This presentation explores the use of the United nations Sustainable Development Goals as an authentic context to support problem-based inquiry learning. It looks at links to the Australian Curriculum and what resources are available to support teachers to develop effective learning programs.

1. Using the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals
to Implement Problem-based
and Inquiry Learning
Presented by Leonie McIlvenny

2. Participants will be able to:
• Identify the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Identify and access a range of resources that support the
development of the goals within a school context
• Identify which outcomes from the Australian curriculum support the
UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Establish how the UN Sustainable Development goals can be used to
implement problem-based and inquiry learning in the classroom.
Outcomes

3. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets seek to build on
the Millennium Development Goals and complete what these did not
achieve by 2030. They seek to realize the human rights of all and to
achieve gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
They are integrated and indivisible and balance the three dimensions of
sustainable development: the economic, social and environmental.
Background

4. Key Drivers

5. Target 4.7
By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge
and skills needed to promote sustainable development,
including, among others, through education for
sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles,
human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture
of peace and non-violence, global citizenship and
appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s
contribution to sustainable development.

6. Key Initiatives
• Global Goals Challenge
• Global Education First Initiative
• The World’s Largest Lesson
• Partnerships for the SDGs

10. Educational Partnerships
• iEARN
• ESD Expert Net
• TES
• SDG Knowledge Platform
• Teach SDGs

11. ESD
UNESCO
PISA
Education
2030

12. Australian Curriculum Applications
General Capabilities

13. Australian Curriculum Applications –
Cross-curriculum priorities
Sustainability

14. Australian Curriculum Applications– Technologies

16. Humanities and Social Sciences

17. SCIENCE LEARNING AREA
Science
Understanding
Science as
a Human
Endeavour
Science
Inquiry
Skills
The three strands of the science curriculum provide
students with understanding, knowledge and skills through
which they can develop a scientific view of the world.
RELEVANT STRANDS
• Use and Influence of Science
• Questioning and Predicting
• Planning and Conducting
• Processing and Analysing
Data and Information
• Evaluating
• Communicating
• Biological Sciences
• Physical Sciences
• Chemical Science
• Earth and Space Sciences

20. Pedagogical approaches that support an investigation of
the UN Sustainable Development Goals
PEDAGOGICAL
APPROACHES THAT
SUPPORT THE
INTERROGATION OF
THE UNSDGS
INQUIRY
LEARNING
Following a research
process to find and use
relevant information
about SDGs
PROBLEM-BASED
LEARNING
Identifying a problem and
applying critical and creative
thinking strategies to
develop a solution.
COLLABORATIVE
LEARNING
Working in teams to
conduct research o or
solve a problem
DESIGN & DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGIES
• Collecting, managing &
analysing data
• Creating designed solutions
• Investigating & defining
• Generating &designing
• Producing &implementing
• Collaborating & managing

21. Inquiry within the Australian Curriculum
Critical and
Creative Thinking
General Capability
1
2
Science Inquiry Skills
3
HASS Inquiry
and Skills
4
ICT General
Capabilities

36. Models of Engagement with the UN SDGs

41. Role of the library
• Resource selection
• Bibliographic Records
• Online Resource Curation
• Coordination of global collaborative projects
• Promotion
• Displays
• Special Days
• Fundraising
• Newsletters and bulletins

43. What approach will you take?
• Class based
• Library coordinates activities, displays etc.
• Focus for a particular cohort (e.g. Yr 8 Rich Learning Tasks)
• Special program outside of curriculum (extra-curricular)
• Embedded into the existing curriculum
• Take on a commitment to act on one or more of the Goals
• Support existing charities
• Create own solutions
• Contribute to existing collaborative projects
• Becomes a major initiative throughout the school

44. Contact
Leonie McIlvenny
leoniem@westnet.com.au
https://unsdgproject.com