Second Year the students complete an assignment in local history entitled, “My Place in the Mid Nineteenth Century”. In this they are asked to use all the skills of the historian to present a snapshot in time of their local area as it was around the time of the Famine.

Geography

This course comprises of a study of the strands and strand units of the SESE geography curriculum. The strands include Human Environment, Natural Environment and Environmental Awareness and Care. The need to balance content with skills and concepts is also a focus and a component of the course. The development of the concepts of a geographer enable the children to establish a sense of place and a sense of space and the skills development of a geographer focuses on geographical investigation skills such as those of observing, questioning, predicting, investigating and experimenting, estimating and measuring, analysing, recording and communicating and the development of maps, globes and graphical skills. The study of this area encourages the students to use the local natural environment which is a key resource in the study of Geography. The assessment of the course comprises of an exam in first year. In Second Year the students complete a practical assignment focussing on the local natural environment. They are asked to ‘Adopt a Tree’ and using all the skills of geography and science make a record of its changes etc. over a six week period. In third year the students complete an assignment based on their local area.

Science

This course comprises of a study of the strands and strand units of the SESE Science curriculum. The strands include Living things, Energy and Forces, Materials, and Environmental Awareness and Care. The need to balance content with skills is also a focus and a component of the course. The development of the skills development of a scientist focuses on investigation skills such as those of observing, questioning, predicting, investigating and experimenting, estimating and measuring, analysing, recording and communicating and the development of design and making skills involving exploring, planning, making and evaluating . The assessment of this area comprises of an exam in first year, project work in second and third year and a group task in the post graduate course.

While each subject retains its uniqueness regarding content and concepts and skills development, the subjects are taught in an integrated manner as outlines in the Primary School Curriculum (1999).

Students on the B.Ed course receive 105 hours of SESE education tuition during their course, while Post Graduate students receive 60 hours.
Students are also offered two elective courses in the area of SESE comprising 21 hours each.

Elective Courses in SESE

Students are also offered two elective courses in the area of SESE comprising 21 hours each.

Eye on the Past and the World Around Us
Gatherers and Growers: SESE

The students who participate in “Gatherers and Growers” visit places of historical, geographical and scientific interest. They also participate in practical workshops in College which focus on school gardening and recycling.
The students who participate in Eye on the Past and the World Around Us are visited by a variety of specialists from the Heritage Council over the 10 weeks and engage in a variety of practical activities around the area of SESE both focussing on past, present and future.

Aim of the SESE:

To enable students to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes so as to develop an informed and critical understanding of social, environmental and scientific issues.
To reinforce and stimulate student’s own curiosity and imagination about natural phenomena and the environment in general.
To enable students to use ICT and other media to gain access to information and to assist in handling, classifying and presenting evidence.
To help students understand the basic processes that govern and shape their world and to appreciate the interdependence of all things.
To foster a sense of responsibility and commitment to the promotion of the sustainable use of the earth’s resources.
To equip students to teach SESE in the primary school.

Staff Profiles/Contact

Paddy Madden

Email: paddy.madden@mie.ie
Telephone: 353 1 8057757

Link to profile

Laura Walsh

Email: laura.walsh@mie.ie
Telephone: 353 1 8535152

Link to profile

Roisin Ní Niadh

Email: roisin.niniadh@mie.ie

Telephone: 353 1 8535151

Link to profile