The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
2 minutes
Print
a- a+
Published 17 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Sesame Tree

0 comments
Launched in April 2008 on the television station BBC-2, Sesame Tree is designed to meet the educational needs of 3-6 year-olds across Northern Ireland. With educational goals that are directly aligned with Northern Ireland's revised Statutory Curriculum for the Foundation Stage, Sesame Tree features 2 muppets who work together to answer questions from children on many topics. In their search for answers, they and their friends in the Sesame Tree introduce local live action films which showcase the diversity of Northern Ireland. Sesame-Tree-themed outreach materials are being distributed in pre-schools, and other materials are being developed to distribute to Primary (P) 1 and P2 classrooms across Northern Ireland. The materials are designed to reach teachers and children, and will support the Pre-school Curricular Guidance and the statutory Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum, with particular emphasis on mutual respect in the local and wider community. In short, Sesame Tree uses information and communication technologies (ICTs) to provide a resource for the children, parents, and teachers of Northern Ireland by:
  • presenting positive images to children of the self and others;
  • emphasising a range of objectives, including valuing diversity, resolving conflict, developing problem-solving skills, and becoming aware of our common humanity; and
  • helping the early childhood community in Northern Ireland achieve its strategic goals, including personal and mutual understanding in the local and wider community.
Communication Strategies

Sesame Tree uses live action and colourful Muppet characters to entertain children while seeking to educate them. This Northern Ireland adaptation of the educational television series Sesame Street is aligned with the revised Northern Ireland Statutory Curriculum. Each 15-minute episode presents engaging educational messages through stories and characters. The series takes place inside the trunk of a magical tree where Muppets named Potto and Hilda live, work, and play. In each episode, Potto, Hilda,and their friends seek the answer to a question which a child has posted to the tree. Questions are investigated through live action segments featuring a diverse range of children from across Northern Ireland, international live action segments, and visits with Sesame Street Muppet friends.

There are 20 Sesame Tree episodes, each of which features a local live action sequence. A key strategy of this series involves using episode questions and themes which match the point of view of the children of Northern Ireland. For example, the live action sequences are all presented through the eyes of a child. In an episode about persistence, the live action film features a young girl preparing for and practicing a difficult task: learning Irish Dancing. Also, a wide range of voices and faces are being featured throughout the series, including children from Northern Ireland's Polish, Chinese, and African communities.

To help extend the message of the TV series, BBC-Northern Ireland Learning created a Sesame Tree website. Reflecting the colourful world of Potto and Hilda, the site offers clips from the show, as well as interactive discovery games for children promoting the development of their cognitive and decision-making skills. In one section of the site, children learn that "[y]ou can also have fun away from the computer with these Print and Do activities that accompany the website games". In addition, resources are offered for parents and teachers, such as various activity planners, a learning outcomes matrix, and a list of "useful links".

In addition to this, the Partnership Management Board of Northern Ireland (the statutory agency that coordinates professional development for teachers in Northern Ireland) and Early Years – the Organisation for Young Children (formerly known as NIPPA) are developing Sesame-Tree-themed outreach materials to support the project, which they will distribute in preschools. The Curriculum Advisory and Support Service of the 5 Education and Library Boards will also develop and distribute outreach materials to the P1 and P2 classrooms across Northern Ireland. The materials will be designed to reach teachers and children, and will support the Pre-school Curricular Guidance and the statutory Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum, with particular emphasis on mutual respect in the local and wider community.

Development Issues

Early Childhood Development, Education, Intercultural Understanding.

Partners

Produced by SixteenSouth, part of the Inferno Group, in association with Sesame Workshop. Funding provided by: the International Fund for Ireland; The American Ireland Fund, which serves as the project's anchor sponsor; the Northern Ireland Fund for Reconciliation; and Northern Ireland Screen.

Sources

Email from June Lee to The Communication Initiative on June 18 2008; and the Sesame Tree website. The image above is provided courtesy of Sesame Workshop. Copyright(c) 2008.