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The Blind Men and the Elephant
The document outlines the concept and importance of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), emphasizing that it is centered on skills transfer rather than just knowledge transfer for sustainable living. ESD transcends goals, promotes creativity, and encourages students to engage in meaningful dialogue and actions that lead to sustainable practices. It also identifies the three pillars of sustainability—social, environmental, and economic—and highlights the necessity of empowerment and critical thinking for transformative education.
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The Blind Men and the Elephant
- 1. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS A perspective on Education for Sustainable Development Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 2. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development: 2005–2014 Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 3. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS First: what is ’Sustainable Development’? Many attempts to define – Live well without jeopardizing future generations Live within planetary boundaries Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 4. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS First: what is ’Sustainable Development’? Many attempts to define – Live well without jeopardizing future generations Live within planetary boundaries Transform human civilization so that it will have a future Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 5. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS The ESD Decade is intended to enable us to do that through all aspects of learning: • • • • • Learning to know Learning to do Learning to live together Learning to be Learning to transform oneself and society Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 6. Global Action PlanInternational © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 7. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS 1. ESD is FOR, not ABOUT sustainable development. That means: Not knowledge transfer but skills transfer. Skills to take action for sustainable development. Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 8. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS The concept of skills transfer for sustainable development implies ESD content: • Clarify the direction of sustainable development • Make tools available • Deepen the collective learning process Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 9. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS 2. ESD goes beyond goals. It’s a journey, not a destination. Imagine lessons that transcend goals, stimulate creativity, innovation and risk-taking Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 10. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS Lessons that transcend goals, stimulate creativity and innovation enable students to • • • Create images of desired futures Identify action opportunities Participate in ongoing dialogue, feedback and assessment Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 11. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS In other words: Lessons that transcend goals, stimulate creativity and innovation empower students to • • • Understand their own contribution Make conscious lifestyle choices Support each other Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 12. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS 3. ESD respects none of our established boundaries. That means it is: • • • • Transdisciplinary Transsectoral Supportive of local solutions from a global perspective Inclusive and integrative Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 13. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS Trans-boundary is not easy to integrate in curriculum. Mainstreaming or special topic? • Mainstreaming is good for Education about SD • E for SD makes unusual demands on teachers • Not all teachers are ready for a pedagogy of empowerment Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 14. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS 4. So what IS Education for Sustainable Development for? The UN identifies 3 pillars of sustainability: • Social • Environmental • Economic Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 15. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS Specific goals for the Decade emphasize the social dimension Biodiversity Climate change Cultural diversity Indigenous knowledge Disaster risk reduction Poverty reduction Global Action Plan International Gender equality Health promotion Sustainable lifestyles Peace and human security Water © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 16. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS Missing? The economic pillar This may be the most important! Global events highlight unsustainability of current economic systems. Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 17. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS A key to E for SD: Empowerment plus critical thinking! Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 18. Global Action PlanInternational © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 19. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS ESD 1. Is FOR, not ABOUT 2. Goes beyond goals 3. Respects no boundaries 4. Rests on 3 pillars 5. Is empowerment plus critical thinking Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 20. BLIND MEN &ELEPHANTS ESD 1. Is FOR, not ABOUT 2. Goes beyond goals 3. Respects no boundaries 4. Rests on 3 pillars 5. Is empowerment plus criticial thinking Global Action Plan International 6. …and is transformative © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann
- 21. Education for Sustainable Development holdsthe promise of a transformed civilization for future generations. Global Action Plan International © 2011 Marilyn Mehlmann