Teaching sustainable development in higher education: Building critical, reflective thinkers through an interdisciplinary approach

Article


Howlett, Cathy, Ferreira, Jo-Anne and Blomfield, Jessica. 2016. "Teaching sustainable development in higher education: Building critical, reflective thinkers through an interdisciplinary approach." International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. 17 (3), pp. 305-321. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2014-0102
Article Title

Teaching sustainable development in higher education: Building critical, reflective thinkers through an interdisciplinary approach

ERA Journal ID20374
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsHowlett, Cathy (Author), Ferreira, Jo-Anne (Author) and Blomfield, Jessica (Author)
Journal TitleInternational Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
Journal Citation17 (3), pp. 305-321
Number of Pages17
Year2016
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN1467-6370
1758-6739
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2014-0102
Web Address (URL)https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2014-0102/full/html
Abstract

Purpose
This paper aims to argue that substantive changes are required in both curricula and pedagogical practice in higher education institutions to challenge dominant epistemologies and discourses and to unsettle current ways of thinking about, and acting in relation to, the environment. Central to such a shift, it is argued, is the need for higher education curricula to be interdisciplinary and for pedagogical practices to work to build capacities in students for critical and reflective thinking.

Design/methodology/approach
In this paper, a case study of our reflections is offered on a subject designed to promote capacities in students for critical and reflective thinking via an interdisciplinary approach. The paper uses data from student reflective essays and student course evaluations to make an argument for the success of this approach.

Findings
Genuine transformative learning can occur within a constructivist informed pedagogical approach to teaching for sustainability.

Research limitations/implications
Research implications are that genuine transformation can occur in students’ thinking processes (which the paper argues is critical for effective education in sustainability) with appropriately designed courses in higher education.

Practical implications
More effective environmental actors and thinkers, who can critically engage with the complexity of environmental problems.

Social implications
Social implications include a more effective and socially just higher education for sustainability

Originality/value
The authors know of no other narrative that addresses attempts to educate for sustainability using this approach.

KeywordsCritical thinking, Higher education, Sustainability education, Interdisciplinary approach, Reflective thinking
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390102. Curriculum and pedagogy theory and development
390303. Higher education
Byline AffiliationsGriffith University
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q6480/teaching-sustainable-development-in-higher-education-building-critical-reflective-thinkers-through-an-interdisciplinary-approach

  • 100
    total views
  • 9
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

A Deep Dive into Sustainability Leadership Through Education for Sustainability
Ferreira, Jo-Anne L., Ryan, Lisa D. and Davis, Julie M.. 2020. "A Deep Dive into Sustainability Leadership Through Education for Sustainability." English, Fenwick (ed.) The Palgrave Handbook of Educational Leadership and Management Discourse. Cham, Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 1-21
Mainstreaming sustainability into pre-service teacher education in Australia
Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Ryan, Lisa, Davis, Julie, Cavanagh, Marian and Thomas, Janelle. 2009. Mainstreaming sustainability into pre-service teacher education in Australia. North Ryde, Australia. Macquarie University. https://doi.org/10.13140/2.1.1092.5767
Planning for Success: Factors Influencing Change in Teacher Education
Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Ryan, Lisa and Tilbury, Daniella. 2014. "Planning for Success: Factors Influencing Change in Teacher Education." Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 30 (1), pp. 136-146. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2014.39
Whole-school approaches to sustainability: a review of models for professional development in pre-service teacher education
Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Ryan, Lisa and Tilbury, Daniella. 2006. Whole-school approaches to sustainability: a review of models for professional development in pre-service teacher education. North Ryde, Australia. Macquarie University.
Developing Knowledge and Leadership in Pre-Service Teacher Education Systems
Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Ryan, Lisa and Davis, Julie. 2015. "Developing Knowledge and Leadership in Pre-Service Teacher Education Systems." Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 31 (2), pp. 194-207. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2015.24
Working the System: A Model for System-Wide Change in Pre-Service Teacher Education
Ferreira, Jo-Anne and Ryan, Lisa. 2012. "Working the System: A Model for System-Wide Change in Pre-Service Teacher Education." Australian Journal of Teacher Education. 37 (12), pp. 29-45. https://doi.org/10.14221/ajte.2012v37n12.3
A Response to Reorienting Teacher Education Towards Sustainability
Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Ryan, Lisa and Tilbury, Daniella. 2014. "A Response to Reorienting Teacher Education Towards Sustainability." Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 30 (1), pp. 147-148. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2014.40
Mainstreaming education for sustainable development in initial teacher education in Australia: a review of existing professional development models
Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Ryan, Lisa and Tilbury, Daniella. 2007. "Mainstreaming education for sustainable development in initial teacher education in Australia: a review of existing professional development models." Journal of Education for Teaching. 33 (2), pp. 225-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/02607470701259515
Creating change for sustainability in universities in Australia, one system at a time
Davis, Julie and Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2017. "Creating change for sustainability in universities in Australia, one system at a time." Filho, Walter Leal, Brandli, Luciana, Castro, Paula and Newman, Julie (ed.) Handbook of theory and practice of sustainable development in higher education, volume 1. Switzerland. Springer. pp. 217-230
Seven reasons why people don’t want to be teachers
Bahr, Nan and Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2018. "Seven reasons why people don’t want to be teachers." The Conversation. 16 April 2018, pp. 1-5.
Good CoPs and bad CoPs: facilitating reform in first-year assessment via a Community of Practice
Howlett, Catherine, Arthur, James Michael and Ferreira, Jo Anne. 2016. "Good CoPs and bad CoPs: facilitating reform in first-year assessment via a Community of Practice." Higher Education Research and Development. 35 (4), pp. 741-754. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2015.1137881
Approaches to embedding sustainability in teacher education: A synthesis of the literature
Evans, Neus (Snowy), Stevenson, Robert B., Lasen, Michelle, Ferreira, Jo-Anne and Davis, Julie. 2017. "Approaches to embedding sustainability in teacher education: A synthesis of the literature." Teaching and Teacher Education. 63, pp. 405-417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tate.2017.01.013
Overcommitted to tourism and under committed to sustainability: the urgency of teaching 'strong sustainability' in tourism courses
Cotterell, Debbie, Hales, Robert, Arcordia, Charles and Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2019. "Overcommitted to tourism and under committed to sustainability: the urgency of teaching 'strong sustainability' in tourism courses." Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 27 (7), pp. 882-902. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2018.1545777
Pursuing epistemological plurality in South Africa's Eco-Schools: Discursive rules for knowledge legitimation
Ryan, Lisa and Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2019. "Pursuing epistemological plurality in South Africa's Eco-Schools: Discursive rules for knowledge legitimation." Southern African Journal of Environmental Education. 35, pp. 1-19. https://doi.org/10.4314/sajee.v35i1.2
The limits of environmental educators’ fashioning of ‘individualized’ environmental citizens
Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2020. "The limits of environmental educators’ fashioning of ‘individualized’ environmental citizens." The Journal of Environmental Education. 50 (4-6), pp. 321-331. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2019.1721769
Cultivating conscientious tourism caretakers: aphenomenographic continuum towards stronger sustainability
Cotterell, Debbie, Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Hales, Rob and Arcordia, Charles. 2020. "Cultivating conscientious tourism caretakers: aphenomenographic continuum towards stronger sustainability." Current Issues in Tourism. 23 (8), pp. 1004-1020. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2019.1577369
What does the research evidence base tell us about the use and impact of sustainability pedagogies in initial teacher education?
Evans, Neus (Snowy) and Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2020. "What does the research evidence base tell us about the use and impact of sustainability pedagogies in initial teacher education?" Environmental Education Research. 26 (1), pp. 27-42. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2019.1703908
Beyond science education: embedding sustainability in teacher education systems
Stevenson, Robert B., Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Evans, Neus (Snowy) and Davis, Julie. 2015. "Beyond science education: embedding sustainability in teacher education systems." Stratton, Susan K., Hagevik, Rita, Feldman, Allan and Bloom, Mark (ed.) Educating science teachers for sustainability. Switzerland. Springer. pp. 381-398
Teaching for strong sustainability in university tourism courses
Cotterell, Debbie, Arcordia, Charles and Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2017. "Teaching for strong sustainability in university tourism courses." Benckendorff, Pierre and Zehrer, Anita (ed.) Handbook of teaching and learning in tourism. Cheltenham, United Kingdom. Edward Elgar Publishing. pp. 373-388
Social media and teacher professionalism: getting in on the act
Pendergast, Donna, Exley, Beryl, Bahr, Nan and Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 2019. "Social media and teacher professionalism: getting in on the act." Gutierrez, Amanda, Fox, Jillian and Alexander, Colette (ed.) Professionalism and teacher education: voices from policy and practice. Singapore. Springer. pp. 47-67
Learning to embed sustainability in teacher education
Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Evans, Neus (Snowy), Davis, Julie M. and Stevenson, Robert (Bob). 2019. Learning to embed sustainability in teacher education. Singapore. Springer.
Environmental and sustainability education research, past and future: three perspectives from late, mid- and early-career researchers
Stevenson, Robert (Bob), Ferreira, Jo-Anne and Emery, Sherridan. 2016. "Environmental and sustainability education research, past and future: three perspectives from late, mid- and early-career researchers." Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 32 (1), pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2015.49
Embedding EfS in teacher education through a multi-level systems approach: lessons from Queensland
Evans, Neus (Snowy), Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Davis, Julie and Stevenson, Robert B.. 2016. "Embedding EfS in teacher education through a multi-level systems approach: lessons from Queensland." Australian Journal of Environmental Education. 32 (1), pp. 65-79. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2015.47
Promotion of the profession
Bahr, Nan, Graham, Anne, Ferreira, Jo-Anne, Lloyd, Margaret and Waters, Richard. 2018. Promotion of the profession. Gold Coast, Australia. Southern Cross University.
Learning to govern oneself: environmental education pedagogy and the formation of an environmental subject
Ferreira, Jo-Anne. 1999. "Learning to govern oneself: environmental education pedagogy and the formation of an environmental subject." Australian Journal of Environmental Education. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0814062600002585