ISCN 2016: Working Group 3: Integration of Research, Teaching and Facilities

Sustainability Education: Challenges for 21st Century Partnering of Faculty, Students and Community

ISCN 2016Siena, 13-15 June 2016

Maria Alessandra WoolsonUniversity of Vermont, USA

Introduction and Context

1. What are the challenges of integrating sustainability in Higher education?

2. What does it mean to teach for sustainability?

3. What are the specific Institutional challenges?

Maria Alessandra Woolson Ph.D. 3

1. Relevance of teaching for sustainability in a US academic context of a liberal arts institutional model

2. Within that model, identifying drivers: unconditional drivers of change

3. Identifying how a change in perspective can enable connections for capitalizing on current work?

Maria Alessandra Woolson Ph.D. 4

1. Aligned with liberal arts:

• cultivating intellectual, ethical and social qualities for leadership and citizenship

• preparing students to develop the depth of character needed to solve complex problems

• engaging their capacity to think critically, creatively and independently

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© Maria Alessandra Woolson 2014

• To develop the capacity for intellectual, ethical and social qualities for leadership and citizenship

AN ETHICS OF SUSTAINABILITY & THE PUBLIC GOOD

• To apply acquired knowledge to solve to solve complex problems

INTELLECTUAL COURAGE (trial and error)

• To think critically, creatively, independentlyCRITICAL RESPONSIBILITY

Maria Alessandra Woolson Ph.D. 6

Elements that align with liberal arts:

Interdisciplinary System-based Highly contextual ExperientialStudent-centered

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Maria Alessandra Woolson Ph.D. 7

What does it mean pedagogically to teach for Sustainability?

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Interdisciplinary Integration in the The Firefly Project

Language, Culture & Climate Change

© Maria Alessandra Woolson 2011

• Luminescent Wind Turbines in a study of alternative energy.• Applied technical knowledge of engineering, language & discourse• Public perception of wind energy at a time of controversy in VT

Wind, Art, Energy: “A Paintbrush in the Hands of the Wind”

Addressing ways of engagement of constructed domains - Disciplinary and Cognitive Bridges to be Crossed:

(From a Liberal Arts Education Perspective)

Across disciplines Science – HumanitiesEngaged learning Academic – Applied

Scholarly approach Theoretical – EmpiricalSemiotics of space Old classroom – New classroom

Agency Transfer Teacher – StudentProduction of meaning Interpersonal – Collective

Epistemology Natural Sciences – AestheticsProcesses Cognitive – Sensory

Analysis Descriptive – IntrospectiveVisibility Assumed – Stated

Temporality Short-term – Long-term

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2. Example of student driven initiative to embed sustainability across the entire university curriculum

GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIRENMENTIN SUSTAINABILITY FOR ALL MAJORS AND ALL COLLEGES (2015)

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Professionally-oriented Focuses on catalyzing change and transcending

boundaries Intended for emerging leaders who want to do things

differently Three Applied Areas of Specialization:  Ecological Economics, Ecological

Leadership, or Education for Sustainability

3. Identifying how a change in perspective can enable connections for capitalizing on current work?

Leadership For Sustainability: Creating conditions for life to thrive over the long haul

1.Aligning the way we think, learn, & lead with the way healthy living systems work;

Leadership For Sustainability: Creating conditions for life to thrive over the long haul

1.Aligning the way we think, learn, & lead with the way healthy living systems work;

2.Critically examining mindsets, ideologies, structures, & systems of power and privilege;

Directly Observable

Behavior

Not Directly Observable

Beliefs

Mindsets

Values

Perspectives Cultural Iceberg

Structures

Leadership For Sustainability: Creating conditions for life to thrive over the long haul

1.Aligning the way we think, learn, & lead with the way healthy living systems work;

2.Critically examining mindsets, ideologies, structures, & systems of power and privilege;

3.Developing differentiated leadership skills: change-making tools, advanced communication skills, and more

What is leadership??“Well, I would have exhibited more leadership qualities if someone would have told me to.”

PROGRAM TIMELINE

Thank you