The effect of implementation of education for sustainable development in Swedish compulsory schools – assessing pupils’ sustainability consciousness

During the past decade, numerous schools in Sweden have implemented education for sustainable development (ESD) as an explicit guiding approach in teaching. In this paper, we investigate the effect of this approach in comparison with that of pupils taught in ordinary schools. Accordingly, we introduce the concept of sustainability consciousness to represent the holistic view of sustainability. Within the concept of sustainability consciousness, we combine and investigate the environmental, economic, and social dimensions of sustainable development in terms of sustainability knowingness, attitudes, and behavior. A Likert-scale questionnaire with 50 items was developed to evaluate pupils’ sustainability consciousness through a nationwide study in Sweden. A total of 1773 pupils from the 6th and 9th grades participated. The results indicated that the ESD profile schools had a small positive effect on the pupils’ sustainability consciousness, while in grade 9 the effect was negative. The implications for further ESD implementation are discussed.     

An issue without a history: a consideration of the impact of sustainable development upon school administration

It is problematic enough trying to extract the lessons from the past to inform the present and the future; it is even more difficult when there is no history upon which to draw. This is the case with respect to a consideration of the impact of sustainable development upon school administration. Whilst there is a history of events contributing to this issue, the recognition of its global importance is little more than three decades old, and its impact upon school administration remains critically unexamined. This article tries to redress this situation by examining some of the possible reasons for this omission, before suggesting that sustainable development comprises a pyramid of dependency of three related areas, environmental sustainability, social sustainability, and economic sustainability. Through an interpretive history of events which have brought this issue centre‐stage in public consciousness, it is discussed how such issues may impact upon school administration, and how they may be addressed. It concludes by suggesting that this area raises significant tensions between a number of societal values which educational leaders also need to address. In so doing, an historical perspective not only throws light on the past and the present, but highlights educational issues for the future.     

Cypriot primary school principals’ understanding of education for sustainable development key terms and their opinions about factors affecting its implementation

‘Transformative leaders for sustainable schools’, was a nationwide research project conducted in 150 primary schools in Cyprus during 2005–2007. The project explored the role of the principals in the organisation of sustainable schools. A mixed methods approach to data collection was employed combining quantitative and qualitative methods. This paper presents primary school principals’ perceptions of sustainable development, their views on the characteristics and operation of the sustainable schools as well as factors supporting or impeding the development of such schools in Cyprus. Our analysis reveals that the term ‘sustainable school’ is a concept only vaguely understood by the principals. Education for sustainable development is interpreted loosely as environmental education and sustainable schools’ operation is limited to sustainable development’s environmental aspects. Principals place their emphasis on environmental conservation, for satisfying humans’ needs whereas the notion of environment, economy and society are marginalised. The development of sustainable schools in Cyprus is restricted by limitations in time, lack of ESD teacher education, the centralised educational system and the overloaded curriculum. Suggested reinforcing factors are parents’ associations’ support and the school–community dialogue. Further exploration of the principals’ role as potential carriers of change and effective leaders is needed.     

小学科学课程与可持续发展教育

教育是实现可持续发展的关键,可持续发展教育是伴随可持续发展战略而产生的教育新模式。在基础学科教学中应努力渗透可持续发展教育,而新一轮基础教育课程改革中诞生的小学科学课程是渗透可持续发展教育的重要领域。小学科学教师应具备可持续发展教育理念,挖掘可持续发展教育的素材,并运用不同的教学方法实施可持续发展教育。     

可持续性共创:大学社会服务职能的新拓展

可持续性共创活动是大学在创业时代为应对社会可持续发展危机的学术回应,也是大学社会服务职能嬗变的结果。作为可持续性共创的大学,致力于在可持续发展的价值理念上,通过合作创新建立起一种用于促进技术、社会和环境共同发展的方案,从而推动城市或地区的全面发展。以瑞士联邦理工学院和美国欧柏林学院为例,探讨其在促进地区可持续发展方面的实践路径,可以发现大学可持续性共创活动拓展了传统社会服务职能的空间,同时为未来大学的发展提供了新的选择和思路。     

公选课"地质灾害与防御"在可持续发展教育中的作用与实践

地质灾害与防御教育是可持续发展教育的重要方面。本文在分析中国地质灾害发育特点和规律的基础上,对课程教学内容做出合理选择,教学中以实例教学、多媒体教学等为手段,吸引学生特别是非地学类专业学生的参与。教学实践表明,这门课程的开设对于学生树立可持续发展的观念,弘扬地学文化起到了应有的作用。     

从融合到融和:培智学校与社区互动研究

培智学校教育对象的变化、融合教育的倡导实施、原有课程实施方式使得培智学校的改革势在必行。以北京市某特殊教育学校为研究对象,采用质性研究的研究方法对该校与社区互动的原因、历史、具体举措、效果及问题进行了研究。研究结果表明,在文化氛围、学校管理、课程方面培智学校都有其与社区互动的机制。培智学校与社区互动的特点有:“双赢”是培智学校与社区互动的基础、“利益共同体”是培智学校与社区互动的表现形式、“改革发展”是培智学校与社区互动的动力。要更好地促进培智学校与社区互动,不仅需要协调学校内学科课程与社区课程的冲突、突破学校改革和质量发展的瓶颈,更需要处理好学校、社区、家庭、政府在培智学校与社区互动中的支持服务关系。     

探索可持续性转变:可持续发展研究的新动向

可持续发展在过去十年里不论从理论上还是实践上都陷入了困境,其重要原因之一是可持续发展的词义模糊,造成人们在什么东西应维持、什么东西被发展、在多长的时间可持续等问题上难以达成一致.为避免可持续发展走入歧途,西方一些严肃的学者和激进的环境运动者便想用可持续性这样一个严格的科学定义来替代意见分歧的可持续发展,这个概念既强调自然界作用于人类活动的各种限制又强调社会的能力/机会.由可持续性定义的可持续发展应该是能自我平衡协调和不断创新的理想状态.它由可持续性目标(状态)、可持续性转变和与之配套的方法和措施三部分构成.其中,可持续性转变的过程是联系可持续发展目标和方法的关键.但是对它的研究却十分薄弱,目前研究可持续性转变各种方法都有创新,但又都有缺陷.     

The integration of pedagogical aspects in environmental management systems in selected South African primary schools

ABSTRACT

Environmental management systems implemented in schools are regarded by many as a mechanism for the integration of environmental matters in all the operational functions of the school. The links, however, between environmental management and curriculum practice have not been adequately addressed in the literature. This article reports on the results of a project aimed at integrating pedagogical aspects in environmental management systems in 60 primary Kanyimba, Richter and Raath The integration of pedagogical aspects schools in four provinces of the Republic of South Africa over a period of two years. A baseline survey and post-baseline surveys assessed the integration of pedagogical aspects in environmental management systems. The data were evaluated with the aid of Cohen's effects sizes. The results show that primary schools in this case study had succeeded in developing environmental management structures as part of the overall school management system. The pedagogical aspects, however, were not successfully synchronised with the environmental management systems. The study identified an unrealised potential to link environmental management systems to curriculum practice and suggests opening a two-way conversation between environmental management systems and actual delivery of instructional content. It is suggested that existing learning connections that are present in neighbourhoods, such as outdoor classrooms, be harnessed to assist in the development of values and attitudes of teachers and learners.