Secondary School Workshops

Workshops are provided to schools as part of the One Good Idea project. Schools who sign up to the project will be provided (limited availability) with a workshop. They are suitable for TY, CSPE, LCA and junior cycle Science and Geography students and were developed with the various curricula in mind. Workshops cover all aspects of energy, how we use it in our everyday lives, climate change, individual responsibility and renewable energy.

Below are photos and additional information on pilot workshops carried out with 10 Cork schools during 2008.

Students participating in a workshop

Preparatory Work

Schools participating in the pilot were asked to undertake some preparatory work a few weeks before their workshop. They were asked to send the facilitators images or photos they had taken themselves showing various aspects of energy and climate change that affect them. These images were then incorporated into the beginning of the workshops.

Here are just a small selection of images schools who participated submitted as part of their preparatory work.

	'Solar Panels' Christian Brothers College, Sidney Hill, Cork
	'Plugged in' Christian Brothers College, Sidney Hill, Cork
	'Lightbulbs' Colaiste Christ Ri, Capwell Road, Cork
	'Insulation' Colaiste Christ Ri, Capwell Road, Cork
	'Lights on but light coming through the window too' Coachford College, Cork
	'Lights on in empty room' Coachford College, Cork
	'Wasting Energy' Colaiste an Chraoibhin, Fermoy, Co Cork
	'Global Warming' Colaiste an Chraoibhin, Fermoy, Co Cork
	'Carpark- does anyone walk?' Colaiste an Phiarsaigh, Glamire, Cork
	'Plug switched on but not in use' Colaiste an Phiarsaigh, Glamire, Cork
	'Flying - Your carbon footprint' Schull Community College, Schull, West Cork
	'Driving - your carbon footprint' Schull Community College, Schull, West Cork

Workshops in Action

The workshops typically lasted around an hour.  As well as an interactive powerpoint presentation there were activities which provided room for discussion.

Students working through one of the activities

Workshop Presentation

Pledges

Students were asked to think of ways that they could commit to saving energy in their everyday lives. Here are some of their pledges

Students from Christian Brothers College, Sidney Hill, Cork pledged: -

'I will walk places that I can and that are near my home instead of releasing Co2'
'Turn off and plug out DVD player because it is not used as much'
'I will not wash clothes unless there is a full load to wash'

Students from Colaiste an Phiarsaigh, Glamire, Cork pledged:-
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'I will not leave the TV or computer on stand-by'
'I will try not to leave the fridge open too long'
'I will close the windows when the heating is on'   

Students from Colaiste Chriost Ri, Capwell Road, Cork pledged:-

'I should use more insulation in my house in order to save energy.'
'I will ask my mum to turn the washing machine down  to 30 degrees.'
'I promise to switch off  my xbox 360 when I am finished playing with it.'

   
Students from Colaiste Mhuire, Cobh, Co Cork pledged:-

'Do not leave computer, T.V. etc. on standby. It uses more electricity than you think'
'Have showers instead of baths as it save energy '
'Have a timer on your immersion heater so that its not constantly on'

Students from Glanmire College, Glanmire, Co Cork pledged:-

'Since SEI visited our school I have: turned off the tap when I brush my teeth'
I have:changed my bedroom bulb to energy saving bulbs'     
'Plugged out my phone charger and television while not using them'  

Students from Nagle Community College, Blackrock, Co Cork pledged:-

'Turn off all switches and lights when rooms appliances are not in use'
'Won’t brush teeth under a running tap'
'Will only use as much water as necessary in the kettle'