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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
Maria Alessandra Woolson Ph.D. 11
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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Maria Alessandra Woolson Ph.D. 12
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