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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
Module Code SI311 (ITS) / EDS1101 (Banner)
Faculty DCU Institute of Education School STEM Ed, Innov, Global Studies
Module Co-ordinatorManuel Fernández López
Module Teachers-
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Coursework Only
Description

The purpose of this module is to foster learning of sustainable development, while also enabling learners to design and develop learning activities for Education for Sustainable Development. Learners will engage in a series of lectures, practicals and tutorials that will enable discussion and critical reflection on core concepts within Sustainable Development/ Education for Sustainable Development. Learners will also attend seminars on key topics such as Climate Change, Human Rights, Biodiversity, SDGs, Interculturalism, Gender Equality, Migration, and Global Citizenship, where such seminars become available.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the historical context that led to the Sustainable Development Goals articulated within Agenda 2030, as well as concepts of and challenges to Sustainable Development/ Education for Sustainable Development & Global Citizenship
2. Demonstrate the capacity to critically reflect on potential solutions to challenges within sustainability/ education for sustainability
3. Source and critically review online materials and other resources that can be effectively integrated within Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
4. Design learning activities within the theme of Sustainable Development/ Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship.
5. Critically reflect on own learning about Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture12Interactive lecture sessions
Workshop12Workshops within thematic areas of sustainable development and global citizenship, and on lesson planning for these domains.
Assignment Completion18Group work - sourcing of materials and preparation of lesson plans and resources.
Independent Study83Independent study
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Theme 1:
(a) Conceptual understandings and tensions within Sustainability/ Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)/ Global Citizenship Education (GCE), etc. (b) Historical context to Sustainability/ Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship (Agenda 21, UNESCO Decade of Education for Sustainable Development, Earth Charter, Millennium Development Goals, Sustainable Development Goals, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Education 2030). (c) Key opportunities and challenges within sustainability/ education for sustainable development. Themes may include but are not limited to: SDGs, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Global Citizenship, Climate Actions, Human Rights, Sustainable Cities/ Urbanisation, Human Populations, Poverty, Health and Well-being, Gender Equality, Inequalities, Consumption and Production, Fast Fashion, The 'Land Ethic'.

Theme 2:
Learning about and for Sustainability: Design and Development of Learning Activities: Overview of how to design learning activities and lesson frames, from aims and learning outcomes, to content, delivery and assessment within the theme of sustainable development and global citizenship. Introduction to competencies (such as Futures Thinking, Values thinking, Strategic Thinking, etc.) and innovative pedagogies promoted within Education for Sustainability.

Theme 3:
Resourcing materials on Sustainability/ ESD - Authenticating and critiquing SD/ ESD-related materials- Identifying online video-clips that may be appropriate within theme of SD/ESD --Exploring issues of ownership and copyright.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment100% Examination Weight0%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
AssignmentIndividually or in groups, student/s must design a lesson plan for a 1 hour session that addresses at least one of the SDGs. The lesson plan must detail activities that make effective use of online and offline resources to engage and motivate learners on the chosen sustainability challenge. Peer assessment of the presentation of the lesson plan is included.40%n/a
AssignmentIndividually, students must complete a series of critical reflections on own learning of sustainability and the teaching, learning and assessment processes within education for sustainable development and global citizenship. This includes a critical commentary on the key learning points from engagement with in-class activities and extended course related activities connected to the SDGs.60%n/a
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1
Indicative Reading List

  • Sterling, S.: 2001, Sustainable education: re-visioning learning and change, MAIN COLLECTION 333.7071/STE and Main Collection 333.7071/ST,
  • Ellis, M.: 2018, The Critical Global Educator: Global Citizenship Education as Sustainable Development. Routledge.,
  • Nolet, V.: 2016, Educating for sustainability: principles and practices for teachers, St Pat's Library MAIN COLLECTION 338.927071/NOL and Main Collection 338.927071/NOL,
  • Eames, Chris, Editor; Quinn, Frances, editor; Taylor, Neil,: 2015, Educating for sustainability in primary schools: teaching for the future, MAIN COLLECTION 372.357/TAY and Main Collection 372.357/TAY,
  • Kagawa, Fumiyo, editor; Selby, David, editor: 2015, Sustainability frontiers: critical transformative voices from the borderlands of sustainability education, St Pat's Library MAIN COLLECTION 333.7/SEL,
  • Parker, K.A. and Bartells: 2012, Teaching sustainability, teaching sustainably, e-book avaialble through DCU Library,
  • Clark, P.: 2012, Education for sustainability: becoming naturally smart, DCU St Pat's Library 333.7071/CLA,
  • Jones, P. , Selby, D. & Sterling, S.: 2010, Sustainability education: perspectives and practice across higher education, Cregan Library – Six available in MAIN COLLECTION 338.43378/JON and Main Collection 338.43378/JON,
  • Malone, Karen, Truong, Son, Gray, Tonia.: 2015, Reimagining Sustainability in Precarious Times, e-book,
  • Robertson, Margaret: 2014, Sustainability principles and practice, DCU St pat's Library Main Collection 338.927/ROB,
  • Holland, C. & Mulcahy, C.: 2012, Education that Matters, ICT and Development Education, Peter Lang, UK,
  • Murray, P.: 2011, The sustainable self: a personal approach to sustainability education, Main Collection 333.72/MUR,
  • Stibbe, Arran: 2009, The handbook of sustainability literacy: skills for a changing world,
  • Pavlova, M.: 2008, Technology and Vocational Education for Sustainable Development: Empowering Individuals for the Future (Technical and Vocational Education and Training: Issues, Concerns and Prospects), Springer,
  • K Sandell, K., Ohman, J., L Ostman , L.:: 2005, Education for Sustainable Development, Studentlitteratur AB,
  • Keating, M.: 1993, The Earth Summit's agenda for change : a plain language version of Agenda 21 and the other Rio agreements, Geneva : Centre for our Common Future,
Other Resources

65388, Website: SDG 2030, 0, https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/, 65389, Website: COP21 Climate Change Conference, 0, https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/paris-climate-conference, 65390, Website: Earth Charter, 0, https://earthcharter.org/discovering-the-child-in-ourselves-to-heal-the-world-an-impression-of-the-earth-charter-youth-meet-up-netherlands/, 65391, Website: ESD Toolkit, 0, http://www.esdtoolkit.org/default.htm, 65392, Website: Teaching for Sustainable Future, 0, https://en.unesco.org/themes/education/,

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