EDF5623 - Deepening education and sustainability - 2018

Education has an important role to play in responding constructively to a wide range of environmental problems and issues at local, national, regional, international and global levels. This unit introduces the key terms and concepts: education, environment and sustainability (EES) as a way of understanding environmental issues/problems, and examines the relationship between each. These concepts are important to engage with in order to develop individuals and communities capable of responding at local and global levels to rapidly changing social, economic, cultural and ecological conditions. The unit asks questions such as how has our environmental learning and education for a sustainable future been shaped by a wide range of historical, geographical, cultural and ecological factors? The exploration of answers to such questions draws on interdisciplinary approaches and critical perspectives about reconciling human-environment and culture-nature relations.

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

1. understand the contemporary state of the environment from within national and global contexts
2. identify contemporary trends, issues and policies shaping the state of the environment, environmental education and education for sustainable development
3. review the interdisciplinary nature of the evidence-base around environmental and ecological sustainability
4. engage with and evaluate the perspectives and contemporary issues facing environmental educators and educators for sustainable development
5. develop a case study of a socio-ecological problem or issue of relevance
6. critically analyse the case from an interdisciplinary and critical perspective.

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

Adult learning

Digital learning

Early childhood education

Educational leadership and policy

Expert teaching practice

General education studies

Inclusive and special education

TESOL