Assessment of Competency-based Sustainability Learning to Foster Systems Thinking and Critical Thinking

Geoffrey Habron and Lissy GoralnikDepartment of Fisheries and WildlifeSustainability Specialization ProgramMichigan State University

Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) 2011. Pittsburgh Oct. 9-12. Oct. 11, 2011 presentation.

Course Logistics and Structure• ACR 187 Introduction to Sustainability

Competencies

1.Personal Development/Awareness2.Critical Thinking3.Civic Engagement4.Systems Thinking5.Social Equity/Justice6.Economic Vitality7.Ecological Integrity8.Aesthetic Understanding• http

://sustainabilityspecialization.msu.edu/competencies.pdf

Course Assignments

Assignment date Competencies (minimum)

Final Project May 15 4.7, 4.6, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and one each from 1.0, 2.0, 5.0, 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0

Communication and Learning for Sustainability April 2 2.3, 3.4, 5.4

Aesthetic Representations of Sustainability March 23 8.1-8.4

Exam 2 Grant Proposal March 15 4.1-4.7; aspects of 5.0, 3.0 and 6.0

Surplus and Recycling Systems intervention Feb. 23 3.5; 4.5-4.7;

Consumer Product Review Feb 16 6.1-6.7 (pick 2); pick 2 other competencies

Surplus and Recycling System Social Capital, Social Network and Environmental Justice

Feb 9 1.3, 3.1-3.2; 4.6, 5.1, 5.2

Exam 1 1.5; 2.1, 2.2; 3.3; 4.1; 5.1; 7.4

Surplus and Recycling Center System map/diagram Feb. 2 4.1-4.5

Climate Change Critical Thinking article Jan. 26 2.1, 2.2; 7.4

Globalization and Sustainability Jan 19 1.1-1.3; 2.1-2.2; potentially (5.1, 5.2; 6.2, 6.3, 6.6, 6.7)

Ch. 3 Cultural and Contested Understandings of Science

and Sustainability • Your Task• Read the following link that adds an update to

Blewitt's Ch. 3 discussion of Bjorn Lomborg. http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/aug/30/bjorn-lomborg-climate-change-u-turn• Your task is to find another contemporary (2010)

reference (newspaper article, blog, television show, website, podcast, radio broadcast, etc) that discusses the kinds of science and risk around climate change discussed in the book and in The Guardian article. You should properly cite your source. In that article identify:

• a) evidence of critical thinking in the article. Score your reference using the American Associaton of Colleges and Universities Critical Thinking Rubric (1-weak, 2, 3, or 4 - strong) on each of the 5 categories. Explain your rationale.

• b) multiple competing and divergent perspectives of sustainability (either within the article or between the article and something from Ch. 3).

• c) biases and assumptions of the science

Rubrics • Meet expectations = 2 points

Student example• In the article Coping with Climate Change by Ashfak Bokhari

from dawn.com, four nations being hit with climate change problems in today’s society are discussed. In looking at this article from a critical thinking standpoint, it does a fairly good job. In explaining the issue, a rating of 3 would be fitting. The stating of problems in Pakistan, Australia, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines are well covered, with some background information being provided so the issue at hand can be understood. Numerical values were given to describe the area of land being discussed. Uncommon terminology, like La Nina was elaborated upon.

Final Project/Portfolio Guidelines• Utilize an integration of sustainability competencies to assist

in improving the sustainability outcomes of the Surplus and Recycling Center. Provide portfolio evidence for the following overarching competencies: • 4.6 Develop, describe and bound a system that effectively captures the

ecological, economic and social elements and the relationships between them.

• 4.7 Based on 4.5-4.6, diagnose a problem, create an intervention/alternative system to address the problem; or, delineate alternative initial conditions that could lead toward a more sustainable state.

• Your project must include evidence that addresses at least one specific competency from each of the 8 competency areas (personal development, critical thinking, civic engagement, systems thinking, social equity, ecological integrity, economic vitality and aesthetic understanding)• Final presentation to the Surplus and Recycling Center

(and other relevant folks). This is your final exam.

Spring 2011 Results• 902 individual competency assessments• Scores• 0 (failed expectation), • 1 (approached expectation), • 2 (met expectation) • 3 (exceeded expectation).

Assignments Mean ScoresCritical Thinking 2.2

Systems Thinking 4.6

Systems Thinking 4.7

t1 1.58 1.59 na

t2 1.78 1.8 2.17

t3 2 1.3 1.8

t4 2 1.8 2.24

Total 1.78 (46) 1.58, n=64 2.02, n=43

Grade vs Competency

Student Evaluations

• (1 = high)• (5 = low)

“…the difference is that these classes seek to shove information down your throat while ACR 187 seeks to change the way you think and perceive the world. In order to move on from the problems that plague us now, we must be willing to think outside the box. “ (ACR 187 Introduction to Sustainability student)

Rubric