Ethical Literacies and Education for Sustainable Development


Book Description

This book explores the ethical dimensions surrounding the development of education for sustainable development within schools, and examines these issues through the lens of ethical literacy. The book argues that teaching children to engage with nature is crucial if they are to develop a true understanding of sustainability and climate issues, and claims that sustainability education is much more successful when pupils are treated as moral agents rather than being passive subjects of testing and assessment. The collection brings together a range of fresh and creative perspectives on how issues around ethical literacies can be elaborated and expanded with regard to democratic sustainability education. The use of children ́s books in teaching about sustainability is carefully explored, as are the ethical and aesthetic dimensions of environmental education. Including an afterword by Arjen Wals, Professor of Transformative Learning for Socio-Ecological Sustainability, the book will be of great interest to students and researchers in the field of sustainability education.




The Handbook of Media Education Research


Book Description

Over the past forty years, media education research has emerged as a historical, epistemological and practical field of study. Shifts in the field—along with radical transformations in media technologies, aesthetic forms, ownership models, and audience participation practices—have driven the application of new concepts and theories across a range of both school and non-school settings. The Handbook on Media Education Research is a unique exploration of the complex set of practices, theories, and tools of media research. Featuring contributions from a diverse range of internationally recognized experts and practitioners, this timely volume discusses recent developments in the field in the context of related scholarship, public policy, formal and non-formal teaching and learning, and DIY and community practice. Offering a truly global perspective, the Handbook focuses on empirical work from Media and Information Literacy (MIL) practitioners from around the world. The book’s five parts explore global youth cultures and the media, trans-media learning, media literacy and scientific controversies, varying national approaches to media research, media education policies, and much more. A ground breaking resource on the concepts and theories of media research, this important book: Provides a diversity of views and experiences relevant to media literacy education research Features contributions from experts from a wide-range of countries including South Africa, Finland, India, Italy, Brazil, and many more Examines the history and future of media education in various international contexts Discusses the development and current state of media literacy education institutions and policies Addresses important contemporary issues such as social media use; datafication; digital privacy, rights, and divides; and global cultural practices. The Handbook of Media Education Research is an invaluable guide for researchers in the field, undergraduate and graduate students in media studies, policy makers, and MIL practitioners.







Relational and Critical Perspectives on Education for Sustainable Development


Book Description

This volume focuses on the fourth Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), education, to look at sustainability from various angles with the purpose of challenging preconceptions about what sustainable education might entail and how it should be conducted. To this end, the book assembles scholars from various research fields and disciplines, who are willing to be at the cutting edge regarding sustainability and education on all levels with students in the ages of 6-15. Through this approach, the text points towards a “wild pedagogy” in line with post-sustainable thinking. This involves agency and the role of nature itself as a co-educator, and promotes cultural changes, and explorative processes of finding “the wild” – the unknown, and complexity in nature – and thus of challenging the human need for control. This approach is also, in line with the 2030 Agenda, an attempt to move from advocating predetermined behavioural change to embracing a pluralistic perspective on sustainability, based on holistic views on education. Such views include curiosity, wonderment, compassion and agency as guiding lights. The book is structured into three sections, based on three interrelated strands. These strands are, in various ways, dependent on one another and further engaged with bringing education theory and practice together. These strands are 1) Belonging and sensing, 2) Critical thinking, social justice and action competence, and 3) Creating hope in a vanishing world. These strands aim to increase our access to and understanding of the ways in which sustainability can be integrated into education and why. The purpose of the text is to encourage educators of all kinds and levels, as well as scholars in different fields, to explore new perspectives on education for sustainable development. The book examines probes in diverse academic fields and focuses on how to combine different approaches and content, and therefore everyone interested in interdisciplinary and cross-curricular teaching and learning should find this work enlightening.




Encyclopedia of Sustainability in Higher Education


Book Description

This encyclopedia serves as a tool to support universities across the world to implement sustainable development in higher education in a number of key areas, spread over 5 volumes:1. Policy-making, visioning, structures, management and strategies 2. Teaching, learning and competencies 3. Research and transformation 4. Campus greening, design, operations and carbon impacts5. Students and stakeholders ́ initiatives and involvement The encyclopedia will be of special interest to administrators and managers at higher education institutions; academic staff (e.g. lecturers, professors, researchers); technical staff and students. Also, other groups working outside higher education, but interested on the theory and practice of sustainable development, will find its contents useful.




The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy


Book Description

A vital resource for sustainability educators, learners and decision-makers on how we can build a more sustainable future. In this ground-breaking book, leading sustainability educators are joined by permaculturists, literary critics, ecologists, artists, journalists, engineers, mathematicians and philosophers in a deep reflection on the skills that people need to survive and thrive in the challenging conditions of the 21st century. Responding to the threats of climate change, peak oil, resource depletion, economic uncertainty and energy insecurity demands the utmost in creativity, ingenuity and new ways of thinking to reinvent self and society. Among the many skills, attributes and values described in The Handbook of Sustainability Literacy are values reflection, coping with complexity, permaculture design, transition skills, advertising awareness, effortless action, and ecological intelligence, each accompanied by ideas for active learning exercises to help develop the skill. Far from being a rigid or definitive statement of the one right way however, the handbook is exploratory, aiming to open up new, unthought-of paths, possibilities and choices. With contributors including John Naish, Satish Kumar, Patrick Whitefield, John Blewitt, Stephan Harding and Stephen Sterling, this is intended for educators, learners and anyone else interested in the vital issue of the skills we need to survive and thrive in the 21st century and build a more sustainable future.




Examining Ethics in Contemporary Science Education Research


Book Description

This book poses questions on how to work ethically in research on science education. Applying research ethics reflectively and responsibly is fundamental for conducting research with people. It seeks to renew the conversation on how and why to engage with ethics in science education research and to adjust and refine research practices. It highlights both the need for methodological reflections in science education research and the particular ethical research challenges of science education. Science education research involves the study of people – often young and vulnerable people – and their practices. Researchers working within humanities and social science research commonly follow guidelines and codes of conducts set by country-specific ethics committees. Such guidelines function as minimal requirement for ethical reflection. This book seeks to engage the community of science education researchers in a conversation on ethics in science education moving beyond the mere compliance with governmental regulations toward a collective reflection. It asks the question of whether the existing guidelines provided for researchers are keeping up with contemporary realities of the visual presence of individuals in digital spaces. It also asks questions on how participatory research methodologies alters the relations between researchers and practitioners. This book is organized into two parts: Part one is entitled Challenging existing norms and practices. It asks questions such as: What are the conditions of knowledge that shape ethical decision making? Where is this kind of knowledge coming from? How is this knowledge structured, and where are the limitations? How can we justify our beliefs concerning our ethical research actions? Part two Epistemological considerations for ethical science education research centres norms and practices of conducting science education research in regard to methods, validity and scope.




Higher Education for Sustainable Development Goals


Book Description

This book looks to cover the issues related to advances in higher education for sustainable development goals. Nowadays, sustainable development is an important concept in higher education. One of the most widely recognized definitions is based in the Brundtland report as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The three core pillars of sustainable development are environment, society and economy. Currently, higher education in the context of sustainable development goals (SDGs) is a great challenge. The information about higher education for sustainable development presents great interest to improve communication between professors, researches and students in universities, institutes, colleges, etc. This research book covers all aspects of higher education for sustainable development goals, namely, no poverty, zero hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education, gender equality, clean water and sanitation, affordable and clean energy, decent work and economic growth, industry, innovation, and infrastructure, reduced inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land, peace, justice and strong institutions and partnerships.




Critical Roles of Digital Citizenship and Digital Ethics


Book Description

The digital age has brought about significant changes to our society, creating a complex and ever-evolving digital landscape. To navigate this landscape effectively, it is crucial to foster a deep understanding of ethics and citizenship in all domains of life. This imperative holds true at every level of education, and it is equally important to explore the historical origins of these concepts. Critical Roles of Digital Citizenship and Digital Ethics delves into the multifaceted realm of digital ethics and citizenship, shedding light on the latest research studies conducted in the educational field, as well as insights from the humanities, history, social sciences, sociology, and civics. This comprehensive research handbook provides a platform for in-depth discussions and empirical investigations into the philosophical foundations and practical implications of digital citizenship. By examining how digital ethics have been and continue to be shaped, the book offers valuable insights into the ways in which educators and researchers can approach these topics in the realm of education. Designed for researchers in humanities, sociology, and educational fields, as well as students seeking a deeper understanding of the historical and contemporary dimensions of digital ethics and digital citizenship, this book offers a rich exploration of their roots and current implications. It explores the historical underpinnings of these concepts, advocates for asset-based approaches to digital citizenship, and examines the current educational strategies implemented at both the K-12 and post-secondary levels. Additionally, it delves into the theoretical foundations of digital ethics and citizenship, considering the impact of digital landscapes on young learners, adolescents, and adults. The book also presents insightful reports on the latest studies pertaining to digital ethics and digital citizenship.




Literature and Ethics in High School English Classes


Book Description

This book offers a defence of ethical reading in secondary school English classes at a time when reformers and policy makers are trying to reorganize English language arts around technical skills or politics. Ross Collin shows how students and teachers use literature as a venue for exploring their own and others' ethical ideas and practices and argues that moral inquiry in English class is a distinctly social endeavour. The book draws ideas from English education and moral philosophy. From English education, Collin explores social reading, or what Louise Rosenblatt named 'transaction', looking at texts commonly taught in secondary school English, including Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet and Jacqueline Woodson's Brown Girl Dreaming. From philosophy, he draws on arguments about moral vision and literature developed by Iris Murdoch, Martha Nussbaum, and Nora Hämäläinen, and develops ideas, tacit in English education, about reading with moral vision. He concludes by proposing a new theory of moral vision in transactional reading.