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Introduction to Teaching Sustainability and Climate Action

Discover the role that learning for sustainability and climate action has to play in tackling the climate crisis with this online course from the University of Glasgow.

Duration

4 weeks

Weekly study

3 hours

100% online

How it works

Unlimited subscription

Learn more

Established

1451

Location

Glasgow, Scotland, UK

World ranking

Source: QS World University Rankings 2020

Explore new teaching and learning approaches to climate change education

On this four-week course from the University of Glasgow, you’ll delve into the role of education in addressing the current climate crisis.

You’ll be introduced to the concept of ecopedagogy, and examine how this approach can transform Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).

Using innovative strategies, you’ll discover how to develop a curriculum that encourages socially responsible learners who actively engage with climate action.

Examine the need for climate action

Beginning with a look at the social context of climate change, you’ll develop your understanding of the climate crisis and the need for systemic and individual change to climate responses.

You’ll learn the causes and consequences of climate change and understand the call for new educational approaches to climate action.

Explore the role of education in addressing the climate emergency

Mainstream educational models have often left little space for addressing environmental issues within the curriculum.

Using ecopedagogy as your overarching approach, you’ll explore how to raise ecological awareness and help propel a cultural shift that addresses the climate crisis in and beyond your classroom.

With this knowledge, you’ll be able to help your learners become ecologically literate, active agents in the fight against climate change.

Develop course materials that address the climate emergency

Reflecting on real-world examples of ecopedagogy, you’ll discover the additional benefits of eco-capabilities development on student mental health and well-being.

You’ll finish this course with an awareness of ecopedagogy and developed strategies to use its principles in practice to engage your students and drive social responsibility for sustainability and climate action.

Week 1
Course introduction
- Welcome!
  In this introduction to the course, Dr Ria Dunkley from the University of Glasgow will describe the outcomes of the course and provide a course overview.
- Perspectives on climate change
  In this step, we explore different perspectives on climate change and reflect on our own thoughts that influence our teaching practice.
- Climate change's social context
  Within this step, we explore the social context of climate change, highlighting issues of inequality and the disconnection between nature and culture.
- Week 1 summary
  Congratulations! You have completed your first week of Teaching sustainability and climate action in schools. Join us next week when we will look at what needs to be done about climate change and who needs to do it.
Week 2
Understanding climate action
- Week 2 introduction
  This step introduces you to what will be covered during week two of the course and invites you to share how hearing about climate change makes you feel.
- Climate Action Spheres
  In this step, explore the spheres of action on climate change and hear about the framing of arguments about individual behaviour change, systems change and community action.
- Climate Actors
  In this step, we look at who the actors are in addressing climate change, highlighting the importance of equity in participation.
- Week 2 summary
  Congratulations! You have completed your second week of this course on Teaching sustainability and climate action in schools. Join us next week when we turn our focus to the principles of ecopedagogy.
Week 3
Introducing Ecopedagogy
- Week 3 introduction
  This week we’ll explore ecopedagogy as an approach to learning for sustainability and climate action in schools. We will look at a range of approaches to ecopedagogy, including learning beyond the classroom.
- The Purpose Education
  Here we explore the purpose of education in the 21st Century, focusing on the demand for ecopedagogy that is coming from learners.
- Enacting Ecopedagogy
  Here we will explore some of the fundamentals of enacting ecopedagogy.
- Week 3 summary
  Congratulations! You have completed week three of this course on Teaching sustainability and climate action in schools. Join us next week when we will be taking a deeper look at ecopedagogy in practice.
Week 4
Ecopedagogy in practice
- Week 4 introduction
  Welcome to the fourth and final week of this Education for Sustainability and Climate Action in Schools course. This week, we’ll explore some real-world examples of ecopedagogy in action.
- Ecopedagogy in Action
  During this week we will explore the real-world examples of learning for sustainability and climate action in schools.
- Real-world Ecopedagogy
  Within this section, we share examples of projects that might be considered to be ecopedagogic, though they may not necessarily be labelled as such.
- Week 4 and course summary
  Congratulations! You have reached the end of this course on Teaching sustainability and climate action in schools. Please complete the final reflective activities and keep in touch to tell us about your efforts going forward.