EDF5666 - Education, development and ecological sustainability - 2017

This unit focuses on the core understandings and complex relationships that exist between the role of education and learning and the cultural and socio-ecological development of communities. The unit emphasises the importance of community (urban/rural/local/global) resilience in changing times. Educational and development workers working for the resilience of cultures, their communities and their environments will require a wide range of specialised skills in response to emergent issues. In this unit, students examine different perspectives and languages of learning for sustainable development and critically appraise key local, national and international policy formulations, providers and expectations. The unit supports students to explore practices and approaches in order to assess the qualities and characteristics of educating for sustainable development and its contribution to sustainability.

Upon successful completion of this unit students should be able to:

1. understand and evaluate the relationships between learning and socio-ecological community development
2. review and critically evaluate the literature of development studies in education and education for sustainable development
3. review perspectives on education for sustainability and the learning languages they adopt
4. identify the key global, regional and national policy shapers and educational providers in the field: donor agencies (multi-lateral and bi-lateral), non-government agencies, civil society, private sector, government; and how these differ
5. develop a case study of practices and approaches to education for sustainable development in a local, Indigenous, urban/rural, national or global context of relevance
6. analyse the significance of the case study using the literature around education for sustainable development
7. reflect on and articulate the qualities, characteristics and sociocultural sensitivities required of workers for sustainable development.

Essay (4000 words, 50%)

Case study report (4000 words, 50%)

Flexible mode offers a stand-alone online offering that allows students to learn and engage in content and assessment in a supported way. It also provides a face-to-face component of 12 hours over the semester to engage students with the online learning content, which students can attend if they are able and interested.

Minimum total expected workload equals 288 hours per semester comprising:

1. Contact hours for flexible students:
   • 12 contact hours and 24 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester or
   • 36 hours equivalent of online activities over the semester
2. Additional requirements (all students):
   • independent study to meet the minimum required hours per semester

See also Unit timetable information

Dr Sylvia Almeida

Option for Master of Education in:

Adult learning

Expert teaching practice

General education studies

Elective for Master of Teaching in:

Early years education

Primary education

Secondary education

Elective for Honours research in:

Education