scholarly journals Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in China’s Local Primary Schools: A Pilot Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 118
Author(s):  
Ronghui (Kevin) Zhou

This study discusses the current status of ESD implementation in three primary schools and examines factors that have impacted the implementation of ESD in a district of an urban Chinese cities. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three primary school principals and three school teachers. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Three themes emerged that have impacted ESD implementation in this pilot study are discussed: the definition of ESD, lack of local education support, and exam pressures. The results suggested that ESD is underdeveloped in the selected context of urban China. Further investigation is required to capture the whole scope of ESD implementations in China’s primary education.  Keywords: Education for Sustainable Development; Primary Education; Case Study; Teacher and Principal; China 


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2947 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guadalupe Martínez-Borreguero ◽  
Jesús Maestre-Jiménez ◽  
Milagros Mateos-Núñez ◽  
Francisco Luis Naranjo-Correa

Education for Sustainable Development requires improving the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of students at all levels of education. However, this should start from the earliest stages of education, promoting an effective teaching/learning process of key concepts for sustainable development. Accordingly, the general objective of this research was to analyze the concepts of water, energy and waste in the primary education curriculum (6–12 years) in Spain. A qualitative research approach was followed, with an exploratory and descriptive design. A system of categories was established for each of the concepts under study, with the aim of classifying the references found, analyzing their integration into the different subjects, academic courses, curricular elements and levels of cognitive demand required of the students. The results of the lexicographical analysis of the content reveal that the regulations governing primary education in Spain mainly focus on the concept of energy and, to a lesser extent, on the concepts of water and waste. In addition, cognitive levels of knowledge and comprehension predominate based on the taxonomy used. The results suggest the need to develop initiatives for the educational framework that promote not only learning, but also attitudes and behaviors that contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).



Uniciencia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-30
Author(s):  
Claudia Vásquez ◽  
María José Seckel ◽  
Ángel Alsina

This paper studied the belief system of future Chilean teachers of Early Childhood Education and Primary Education regarding their competencies to incorporate Education for Sustainable Development (EDS) in the classroom, specifically, in math classes. To this end, a survey was applied to 87 Primary Education preservice teachers and 58 Early Childhood Education preservice teachers, which was analyzed from an interpretative approach. Results are not clear regarding ESD and its scope, despite being valued. In addition, there is a clear need for training in this regard and the potential of mathematical education as a tool to incorporate ESD into the school classroom. It is concluded that ESD-related competencies need to be incorporated in initial and permanent teacher training programs in a transversal way, in our case for Mathematics Education.



Author(s):  
Francisco Parrança da Silva ◽  
Bruna F. Batista

The education of global citizens prepared to live with each other and one another in a fair, respectful and sustainable way has taken a high place at the heart of education systems, politics and practices in different parts of the world. This document presents a systematic review, carried through a survey of a cohort of articles that portray pedagogical practices of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and/or Global Citizenship of children (three-to-thirteen) in school context. For this systematic review three search phases/stages were performed/took place: a) definition of keywords, b) definition of exclusion and inclusion criteria, and c) construction of three tables that will serve the purpose of data collection for later analysis. A descriptive analysis will be carried out as a way of assessing which pillars of Sustainable Development (SD), sustainability themes, pedagogical strategies and key competences for SD are most representative in reported practices in early childhood education.



2017 ◽  
pp. 1433-1453
Author(s):  
Katia Vladimirova

Education is a powerful tool to alter unsustainable values and mindsets. But in order for it to be used most efficiently it is crucial to have a clear understanding of what values should be advanced, changed, or developed. This chapter aims to clarify some conceptual difficulties with the value of future generations in education for sustainable development. Future generations are embedded in the definition of sustainable development and can be reasonably expected to be at the heart of education for sustainable development. This chapter explores this assumption and analyzes how future-oriented concerns are formulated and advanced in the global educational agenda put forward during the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014) led by UNESCO. This analysis compares conceptual foundations of ESD against key developments in climate and environmental ethics on the treatment of posterity. This chapter can contribute to the disciplines of environmental education, philosophy of education, and to climate ethics.



2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 8607
Author(s):  
Kerstin Sonesson ◽  
Birgitta Nordén

This study investigates a reciprocal partnership between two cities in Namibia and Sweden to deepen the understanding of challenges and learning outcomes in a project on education for sustainable development. Since 2008, two municipalities have developed a strong partnership via The Municipal Partnership Programme at the Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy. Municipal partnerships are results-oriented collaborations in joint projects on sustainability. The purpose is to describe how eight team members in the mutual South-North project, by addressing similar problems in different contexts, experienced challenges in the implementation of the project plan, solutions and learning processes. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the end of the second project year. Transcripts and field notes were analysed using a phenomenographic approach and contextual analysis. Five main categories of description based on collective statements and three dimensions of learning were recognised in the research data. The analysis identifies strategies for critical knowledge formation and capability building to support mutual learning in South-North Municipal Partnerships. The concluding discussion spots the learning dimensions—how sharing experiences by justifying non-formal and transformational learning promotes organisations’ readiness for knowledge formation by conducting mutual global learning towards sustainable development goals.





2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiaoling Wang

The basic characteristics of China ESD program is: The dual attribute of the definition of ESD; A new interpretation of the subject-oriented education theory from the perspective of sustainable development; ESD is an Important Content of strengthening morality education;The "whole-school " model has become the norm; An international cooperation and exchange platform has been actively built.





Author(s):  
Dries Verhelst ◽  
Jan Vanhoof ◽  
Peter Van Petegem

While research on education for sustainable development (ESD) is expanding, empirical evidence on its impact and outcomes remains very limited. Moreover, the facilitating role of the school organization, while extensively documented in literature on school management and school effectiveness, is lacking. In this study we present and qualitatively validate a framework for an ESD-effective school, previously developed via a critical review of ESD and school management literature. This framework consists of eight characteristics: sustainable leadership, school resources, pluralistic communication, supportive relations, collective efficacy, adaptability, democratic decision-making and shared vision. Via semi-structured interviews, the framework for an ESD-effective school was theoretically validated via a sample of 19 teachers and school leaders with expertise in ESD. The findings from the interviews show that the participants largely confirm the framework and the individual characteristics are recognized by the sample. There were relevant differences between the respondents in terms of positioning the different characteristics within the framework. Specifically, views on pluralistic communication differed from the initial conceptual framework.



2020 ◽  
Vol 44 ◽  
pp. 34-44
Author(s):  
Olena Zhukova ◽  
Ilona Fjodorova ◽  
Dzintra Iliško

Incorporating education for sustainable development (ESD) into the curriculum is one of the main priorities of education policy in Latvia and internationally. Implementation of ESD relies greatly on individual teachers’ beliefs, enthusiasm, theoretical knowledge and practical expertise. It is widely recognized that teachers’ beliefs influence their decisions about the curriculum, pedagogy and assessment. While teachers’ beliefs and general pedagogical knowledge receive considerable attention in teacher education research worldwide, novice teachers’ beliefs and knowledge regarding sustainability and ESD are not widely discussed despite the widespread assumption that teacher’s preparedness and intention to teach ESD tend to be motivated by the beliefs and knowledge a teacher holds. Some education researchers argue that novice teachers tend to have limited understanding of sustainability and ESD. The aim of the research described in this article was to reveal the range of ways in which a sample of 32 volunteer novice teachers in Latvia perceive, understand and experience ESD, as well as how ESD relates to their professional practice. A phenomenographic approach is applied in this study. Data collection methods include semi-structured interviews, written questionnaires, and focus group discussions. The study revealed a range of ways in which novice teachers conceptualize sustainability and ESD. The insights from this research might serve to inform teaching and learning practices in the undergraduate and postgraduate teaching courses and to prepare teachers more adequately to implement ESD.



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