Intergenerational learning: collaborations to activate young children's civic engagement in Irish Primary School

Abstract

This study addresses a two-dimensional problem: weaknesses in the provision of citizenship education in Irish Primary School; and increasing social distance between younger and older generations in Irish society. The thesis tested whether young children who participate in intergenerational learning collaborations would attain higher levels of civic literacy than children who were not involved in such collaborations; and whether desired outcomes for civic literacy could be conceptualised as young children¿s civic engagement. Civic literacy refers to components of personal and social responsibility and leadership to take positive actions. The study was conducted in five schools in the west of Ireland: a control and four intervention-sites.