Introduction

This module concludes the development of a rationale for reorienting education for a sustainable future, and encourages reflection on the challenges involved. The elements of the rationale developed in the four previous modules involved:

Module 1 An investigation of the global realities that make sustainable development an imperative for the future and a discussion about the role of education as a key strategy in helping achieve sustainable development.
Module 2 An analysis of the emerging concept of sustainable development and its importance in the future of human affairs and education.
Module 3 An exploration of the importance of a futures perspective in education and key characteristics of a sustainable future.
Module 4 A synthesis of ideas about sustainable development and futures education which provides a framework for thinking about ways in which education can be reoriented for a sustainable future.

This module explores the challenges that reorienting education for a sustainable future brings for schools and invites you to accept the challenge of reorienting your teaching for a sustainable future.
 

Objectives

To understand the scope of curriculum reforms possible in reorienting education for a sustainable future;
To evaluate the ways in which a school can contribute to a sustainable future;
To develop a strategy for enhancing the process of reform in a school and identify sources of support for the strategy;
To explore innovative educational programmes from around the world and identify lessons and ideas that could be adapted for use in a school; and
To reflect on the personal challenges of educating for a sustainable future.

 

Activities

1. Schools for a sustainable future
2. Planning for change
3. The challenge of whole school change
4. Sources of support
5. Reflection

 

References

Gough, N. (1992) Blueprints for Greening Schools, Gould League, Prahan.
Greig, S., Pike, S. and Selby, D. (1989) Greenprints for Changing Schools, Kogan Page for WWF, London.

Selby, D. and Pike, G. (1987) Earthrights: Education as if the Planet Really Mattered, Kogan Page for WWF, London.

Credits

This module was written for UNESCO by John Fien with parts of Activity 1 adapted from 'Charter for a Green School', in G. Pike and D. Selby (eds) (1990) Greening the Staffroom, WWF-UK, Godalming.