Infusing Sustainability into Curriculum Curriculum Development Workshops

“Problems cannot be solved at the same level of awareness that created them.” Albert Einstein

Sustainability as an approach Sustainability is hard to define as a thing, but taken as an approach or a way of thinking makes much more sense Sustainability is: –Taking an interconnected holistic approach: Environment, Equity, Economy –Connecting today with tomorrow –Thinking about the side effects –Common Sense

What disciplines does this approach apply to? Literature and Psychology – How do we think and interact with the environment? (Lit and Env. Program and Dr. Montello) Physics – Development of new solar technologies (Dr. Heeger) Geology – Study of Climate Change (Dr. Lea) Women’s Studies – Use and protection of natural resources by Women (Dr. Cremers) Computer Science – Service Learning Projects (Chandra Kintz)

The Need The Academics and Research Working Group of the Campus Sustainability Plan began –Identifying courses related to sustainability –Identifying areas where there were few course offerings –Looking for new ways to encourage the adaptation of existing courses and creation of new ones

The Challenge There is no policy mechanism to require faculty to teach on sustainability Importance of academic freedom

The Solution Incentives Resources Encouragement

The Solution Incentives Resources Encouragement Everyone loves a good problem

New opportunity Grant Opportunity to support faculty training

Geoff Chase workshop Ponderosa Project, Northern Arizona University – affected more than 100 faculty First Curriculum Development workshop for UCSB, June 2007 – affected 10 faculty from UCSB and approx. 15 faculty from other schools

Agenda 9:00 – 9:30Workshop overview – discussion of outcomes for the day Brief Introductions Sustainability – definitions 9:30 – 10:15 Small group discussions – what do you teach? What do you propose to change? What do you need? 10:30 – 11:00Resource Expert I: 11:00 – 11:45Small groups 11:45 – 12:15Student Learning Outcomes 1:00 – 1:30 Student Learning Outcomes report out 1:30 – 2:00Resource Expert II: 2:00 – 2:30Pedagogical Strategies/Interdisciplinary Approaches 2:30 – 2:45Report back 3:00 – Integrative Learning – Strategies for Curricular Revision 4:00 – 4:30Wrap up – looking ahead

Departments Involved Chemistry Writing Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology Asian American Studies English Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology Computer Science Geography Materials Science Student Affairs (Freshman Seminars)

Next Steps Brown bag lunches Academics and Research Website Potential symposium late in the year Training for Trainers at Cal Poly 2008

Contact Katie Maynard Sustainability Coordinator, Curriculum, Research and Student Engagement