Module: Sustainability & GEO Education

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Sustainability & GEO Education
Module Code	EDP1087 (ITS: SG303)
Faculty	DCU Institute of Education	School	STEM Ed, Innov, Global Studies
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

Sustainability in Geography, Environmental and Outdoor Education

Learning Outcomes

1. Engage with a range of Geographical, Environmental and Outdoor Education resources, including schools and their localities;
2. Critically engage in with GEO and broader educational theories, demonstrating an understanding of the importance of local contexts of learning for children;
3. Demonstrate confident theoretical, subject and pedagogic content knowledge to teach, locally based GEO topics in primary schools;
4. Design competency in planning and resourcing engaging learning opportunities, incorporating the use of ICTs in GEO education;
5. Demonstrate a secure knowledge and understanding of the Primary School Curriculum and other policy documents related to GEO Education;

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	12	No Description
Assignment Completion	24	No Description
Fieldwork	6	No Description
Workplace application	6	Work with schools
Total Workload: 48

Section Breakdown
CRN	20289	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	100%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	N
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Benjamin Mallon	Module Teacher	Joe Usher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Professional Portfolio	Portfolio on one sustainability topic	100%	Week 30

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Outline of content and activity
The course will develop students’ knowledge and understanding of leading Geography, Environmental and Outdoor (GEO) Education through the development of students’ pedagogical and content knowledge and their understanding of education for sustainability, through geography, environmental and outdoor education. This course will be taught through teacher inquiry, with significant student input relating to the structure and content of the sessions. The course will involve students: • Developing their own subject knowledge in sustainability, through research and attendance at relevant places and events; • Working with each other to prepare, plan and teach lessons in GEO education on sustainability topics; • Engaging in fieldwork related to GEO Education, with and without pupils from local schools. The use of technology, in schools and ITE, will be embedded within sessions. Links to literacy and numeracy will be explicitly explored.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

All on Loop, as list is current for September 2022: 2022, All on Loop, ALL ON LOOP
Dolan, A.M.: 2022, Teaching Climate Change in Primary Schools: an Interdisciplinary Approach., Routledge, London,
Scoffham, S. and Rawlinson, S.: 2022, Sustainability Education: a classroom guide., London, London,
Mallon, B.: 2021, 'Global citizenship education: Interconnection, social justice and sustainability' In: Teaching For Social Justice And Sustainable Development Across The Primary Curriculum.,
Kavanagh, A.M.;Waldron, F.;Mallon, B.: 2021, 'Teaching for social justice and sustainable development across the primary curriculum: An introduction' In: Teaching For Social Justice And Sustainable Development Across The Primary Curriculum.,

Articles:

Murphy, C., Mallon, B., Smith, G., Kelly, G., Pitsia, V., and Martinez Sainz, G.: 2021, The influence of a teachers’ professional development programme on primary school pupils’ understanding of and attitudes towards sustainability'., Environmental Education Research, https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13504622.2021.1889470,

Other Resources

None