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.
962 enrolled on this course
Duration
4 weeksWeekly study
3 hours100% online
How it works
Introduction to Teaching Sustainability and Climate Action
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.
Syllabus
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.
When would you like to start?
Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.
Available now
Learning on this course
On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...
- Explore Climate Change: causes, consequences and the social context
- Discuss the need for action (IPCC latest report; youth calls for action – moral imperatives)
- Assess education as an effective route for action
- Debate the spatial contexts of Climate Change Education: institutional changes; shaping cultural shifts; population-scale influence
- Explore moving beyond traditional Education for Sustainable Development modes towards more ecologically conscious learning modes (ecopedagogy)
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for teachers at all levels from early years to upper secondary who wish to learn how to embed climate literacy and education into their curriculum.
It will also benefit activists, environmental education professionals, NGO managers, school governors, and home-schooling parents who wish to engage with ecopedagogy principles.
Who will you learn with?
Ria is a Professor of Environmental Pedagogy at the School of Education & Associate Director of the Centre for Sustainable Solutions at the University of Glasgow.
Who developed the course?
The University of Glasgow
Founded in 1451, the University of Glasgow is the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. It is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading UK research universities.
Established
1451Location
Glasgow, Scotland, UKWorld ranking
Top 70Source: QS World University Rankings 2020
Ways to learn | Buy this course | Subscribe & save | Limited access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choose the best way to learn for you! | $134/one-off payment | $244.99 for a whole year Automatically renews | Free |
| Fulfill your current learning need | Develop skills to further your career | Sample the course materials | |
| Access to this course | tick | tick | Access expires 15 Oct 2024 |
| Access to 1,000+ courses | cross | tick | cross |
| Learn at your own pace | tick | tick | cross |
| Discuss your learning in comments | tick | tick | tick |
| Certificate when you're eligible | Printed and digital | Digital only | cross |
Cancel for free anytime |
Ways to learn
Choose the best way to learn for you!
Subscribe & save
$244.99 for a whole year
Automatically renews
Develop skills to further your career
- Access to this course
- Access to 1,000+ courses
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Digital certificate when you're eligible
Cancel for free anytime
Buy this course
$134/one-off payment
Fulfill your current learning need
- Access to this course
- Learn at your own pace
- Discuss your learning in comments
- Printed and digital certificate when you’re eligible
Limited access
Free
Sample the course materials
- Access expires 15 Oct 2024
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades) Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply. | |||
Find out more about certificates, Unlimited or buying a course (Upgrades)
Sale price available until 31 October 2024 at 23:59 (UTC). T&Cs apply.
Learning on FutureLearn
Your learning, your rules
- Courses are split into weeks, activities, and steps to help you keep track of your learning
- Learn through a mix of bite-sized videos, long- and short-form articles, audio, and practical activities
- Stay motivated by using the Progress page to keep track of your step completion and assessment scores
Join a global classroom
- Experience the power of social learning, and get inspired by an international network of learners
- Share ideas with your peers and course educators on every step of the course
- Join the conversation by reading, @ing, liking, bookmarking, and replying to comments from others
Map your progress
- As you work through the course, use notifications and the Progress page to guide your learning
- Whenever you’re ready, mark each step as complete, you’re in control
- Complete 90% of course steps and all of the assessments to earn your certificate
Want to know more about learning on FutureLearn? Using FutureLearn
Learner reviews
Learner reviews cannot be loaded due to your cookie settings. Please and refresh the page to view this content.
Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...
You can use the hashtag #FLecopedagogy to talk about this course on social media.
More courses you might like
Learners who joined this course have also enjoyed these courses.
Browse more in Nature & Environment and Teaching
