The Blind Men and the Elephant

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BLIND MEN & ELEPHANTS

A perspective on Education for Sustainable Development

United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development: 2005–2014

Many attempts to define –Live well without jeopardizing future generationsLive within planetary boundaries

First: what is’Sustainable Development’?

Many attempts to define –Live well without jeopardizing future generationsLive within planetary boundariesTransform human civilization so that it will have a future

First: what is’Sustainable Development’?

The ESD Decade is intended to enable us to do that throughall aspects of learning:• Learning to know • Learning to do• Learning to live together • Learning to be • Learning to transform oneself and society

1. ESD is FOR, not ABOUT sustainable development.

That means:Not knowledge transfer butskills transfer. Skills to take actionfor sustainable development.

The concept of skills transfer for sustainable development

implies ESD content:• Clarify the direction of sustainable development• Make tools available• Deepen the collective learning process

2. ESD goes beyond goals.It’s a journey, not adestination.

Imagine lessons that transcend goals, stimulate creativity, innovation and risk-taking

Lessons that transcend goals, stimulate creativity and innovation

enable students to• Create images of desired futures• Identify action opportunities• Participate in ongoing dialogue, feedback

and assessment

In other words:Lessons that transcend goals, stimulate creativity and innovation

empower students to• Understand their own contribution• Make conscious lifestyle choices• Support each other

3. ESD respects none of our established boundaries.

That means it is:• Transdisciplinary• Transsectoral• Supportive of local solutions from a global perspective• Inclusive and integrative

Trans-boundary is not easyto integrate in curriculum.

Mainstreaming or special topic?• Mainstreaming is good for Education about SD• E for SD makes unusual demands on teachers• Not all teachers are ready for a pedagogy of empowerment

4. So what IS Educationfor SustainableDevelopment for?

The UN identifies 3 pillars of sustainability:• Social• Environmental• Economic

Specific goals for the Decadeemphasize the social dimension

BiodiversityClimate change Gender equalityCultural diversity Health promotionIndigenous knowledge Sustainable lifestylesDisaster risk reduction Peace and human securityPoverty reduction Water

Missing?The economic pillar

This may be the most important!Global events highlight unsustainabilityof current economic systems.

A key to E for SD:

Empowermentpluscritical thinking!

ESD 1. Is FOR, not ABOUT2. Goes beyond goals3. Respects no

boundaries4. Rests on 3 pillars5. Is empowerment plus

critical thinking

ESD 1. Is FOR, not ABOUT2. Goes beyond goals3. Respects no

boundaries4. Rests on 3 pillars5. Is empowerment plus 6. …and is

criticial thinkingtransformative

Education for Sustainable Development