Please take a moment to consider the following question.

When you communicate about sustainability with colleagues and

stakeholders, what are some of the challenges that you face?

Helping others understand sustainability: Tools for

Curriculum Development and Instructional Design

AASHE 2012Dr. Sherie McClam, Manhattanville College

Lori Diefenbacher, Webster University

Communicating the Principles of Sustainability: The Rainbow

Sustainability

Environment

Environment

SocietySociety

EnvironmentEconomy Politics

Spirituality

Environment

SocietyEducation

Other

Principles of Sustainability

• Interconnectedness• Systems Thinking• Global Citizenship

• Cycles• Importance of Place• Respect for Limits• Social Justice

• Interconnectedness• Systems Thinking• Global Citizenship

• Cycles• Importance of Place• Respect for Limits• Social Justice

Principles of Sustainability

Sustainability is more than green….

Borrowed from Facing the Futurefacingthefuture.org

Interconnectness

Systems Thinking

Global Citizenship

CyclesImportance of Place

Respect for Limits

Social Justice

InterconnectednessWho planted the apple tree? What resources did the tree

need to grow? Who picked the apple?

Systems ThinkingWhere did the pesticides come from? Did contaminated runoff enter the water system? Did it reach the ocean? The fish we

eat?

Global CitizenshipWhere did the apple come from? What is the soil like there? Is there anything I

can do to improve the system?

Cycles

How does the water run through the orchard? Where do the nutrients in the soils come from? Which insects help pollinate the apples?

Importance of PlaceWhen are apples ready to be picked in my area? Does the

farmer support local businesses for supplies and services? Who

owns the orchard?

Respect for Limits

How much natural forest or prairie land was used to

develop the orchard? How much petroleum was used to

transport the apple?

Social Justice

How are workers protected from pesticides and other

poisons? Do they earn a living wage? Is gender equity

honored?

The Rainbow of an Apple

Interconnectness

Systems Thinking

Global Citizenship

CyclesImportance of Place

Respect for Limits

Social Justice

?

Issues of Sustainability

–Land use–Transportation–Energy –Water–Materials Consumption–Health and Comfort–Waste Management

Issues of Sustainability

–Land use–Transportation–Energy –Water–Materials Consumption–Health and Comfort–Waste Management

InterconnectednessCompare graphs to show connections

Systems Thinking--Change over time--Long term effects

Global CitizenshipChanges to our

town or city we can suggest

Importance of Place

Use data from town or city

College Algebra

Interconnectedness Human dependence

on waterSystems ThinkingCause and effects

of agricultural practices

Global CitizenshipCurrent problems

and responsibilities of citizens

CyclesImpact of water

shortages on environments

Importance of Place

Loss of place--Migration

Respect for LimitsSoil degradation

Social EquityClass inequities

Ethnic discrimination

American Literature

Grapes of Wrath

Communicating a Framework for Curriculum Development:

The Think Bubble

Desired ResultsShelburne Farms Sustainable School Project adaptation

Established Goal(s): Transfer Lens of Sustainability:

Students will be able to independently use their learning to…

Meaning

Big Ideas of Sustainability:

Enduring UnderstandingsStudents will understand that…

Essential QuestionsStudents will keep considering…

Acquisition

Students will know that… Students will be skilled at…

Desired ResultsShelburne Farms Sustainable School Project adaptation

Established Goal(s): Transfer Lens of

Sustainability:

Students will be able to independently use their learning to…• Vermont EfS Standards• Australian Sustainability Curriculum Framework

MeaningBig Ideas of Sustainability:

Enduring UnderstandingsStudents will understand that…• New South Wales Earth Citizenship Framework

Essential QuestionsStudents will keep considering…•New South Wales Earth Citizenship Framework•USP Standards

AcquisitionStudents will know that…•New South Wales Earth Citizenship Framework•Vermont EfS Standards

Students will be skilled at…• New South Wales Earth

Citizenship Framework• Manhattanville Standards

• Bring up Word doc

TransferStudents will be able to independently use their learning to…a) Make decisions that demonstrate an understanding of

natural and human communities, the ecological, economic and social systems within them and awareness of how their personal and collective actions affect the sustainability of these interrelated systems. (Vermont EfS Standards)

b) Design and implement actions for the present, in the knowledge that the impact of these actions will be experienced in the future. (Australian Sustainability Curriculum Framework)

Meaning: Enduring UnderstandingsStudents will understand that…a) Personal, family and community wellbeing is a

foundation and aspiration of sustainable future.b) They belong to and have responsibility within

local, national and global communities.c) They are custodians and stewards of the

biosphere.d) They have the capacity and motivation /

rationale for being agents of change for a sustainable future.

(From NSW Earth Citizen Framework)

Meaning: Essential QuestionsStudents will keep considering…a) What should a citizen in our society know and

be able and motivated to do if we are to create an ecologically sustainable society? (NSW Earth Citizenship Conceptual Framework)

b) What is my place in this place?c) What is my vision for a future we can live with?d) What changes need to be made by individuals,

local communities and countries if my vision is to become a reality? ( c & d from USP EfS Standards)

Acquisition: Knowledgea) Life is a function of ecosystems. (Earth

Citizenship Conceptual Framework)b) Human society is a part of the biosphere and

there are limits to the demands we can place upon it. (Earth Citizenship Conceptual Framework)

c) Communities, practices and products can be assessed for and changed toward sustainable future (HN/HK—Vermont Standards)

Acquisition: SkillsStudents will be skilled at…a) World viewing and valuing: becoming aware of,

developing and discussing their beliefs, perceptions, values and ethical principles, and those of others.

b) Systems seeking and testing: understanding and working with complexity, uncertainty and risk.

c) Futures thinking and designing: influencing the future and designing and creating sustainable communities. ( a – c from NSW Earth Citizenship Conceptual Framework)

d) Critical analysis: recognize and articulating clear, well-organized thought in which the language is used and claims made are appropriate to the subject and context of the thinking (Manhattanville Core Curriculum Standards)

How might these tools be useful in the work that you?

Sherie McClam, sherie.mcclam@mville.eduManhattanville College, Purchase, NY USA

Lori Diefenbacher, diefenlo@webster.eduWebster University, St Louis, MO USA

If you would like to participate in a research project to assess the value of these tools, contact the authors.