Real-world experiments as a teaching and learning approach for sustainable consumption education
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 6 February 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to propose and evaluate an innovative approach to education for sustainable consumption (ESC) which empowers teenagers and young adults to improve sustainable consumption competences. This approach combines pedagogical learning approaches such as real-world learning (e.g. experiential learning and research-based learning) with transformative and transdisciplinary research approaches (i.e. real-world laboratory research).
Design/methodology/approach
Through a transdisciplinary research design, the authors explore if real-world experiments (RWEs) offer a suitable approach for sustainable consumption education at schools. RWEs are a research approach for knowledge production, aiming to go beyond temporary interventions, to establish semi-permanent spaces for sustainability transformation and reflexive learning. To evaluate this proposal, the authors study already existing active teaching and learning approaches developed within and for ESC and put these in perspective, to define and understand the RWEs.
Findings
Insights from a transdisciplinary research project which applied RWEs as a teaching and learning approach in German schools complement conceptual considerations. As a result, advantages, such as the development of core competencies among learners, but also challenges experienced, are illustrated. Though, the challenges found are not unique to the RWE, rather they point out important potentials for ESC through suggesting systematic changes in educational institutions and teaching approaches.
Originality/value
This paper explores RWEs as an active and participatory teaching and learning approach for sustainable consumption education at schools and delivers practical insights and a definition of RWEs as an innovative teaching and learning approach.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Declaration of conflicting interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship and/or publication of this paper.
Funding: The authors thank the “Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt” who funded the project “BNTextillabor” where the data and insights for this paper were collected.
The authors thank the reviewers for all valuable comments and suggestions, which helped to improve the quality of the manuscript.
Citation
Hirscher, A.L., Iran, S., Schrader, U. and Müller, M. (2024), "Real-world experiments as a teaching and learning approach for sustainable consumption education", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2023-0011
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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