This document discusses aligning education with the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It begins by providing background on the SDGs and their importance as agreed upon by world leaders. It then discusses how young people will inherit challenges from previous generations and the obligation to educate them to address these challenges. The rest of the document discusses specific ways to link teaching and learning to the SDGs, including through challenge-based learning programs, global collaboration, and curriculum alignment. It provides several examples of existing programs and resources that facilitate learning about the SDGs. The goal is to foster global citizenship and ensure education addresses issues of sustainability, citizenry, justice, peace and tolerance.

1. November 7, 2017
Global Goals: the basis of any relevant education.
Kim Flintoff

2. Abstract
In 2015 the UN General Assembly formally accepted a new set of 17
measurable Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ranging from
ending world poverty to achieving gender equality and empowering
women and girls by 2030. These were to succeed the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs), a set of eight measurable goals which
were signed in September 2000.
These goals are considered by world leaders and nations to be
essential for the ongoing viability and wellbeing of all people and living
things on Earth.
Young people today will be inheriting the legacy of previous generations
which in many cases have been marked by unsustainable, destructive
and isolated practices that have adversely affected global ecosystems,
inflicted harm upon people, and set in motion some ongoing challenges
that will need to be faced by today’s young people.
We have an obligation to alert and empower young people to address
these challenges and create new ways of engaging with the world and
its people.
This session will consider the scope of the UN Sustainable
Development Goals and how we as educators can begin to link our
teaching and learning to the these goals.
“We must foster Global Citizenship. Education is about more than
literacy and numeracy. It is also about citizenry. Education must fully
assume its essential role in helping people to forge more just, peaceful and
tolerant societies.”
Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, 26 September 2014

3. Presenter
Kim Flintoff
I started my tertiary studies in Chemistry, and my working life in analysis and assay for the mining exploration industry ­­ a little later I started dabbling
in the dark arts of Theatre and Drama and moved into management, performance and production roles in theatre. I was co­founder of Class Act Theatre
for schools, and progressed into K­12 education as a Drama teacher. I became recognised as a curriculum leader in Western Australia and a global
innovator and researcher in the area of Drama and Technology; for a decade I convened a global special interest group on Drama, Science, Technology
and New Media for the International Drama Education Association. I was an invited speaker at the inaugural global summit for the World Alliance for
Arts Education. My interest in arts, education and technology brought me to working in universities as a lecturer, unit co­ordinator, curriculum
developer, and researcher.
I currently work with Curtin Learning futures developing strategic innovative approaches for learning engagement.
Sustainability and futures thinking are now key drivers in my daily work and as father of two young daughters these areas are a very high priority
personally.
I am a graduate of the Climate Reality Leadership program having trained under Al Gore, and currently hold the position of Sustainable Development
Chair for the ISTE Global Collaboration PLN.
k.flintoff@curtin.edu.au https://staffportal.curtin.edu.au/staff/profile/view/K.Flintoff

4. The Vision for 2030

5. The Goals that will get us there

6. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/topics/sustainabledevelopmentgoals
http://www.globalgoals.org/
http://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/
Places to begin your journey

7. Download the original publication for your own learning:
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development
%20web.pdf
Transforming our World: The 2030
Agenda for Sustainable
Development
United Nations, 2015
This Agenda is a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity.
It also seeks to strengthen universal peace in larger freedom, We
recognize that eradicating poverty in all its forms and
dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global
challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable
development.
https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld/publication

8. Begin with the end in mind - Stephen Covey
Goal 17 highlights that no individual person, organisation or nation is
going to solve the world’s problems.
Global collaboration at all levels is essential.
Where do you start?

9. World’s Largest Lesson is a collaborative education project to support the announcement of the United
Nations Global Goals for Sustainable Development. The project is living proof of the importance of
Global Goal 17 “Partnerships for the Goals” and would not have been possible without the help of all
of our partners working with us and with each other.
http://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/http://worldslargestlesson.globalgoals.org/

10. Challenge and problem-based pedagogies enable rich engagement

11. Curtin University will soon be launching Balance of the Planet , a
challenge based learning program, built on Curtin University’s
unique Challenge platform, that provides a managed student-centred
and collaborative learning experience focussed on developing
solutions for the world’s greatest problems in sustainability.

12. Global Goals Challenge - is a three-day challenge-based workshop that engages students from Learning Futures
Network and Innovative Schools Consortium member institutions to engage in an intensive design process to identify
and suggest solutions to problems related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Student participation is facilitated
by a hosting teacher and an experienced educator from Curtin University and includes mentoring opportunities with
experts from academia, industry, community and cultural organisations. This can also be accompanied by a teacher
professional learning event around managing open-ended challenge-based enquiry connected to curriculum outcomes
and the development of learner capabilities. Hosted by a member school in the final week of each term (or other times by
special arrangement)
Global Goals Challenge

13. UNEP-DHI Eco Challenge Australia is the Australian component of the global UNEP-DHI
Eco Challenge operating in 20 countries to engage learners in better understanding of Water
Management and Global Sustainability issues (annual event from February - August).
UNEP-DHI are still looking for a reliable and committed coordinator for the United States.
http://www.ecochallengeaustralia.com.au/

14. Global Water Challenge built in Open edX provides a scaffolded engagement with
the content areas that inform understanding of Global Water and Sustainability
issues, and introduces learners to the Aqua Republica game that underpins the
UNEP-DHI Eco Challenge.

15. In 2016 the United Nations launched the Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) as the
framework to achieve worldwide sustainable development. The Young Australians’ Plan
for the Planet provides an approach that enables promotion and delivery of these SDGs
throughout Australia utilising an innovative national extracurricular schools program.
The Plan for the Planet approach was developed to leverage the effectiveness of business
planning and management principles and practice to achieve sustainable outcomes at
local, regional and global levels.
https://www.planfortheplanet.org.au/

16. http://www.unsdgproject.com/
While students are undertaking the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Challenge they will be addressing a
number of the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) Standards. These standards provide a framework for
learning, teaching and leading the digital age and are widely recognised an adopted worldwide.

18. Curriculum Alignment

19. Curriculum Alignment

20. Planning for an entire state
Global Citizenship Education Regional Hub School Proposal
Seed funding (one-year) to be sought through Commonwealth Building Better
Regions Fund
• Fund establishment of regional network through 0.2FTE for successful hub
school applicants (include primary and secondary schools)
• Seven hub schools established for regions centred on Broome, Karratha,
Geraldton, Northam, Bunbury, Albany, Kalgoorlie
• Fund semester (2) network meetings organised by regional coordinators
aligned with school and regional plans
• Fund support to network meetings through UNAAWA speaker program and
OWC global education resources
• Student leaders research and plan for network projects achieving one or more
SDGs and complementing regional and community development plans
Connected Futures Global and Local
• Fund student representatives return travel and accommodation in Perth for
annual parliamentary conference
• Students implement, monitor and report on Sustainability Challenge project
• Co-funding requirement