Doing more Good Things within Sustainability in our Learning Journey

Scientific literacy has been defined as “the knowledge and understanding of scientific concepts and processes required for personal decision-making, participation in civic and cultural affairs, and economic productivity” (National Academy of Sciences, 1996), all of which are important with respect to addressing sustainability issues. Scientific literacy is essential in terms of understanding many sustainability issues and their possible solutions, particularly in relation to the environment. Scientific literacy is one of 16 skills required in this 21st century as shown in this diagram below.

Source: World Economic Forum, New Vision for Education (2015). These 21st century skills also applied in Green School as Green School Skills with a special formulation and modification into 3 classifications of Think (Think Creatively, Think Critically, and Think in System), Act (Active, Collaborate, and Communicate), and Reflect (Be Aware, Solve Problems, and Adapt). Within these skills, Green School tries to develop a balanced approach to learning along with Green School IRESPECT values and Learning objective discipline. This approach leads to Green School’s mission “A Community of Learners Making Our World Sustainable''. Sustainability Education is often referred to as Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). ESD allows every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future (UNESCO, 2014). Education for Sustainable Development requires far-reaching changes in the way education is often practised today. The most common model of sustainable development today remains the three-pillar model, which encompasses ecological/environment, economic, and social sustainability. These pillars allow us to create a comprehensive model of learning in terms of contextual integrative learning.

Contextual integrative learning will give a better understanding to the students in learning a topic or a certain issue through exposures, experiences, reviews and reflections. In Green School, this comprehensive learning drives through R.E.A.L Principles that are shown in the figure on the left. The R.E.A.L Learning Principles are designed to foster authentic experiences in which students can grow and nurture their values, skills and competencies. These learning processes are purposefully designed in consideration of how the human brain learns, to support students in developing essential skills and knowledge, as well as their executive functions. John Dewey’s famous quote said, “We don’t learn from experience. We learn from reflecting on experience”. So then, it is necessary to give lots of experiences for our students to learn and reflect. Herein, as the examples in relating the Education for Sustainable Development with Scientific Literacy, we try to connect the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to Science’s topic, e.g. the Science Energy System Unit of Green Power Topic linked to SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy. Learning activities were delivered based on the exposure of renewable energies around us and explore the Green School’s Vortex and Solar Panel System. The student developed research to find out the benefits and challenges in implementing clean energy for our world. The students gained an important understanding by creating a prototype of green power with a GS Skill focused on solving problems. As long life learners, students and teachers will get a better opportunity to nurture and experience the development of citizens engaged in building sustainable communities, which is inline with Green School’s mission and ambition. Through the Local Scholarship Program that is opened by the Green School Foundation, such an educational experience is introduced and provided to a number Balinese Children. The various projects and initiatives started by our local scholars have helped the Balinese communities, and even beyond, to thrive and solve environmental problems in this world. It can be said that we are on a journey to implement the idea of Jochen Ziitsz that says sustainability is no longer about doing less harm. It's about doing more good. Disclaimer: This article has been posted at https://greenschool.foundation/blog/doing-more-good-things-within-sustainability-in-our-learning-journey