scholarly journals Using Participatory Action Research to Develop a Course Module on Education for Sustainable Development in Pre-Service Chemistry Teacher Education

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-78
Author(s):  
Mareike Burmeister ◽  
Ingo Eilks
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Student Teachers ◽  
Student Evaluation ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Chemistry Teacher ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Participatory Action

This paper describes the development of a course module on sustainability issues and Education for Sustainable Development in German pre-service chemistry teacher education. The module was inspired by empirical research findings about the knowledge base of student teachers. It was created and cyclically refined using Participatory Action Research. Experience gained during its three-year application will be reflected upon here, including feedback collected from student evaluation sheets. In the end, the participants responded extremely positively to the course. The student teachers stated that the module was interesting, relevant and valuable for their later profession as high school chemistry teachers. They also emphasised that they now felt more competent in the area of sustainability and ESD.

scholarly journals Raising Awareness of Agency to Address Climate Change: The Do One Thing (DOT) Strategy

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Irene Muller ◽  
Lesley Wood
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Environmental Education ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Action Research Approach

The United Nations Children's Fund 2008 report, Our Climate, Our Children, Our Responsibility, warned that children will suffer most from the effects of climate change. Environmental education is one way to prepare children to cope and enable them to educate their families and friends about the need to act now to minimise the danger climate change poses. This article reports on findings from a participatory action research project aimed at integrating education for sustainable development into the Grade 7 curriculum, with a specific focus on climate change. Critical participatory action research has a transformative intent, engaging participants in learning to cultivate a sense of purpose and increase their capacity to solve local problems. Learner responses to qualitative questionnaires and recorded discussions related to the Do One Thing (DOT) strategy were used to determine learning about climate change and enable both learners and community members to identify action for change. Thematic coding was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the DOT strategy in increasing awareness of agency and resultant learning. The findings indicate that not only did the learners gain knowledge about the causes and consequences of climate change but the potential of the learners and community members to identify possible actions for change was increased as well. We provide suggestions as to how teachers can use the DOT strategy as part of an action research approach to integrating environmental education for sustainable development in order to raise awareness of local environmental threats and encourage learners and their families to behave in a more environmentally friendly way. The explanation of the research process offered in this article also highlights how participatory learning activities can help engage learners as active agents in their own learning.

scholarly journals Searching for Sustainability in Teacher Education and Educational Research: Experiences from the Baltic and Black Sea Circle Consortium for educational research

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilga Salīte
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Educational Research ◽  
Black Sea ◽  
Research Experience ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Complex Development ◽  
The Baltic ◽  
Culture Education

Abstract The Baltic and Black Sea Circle Consortium for educational research (BBCC) was established at the beginning of the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005). BBCC has obtained its name in the Third International Conference Sustainable Development, Culture, Education in the University of Vechta (Germany, 2005). The paper will give insights into preconditions of the establishment of the international network in: (1) the stage before the Decade (2000–2004) when the UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair from Toronto and team from Daugavpils University from Latvia were started to prepare participatory action research for the reorientation teacher education towards the aim of sustainable development and (2) the stage of the Decade (2005–2014) when the network and its development continued as an open network for participation. The structure of the network provides the international environment for cooperation and welcomes new participants. The initiative of the network’s foundation was offered by the UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair in Toronto. For the coordination the BBCC actions and self-development the Institute of Sustainable Education (2003) was established in Daugavpils University (DU) and later UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair on Interplay of Tradition and Innovation in ESD were emerged at Daugavpils University (2013). Action research experience was viewed in current article as a complex development process and at the same time as a complex system in which attention on the adaptation and evolution of cooperative relations will be emphasis. Metaphors approach and characterisation of frames of references for reorientation education towards sustainability will be examine in order to find the answers that allow realising reorienting of teacher education towards sustainable development. The analysis will be based on the topics which were discussed in annual BBCC conference Sustainable Development. Culture. Education sections. Conclusions will offer main assumptions from the most significant BBCC network lived experiences in teacher education which is the real heritage from ANO Decade and in future it will serve as the frame of reference for realization of UNESCO/UNITWIN Chair in DU and BBCC actions in education and educational research for sustainable development in action.

scholarly journals Sustainability from the Transdisciplinary Perspective: An Action Research Strategy for Continuing Education Program Development

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ilga Salīte ◽  
Elga Drelinga ◽  
Dzintra Iliško ◽  
Eridiana Oļehnoviča ◽  
Sandra Zariņa
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Continuing Education ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Social Innovation ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Transdisciplinary Research ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Research Framework ◽  
Strategic Vision

Abstract The need to focus on a transdisciplinary approach in education for sustainable development (EDS) has been reflected in research and especially action research as a possible solution, which can open a new perspective for understanding and interpretation of the complex phenomenon of sustainability as well as for developing new open continuing education programmes by integrating research and learning activities in the context of open transdisciplinary research. The content structure of the article: (1) it describes the experience that has evolved at one faculty and its subordinate scientific institute and has been proposed to be used within the entire institution; (2) it generalises issues arising from the extensive experience, which in action research manifest themselves as issues relating to the appropriate perspective choice in terms of sustainability, approaches that in education make it possible to understand the sustainability phenomenon, as well as features that help identify sustainability at different levels. Well-known cases in the history of science, philosophy of science, and systems development research have been used to highlight the relationship among the dynamic interaction of complex problems that can systematically appear as sustainable or unsustainable. Therefore, the article provides insight into a specific relationship among science development, integration and Anthropocene phenomena with sustainability / non-sustainability phenomena and their interaction; (3) it offers the experience necessary for the creation of participatory action research ideas and research base to expand the cooperation of university and its graduates using a stakeholder approach and connecting it with a transdisciplinary research framework, which envisages an activity around the sustainability phenomenon and its deep relationship to the openness for the evolution of sustainability consciousness as concerns individuals and societies; (4) it describes the first three activities of the first phase of the undertaken action research, which allowed determining the participants’ motivation to take part in the action research, identifying participants’ attitude and understanding sustainability and Anthropocene phenomena, as well as establishing a strategic vision of open transdisciplinary framework benefits and opportunities through participatory action research to develop open evolutionary study programs for continuing education, which would extend and deepen the cooperation of university and its graduates for social innovation creation and achieving quality education for sustainable development by reorienting the society and education towards sustainability and sustainable development. The present article aims at establishing an open transdisciplinary research framework, which is necessary for undertaking action research, and outlining a strategic vision for developing continuing education programs in the participatory action research that will help reorient continuing education to sustainable development.

scholarly journals Exploring and Promoting Ecological Consciousness in Teacher Education: the Possibilities of Educational Action Research in Education for Sustainable Development

2011 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inga Gedžūne ◽  
Ginta Gedžūne
Keyword(s):  
Teacher Education ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
School Teacher ◽  
Education For Sustainable Development ◽  
Frame Of Reference ◽  
Primary School Teacher ◽  
Ecological Consciousness ◽  
Research In Education

Exploring and Promoting Ecological Consciousness in Teacher Education: the Possibilities of Educational Action Research in Education for Sustainable DevelopmentThe paper reports on the findings of a qualitative study with 39 first year students of pre-school and primary school teacher education programmes who are taking an educational action research based study course "Environmental Pedagogy". The study aimed at engaging the students in reflection on their experiences of interaction with nature and uncovering their views on ecological consciousness. Qualitative content analysis sought emergent themes in students' reflections. A conceptual framework was identified containing three frames of reference: (1) inclusion-oriented frame of reference; (2) exclusion-determining frame of reference and (3) solution-oriented frame of reference. Conclusions were drawn about the possibilities of educational action research to encourage students' reflection on ecological consciousness and building sustainable and inclusive relationships with the world.

Inquiry and Participatory Action Research in Primary School

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (1&2) ◽  
pp. 157-205
Author(s):  
Christine McDougall
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Academic Performance ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Sixth Grade ◽  
Educational Objective ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Interest In Science ◽  
Inquiry Group ◽  
Self Confidence

In Jamaica, learner-centered instruction is commended for teaching a curriculum focused on environmental education and sustainable development. This study investigated the potential of participatory action research (PAR) as an inquiry-based instructional method in a sixth-grade Jamaican classroom. Mixed methods compared the academic performance of students between teacher-led and PAR-driven groups, and analyzed key attributes of sustainable development. Though practicing PAR had no significant effect on students’ academic performance, perceived collaboration skills, and interest in science, participants displayed leadership skills, such as self-confidence, commitment, and teambuilding. Moreover, the inquiry group conducted cross-curricular research towards place-based environmental improvement. These assets correspond to the Jamaican educational objective of integrating multiple disciplines and stakeholders in the equation for a sustainable future and warrant a further evaluation of PAR in Jamaican schools.

scholarly journals Step by step: a participatory action-research framework to improve social participation in coastal systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalia de Miranda Grilli ◽  
Mariana Martins de Andrade ◽  
Luciana Yokoyama Xavier ◽  
Cláudia Regina Santos ◽  
Fernanda Terra Stori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Social Participation ◽  
Development Plan ◽  
Southeastern Brazil ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Ecological Features ◽  
Local Stakeholders

Abstract Social participation enriches decision-making and is considered a civil right in many democratic countries, despite remaining a challenge. This paper presents evidence and discusses the evolution of social participation in the Araçá Bay (Southeastern Brazil), as a result of participatory action-research. Over three years, a process of social mobilization and participatory environmental assessment and planning engaged local stakeholders and resulted in a sustainable development plan. Enhanced social participation was evidenced by: (1) building trust among participants; (2) increasing knowledge of social-ecological features of Araçá Bay; (3) acknowledging different perspectives and interests about the bay; and (4) improving the understanding of management dynamics and institutions. The process led to the emergence of a local stewarded group that has the potential to foster the implementation of the sustainable development plan.

scholarly journals Participatory Action Research in University Chemistry Teacher Training

2018 ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Yannik Tolsdorf ◽  
Silvija Markic
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Teacher Training ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Teaching And Learning ◽  
Chemistry Education ◽  
Chemistry Teacher ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
The University ◽  
Advanced Model

The Participatory Action Research (PAR) model developed by Eilks and Ralle is very well known in science education. Over the years, many teaching and learning materials have been developed and implemented in German secondary schools using this method. The success of the model encouraged us to adapt it to the university level in order to develop university chemistry education courses. However, to do this, we encountered and conquered some challenges. The present paper is based on an advanced model of Participatory Action Research for developing university chemistry teacher training. For an advanced model, the focus is strongly on the extended development team, which contains people who were not part of the original team. The role of the students also changes. The ideas we used to further develop the model and implement it in practice will be described and discussed below.

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