ERIC Number: EJ1277600
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 20
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1467-6370
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Transformative Education: Towards a Relational, Justice-Oriented Approach to Sustainability
Walsh, Zack; Böhme, Jessica; Lavelle, Brooke D.; Wamsler, Christine
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, v21 n7 p1587-1606 2020
Purpose: This paper aims to increase related knowledge across personal, social and ecological dimensions of sustainability and how it can be applied to support transformative learning. Design/methodology/approach: The paper provides a reflexive case study of the design, content and impact of a course on eco-justice that integrates relational learning with an equity and justice lens. The reflexive case study provides a critical, exploratory self-assessment, including interviews, group discussions and surveys with key stakeholders and course participants. Findings: The results show how relational approaches can support transformative learning for sustainability and provide concrete practices, pathways and recommendations for curricula development that other universities/training institutions could follow or learn from. Originality/value: Sustainability research, practice and education generally focuses on structural or systemic factors of transformation (e.g. technology, governance and policy) without due consideration as to how institutions and systems are shaping and shaped by the transformation of personal agency and subjectivity. This presents a vast untapped and under-studied potential for addressing deep leverage points for change by using a relational approach to link personal, societal and ecological transformations for sustainability.
Descriptors: Transformative Learning, Equal Education, Justice, Sustainability, Case Studies, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Governance, Teaching Methods, Systems Approach, Power Structure, Environmental Education, Course Descriptions, Teacher Workshops, College Faculty, Masters Programs, Foreign Countries, Models
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Sweden; California
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A