Sustainability Education

What is sustainability?

Sustainability and student learning

Student capacity building for sustainability

The Sustainability curriculum framework - knowledge and understanding- repertoires of practice- sustainability action process

For more information on sustainability educationwww.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/env_ed/index.htm

Sustainability Education

PUBLIC SCHOOLS NSW 10/09/2011 WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

Sustainability Education -

Developing a deeper understanding and supporting student learning

‘Sustainability is a goal in which society meets the needs of the present without compromising the

ability of future generations to meet their own needs’- United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development

Photos by permission

What should Sustainability Education look like in our schools?

Sustainability Education

PUBLIC SCHOOLS NSW 10/09/2011 WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

Nemingah PSNSW Public Works

‘Sustainability Education should occur as part of everyday lessons for the purpose of developing knowledge, skills and positive environmental attitudes and values, that build the capacity of students to live more sustainably in their school and community’.

‘Critical review of current practice and research of environmental education and education for sustainability for Kindergarten to Year 12 from 1990’ - K. Skamp, Southern Cross University, April 2010

Sustainability Education

PUBLIC SCHOOLS NSW 10/09/2011 WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU

What do I need to contribute to a

sustainable future? ?

What do I need to contribute to a sustainable future?

?

“What foundations do I need? ”

What foundations do I need for contributing to sustainability?

Wellbeing: Personal, family and community. Focussed on the foundational feelings of the individual and how they may contribute to a positive local and global community. It values self, has elements of resilience, feeling happy and ‘in-tune’ with yourself, with others and with the world as big or small as that may be.

“What kind of citizen do I need to be?”

Global Citizen: A sense of belonging to and responsibility within local, national and global communities.

Biosphere Custodian: A sense of stewardship of the natural environment.

Change Agent: The capacity and motivation to act as a agent of change towards sustainability.

What kind of citizen do I need to be if I am to contribute to sustainability?”

“What do I need to be able to do?”

World Viewing: Comprehending, reflecting on your own beliefs, principles and values and being willing to change them. Understanding the world view of others.

Systems Thinking: Skills for understanding and working with systems, complexity, uncertainty and risk.

Futures and Design Thinking: Skills for influencing the future, designing and creating sustainable communities.

What do I need to be able to do if I am to contribute to sustainability?

“What do I need to know?”

Ecological Systems: Knowledge of the process and interactions of living and physical systems that support the biosphere.

Human Systems: Knowledge of social, cultural, political, economic and technological systems, structures, beliefs and actions. Understanding of how these impact the Earth’s biosphere and capacity of people to live sustainably.

What do I need to know if I am to contributeto sustainability?”

Sustainability Curriculum Framework

Sustainability Action Process

Repertoires of Practice

• World viewing• Systems thinking• Futures & design thinking

• Ecological systems• Human systems

Making a case for changeDefining the scopeDeveloping a proposalImplementing the proposalEvaluating & reflecting

Session summary – Questions & Comments

Part 2What is Sustainability?

Student Capacity Building for SustainabilityIf I am to contribute to sustainability:• What foundations do I need?• What kind of citizen do I need to be?• What do I need to be able to do?• What do I need to know?

Sustainability Curriculum Framework• Repertoires of Practice• Knowledge • Sustainability Action Process

Sustainability Education

PUBLIC SCHOOLS NSW 10/09/2011 WWW.SCHOOLS.NSW.EDU.AU