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, [email protected] College, Purchase, NY USA
Lori Diefenbacher, [email protected] 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.