How Green is your Course? Education for Sustainable Development – a presentation for tutors “Learning to Last”

This is all about finding and using opportunities to include environmental, economic and social content or considerations in the subject you teach.

Questions to consider… Is Education for Sustainable Development something you consider in your teaching?Is Education for Sustainable Development something you consider in your teaching? Why should you engage with this debate?Why should you engage with this debate? Could you explain to Ofsted what the Service is doing in relation to Education for Sustainable Development?Could you explain to Ofsted what the Service is doing in relation to Education for Sustainable Development?

But first, some explanations… Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) “is the process of acquiring the knowledge skills and attitudes needed to build local and global societies that are just, equitable and living within the environmental limits of our planet, both now and in the future.” Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) “is the process of acquiring the knowledge skills and attitudes needed to build local and global societies that are just, equitable and living within the environmental limits of our planet, both now and in the future.”

One Leicester… Investing in our children Investing in our children Planning for people not cars Planning for people not cars Reducing our carbon footprint Reducing our carbon footprint Creating thriving, safe communities Creating thriving, safe communities Improving wellbeing and health Improving wellbeing and health Talking up Leicester Talking up Leicester Investing in skills and enterprise Investing in skills and enterprise This is what we do! The links between embedding ESD into our teaching and learning and One Leicester’s primary aims are clear Now watch this…

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So where do we go with this? Don’t panic! We can all make small changes that will collectively make a difference. Try to do one thing differently… Here are some ideas:

Some ideas to get you started Vocational learning… Childcare workers could research and conduct an environmental audit of their work placement.Childcare workers could research and conduct an environmental audit of their work placement. (Reflective evaluation and discussion around this would also provide them with a ‘benchmark’ for future expectations)(Reflective evaluation and discussion around this would also provide them with a ‘benchmark’ for future expectations) IT learners could be directed to websites that deal with sustainable and ethical living when learning to use the internetIT learners could be directed to websites that deal with sustainable and ethical living when learning to use the internet

Some ideas to get you started Short courses… Remit & Family Learning– ‘Grow Great Grub’Remit & Family Learning– ‘Grow Great Grub’ How to ‘Green’ your home!How to ‘Green’ your home! Allotment GardeningAllotment Gardening Cooking local produceCooking local produce Making jewellery from recycled materialsMaking jewellery from recycled materials

Some ideas to get you started Skills for Life… Calculating different alternative energy sourcesCalculating different alternative energy sources Role play a conversation with a home insulation advisorRole play a conversation with a home insulation advisor Writing letters to the Council about recyclingWriting letters to the Council about recycling Debate the merits of different kinds of nappiesDebate the merits of different kinds of nappies

Some ideas to get you started Projects… Arts groups hosting an exhibition of art inspired by climate changeArts groups hosting an exhibition of art inspired by climate change Developing expertise that we can ‘sell’ to local employers or communities (consider how popular retirement planning has become!)Developing expertise that we can ‘sell’ to local employers or communities (consider how popular retirement planning has become!)

Some ideas to get you started The Community as a learning resource… Partnership with local PCT to deliver cooking skills in targeted wardsPartnership with local PCT to deliver cooking skills in targeted wards Promoting courses around reducing carbon footprints with NLDC groupsPromoting courses around reducing carbon footprints with NLDC groups

Some ideas to get you started An enriched curriculum… How about doing something bold – offering our learners a Service Users’ Development Day to explore more sustainable livingHow about doing something bold – offering our learners a Service Users’ Development Day to explore more sustainable living Offer LCC employees a series of stimulating, interactive events that highlight and promote new behaviour that supports sustainabilityOffer LCC employees a series of stimulating, interactive events that highlight and promote new behaviour that supports sustainability

So, what next? What could you do in your curriculum area?

Ten Step Summary: Make sure you know what ESD meansMake sure you know what ESD means Think about what you teach and how you teach it. Where does it lend itself to environmental or social considerations?Think about what you teach and how you teach it. Where does it lend itself to environmental or social considerations? Find out what is already available to you – contact the Green teamFind out what is already available to you – contact the Green team Research vocational or curriculum specific resourcesResearch vocational or curriculum specific resources Identify the environmental, ethical and social considerations you can raise as part of your courseIdentify the environmental, ethical and social considerations you can raise as part of your course

Ten Step Summary: Identify the skills that you can develop in your learners that will encourage and enable them to live more sustainablyIdentify the skills that you can develop in your learners that will encourage and enable them to live more sustainably Have the bravery to get started!Have the bravery to get started! Use your learners and other tutors as a resourceUse your learners and other tutors as a resource Make some changesMake some changes Share what you achieve – get it on the website!Share what you achieve – get it on the website!

Upload your ideas onto the Green Team section of the websiteUpload your ideas onto the Green Team section of the website Look at what other tutors have doneLook at what other tutors have done Add your thoughts to the forumAdd your thoughts to the forum Be inspired by what you can do, it’s not too late, yet!!!Be inspired by what you can do, it’s not too late, yet!!!

Some useful websites: Sustainable Online Resource and Toolkit for Education (SORtED)Sustainable Online Resource and Toolkit for Education (SORtED) tmhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/green_room/default.s tm

Some useful websites: There are lots more websites – look and see what you can find, and share these on Leicester Learns for other tutors to use.

Thank you! Leicester Adult Skills & Learning Service February 2010