Developing Active Learners Based on Education for Sustainable Development

Abstract

<p>The subject of “Comprehensive Geography” aims to cultivate student attitudes leading them to enthusiastically pursue global and regional issues by “considering some geographic contemporary issues from relationships between environments and human activities in order to build a sustainable society” from ESD’s (Education for Sustainable Development) perspective. I hope this report, developed in collaboration between teachers from Japan and the USA, showcases an example of how to incorporate the principles of ESD in a way that motivates students. Through PBL (Project Based Learning) experiences like this one, I hope to help students become leaders in creating a more sustainable society.</p><p> </p><p>Also, based on ESD, I have developed and implemented a framework for nurturing active learners in not only Geography classes but also through “integrated inquiry learning.” Specifically, my lesson plans often use the KCJ (the Knowledge Constructive Jigsaw Method) or PBL, and I have gradually tried to develop active learners by designing this framework with ESD’s viewpoint in mind.</p><p> </p><p>As a result, the development of attitudes has been linked as a factor to solve problems and inquiries about some global and regional issues. Therefore, it was recognized that ESD contributes to the development of active learners and the formation of emergent learning communities.</p><p> </p><p>In this assembly, I will show two concrete cases, one is the PBL on the Urban Design Project being applied to the Smart Growth Principles. This case study especially showed the importance of their own will to participate in and solve these social issues through presenting a self-made urban master plan.</p><p> </p><p>Another case is the KCJ on contemporary problem-solving at Tottori Sand Dunes. This case showed that the ability to find a “new” problem could be acquired through comprehending this complexity, by going back to the past and forth to the future.</p>