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- Avery, Helen, et al.
(författare)
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Working with the divides : Two critical axes in development for transformative professional practices
- 2017
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Ingår i: International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. - : Emerald Group Publishing Limited. - 1467-6370 .- 1758-6739. ; 18:5 : Special issue on Professional Development in Higher Education for Sustainable Development, s. 666-680
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Purpose: The paper aims to provide a conceptual map of how to mediate between sustainability theory and practice in higher education and how disciplinary divides can be bridged. It further looks at issues linked to knowledge views and drivers for institutional change that affect opportunities for whole institution development promoting action preparedness. Method: Taking its point of departure in the University Educators for Sustainable Development report UE4SD (2014, 2015), the paper discusses ways that ideas and interaction can be mediated in higher education settings, to connect sustainability research with vocational programmes. Different options are considered and compared. Findings: Although the literature stresses both action orientation and the need for holistic transdisciplinary approaches, many institutional drivers limit opportunities for more integrating approaches. Limitations: However, while conclusions may hold for universities at an overarching level, it is likely that certain research and teaching environments have been able to transcend such barriers. Practical implications: Conceptually mapping the different forms that dialogue, interaction and flows of ideas take within higher education institutions has relevance for whole institution development for sustainability. Societal implications: Importantly, producing sustainability science with relevance to practice in various professions is a fundamental condition to support accelerated transitions to sustainability at societal levels. Value: The paper makes a significant contribution by focusing on concrete institutional pathways for knowledge exchange and negotiation that can support education for sustainability in higher education.
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| 2. |
- Nordén, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Learning in global settings : developing transitions for meaning-making
- 2012
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Ingår i: Research in Comparative and International Education. - : Symposium Journals. - 1745-4999. ; 7:4, s. 514-529
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Global teaching and learning for sustainable development reaches from the classroom to the world outside, and is therefore a particularly interesting setting for practicing transitions skills. The article suggests a number of features perceived as crucial in developing young people’s capability to act in a changing world and under circumstances that are difficult to predict. The suggestions are based on an empirical study of the Lund Calling project, which aimed at implementing a web-based international programme for teaching preventive environmental strategies in Swedish secondary schools. The article first touches on some of the conditions in Sweden that particularly impact young people’s transition to adulthood. Related research in sustainability education is also briefly outlined. Knowledge capability theory is used to discuss results from the empirical study of the Lund Calling project, where interviews were conducted with secondary school students, teachers and headmasters. Based on these interviews, features that appear to be particularly relevant as transition skills in global learning for sustainable development include transdisciplinary action, democratic collaborative action, as well as self-directed and independent initiative. The article concludes that young people today cannot, as in earlier periods of history, base their actions entirely on the traditions of the family or community. Instead, they also need to learn to form their own communities, capable of acting on both local and global levels. Education here plays an important role, to develop necessary transition skills that enable young people to be prepared for a rapidly changing and uncertain world.
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| 5. |
- Nordén, Birgitta, Dr. 1952-, et al.
(författare)
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Redesign of an Outdoor Space in a Swedish Preschool : Opportunities and Constraints for Sustainability Education
- 2020
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Ingår i: International Journal of Early Childhood. - : Springer. - 0020-7187 .- 1878-4658. ; 52, s. 319-335
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract: Children’s early engagement in design of outdoor spaces can form the basis of laterattitudes and responsible action for sustainability. The present study is part of a participatoryaction research project in an urban multi-ethnic preschool in Sweden,involving children, parents, preschool staff and management with a focus on improvingthe preschool playground. The methodology involved children taking pictures ofthe outdoor space, informal participant observation by one researcher and conversationswith children and teachers. Analyses completed of selected fieldwork excerptsfocus on learning opportunities for children and adults, children’s participation,cooperation and leadership for sustainability. Deeper awareness and confidence, andpractical pedagogies for staff in preschools are required for effective sustainabilityeducation. A joint frame of reference on pedagogical practices and processes forreflection is needed within and across early childhood institutions. More continuoustraining of staff and preschool leadership would be of benefit. However, such commitmentis ultimately a matter of policy to invest in giving preschools the means todevelop and realise ambitions for environmental and sustainability education. Résumé: L’engagement précoce des enfants dans la conception des espaces extérieurs peutconstituer une base d’attitudes ultérieures et d’action responsable en faveur de ladurabilité. La présente étude fait partie d’un projet de recherche-action participa-* Birgitta Nordénbirgitta.norden@mau.se1 Department of Science, Mathematics and Society, Faculty of Education and Society, MalmöUniversity, Nordenskiöldsgatan 10, 211 19 Malmö, Sweden2 Centre for Middle Eastern Studies and Centre for Environmental and Climate Research, LundUniversity, Lund, Sweden3 Department of Languages, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Linnaeus University, Kalmar,SwedenB. Nordén, H. Avery1 3tive (RAP) dans un établissement préscolaire multiethnique urbain en Suède, oùles enfants, les parents, le personnel et la direction sont impliqués dans un objectifd’amélioration du terrain de jeux de leur maternelle. La méthodologie utilisée faitappel à des prises de photos de l’espace extérieur par les enfants, une observationinformelle des participants par une personne de la recherche et une discussion avecles enfants et les enseignants. Les analyses réalisées sur des extraits sélectionnés detravaux de terrain sont centrées sur: les occasions d’apprentissage pour les enfants etles adultes, la participation des enfants, et la coopération et le leadership des adultesenvers la durabilité à l’intérieur des institutions et entre celles-ci. Une éducation efficaceà la durabilité exige une sensibilisation et une confiance plus profondes, ainsique des pratiques pédagogiques chez le personnel des établissements préscolaires.Un cadre de référence commun sur les pratiques pédagogiques et les processus deréflexion est nécessaire à l’intérieur et entre les établissements de la petite enfance.Il serait bénéfique d’assurer davantage de formation professionnelle continue chez lepersonnel, y compris pour la direction d’établissements préscolaires. Toutefois, detels engagements relèvent en fin de compte des politiques d’investissement pour donneraux établissements préscolaires les moyens d’établir et de réaliser leurs ambitionsen matière d’éducation à l’environnement et au développement durable.
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| 6. |
- Nordén, Birgitta, et al.
(författare)
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Transitions Towards an Unknown Future : Non-Formal Learning in Transnational Communities for a Sustainable Society
- 2019
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Konferensbidrag (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The study makes an inventory of learning opportunities young people were offered in connection with CEI 2016, one of the annual international conferences organized by the NGO named Caretakers of the Environment International (CEI), which year 2016 took place in Aalborg in Denmark. The learning opportunities offered by this transnational learning community are discussed in relation to some essential learning qualities to meet the comprehensive sustainability challenges facing our societies - in particular youth, who can be seen as a target group per se, many times in transition-like situations: (1) learning for uncertain future, 82) dealing with complex cross-border issues, (3) ability to collaborate, (4) take initiative and act in society. These qualities are difficult to achieve in formal school systems that are essentially organized to ensure the transmission of a specific learning content and measurable abilities. The question in this study has been inspired by a previous study in a Swedish school context (Nordén, Avery & Anderberg, 2012, Nordén, 2016), about abilities that allow high school students to get an agency towards local and global sustainability challenges. The critical skills identified were: (1) Organization/self-regulation and independent decision-making skills (2) Development of Transnational Learning Communities (3) Democratic cooperation in action. There is widespread consensus that radical new educational approaches are needed to address the challenges of our time (Breiting & Wickenberg, 2010; Mochizuki & Yarime, 2016; Reid & Scott, 2013). Traditionally, focus has been placed on transmitting an existing knowledge base. The situations we face are changing at a staggering rate, and future developments are characterized by great uncertainty. Barnett (2012) therefore claims that preparation for the unknown should be guiding in education. Young people must not only be able to explore different complex situations, but also be prepared to take initiatives to act, find solutions to major environmental and social problems, and steer up their own learning during their life journey (Almers, 2013; Barrat, Barratt-Hacking, Scott & Talbot, 2006; Öhman, 2008). In this context, one has talked about sustainability literacy (Dawe, Jucker & Martin, 2005). CEI's activities are non-formal (Mocker & Spear, 1982) in the sense that they are organized for the purpose of promoting learning for sustainability and have a well-considered overall structure, but participants can independently define the issues and projects they work with . The transnational learning community could thereby support a challenge-oriented learning (UE4SD, 2015). The results indicate that the processes are supported when young people and their teachers experience a sense of community and having a place in the local-global context. This is done both through intensive work on their own projects prior to the conference, through participation in the physical meetings during the conference and the subsequent network activities in connection with it. In order for society as a whole to take advantage of the potential of non-formal learning, alternative educational approaches need to gain increased recognition and attention. The focus has to be shifted from a narrow performance splash that values isolated results, to reflect more widely on the learning opportunities offered by different forms of education in their entirety.
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