Education for Sustainability | Jaimie Cloud | TEDxWindham

Summary

The script narrates the evolution of education towards preparing students for the 21st century's challenges, emphasizing rapid change, complexity, and sustainability. It highlights innovative educational approaches, such as global citizenship and biomimicry, and showcases examples of schools integrating sustainability into their curricula and infrastructure. The speaker advocates for a future-oriented education that equips learners to adapt and contribute to a healthy and sustainable world.

Takeaways

• 📚 The script discusses the author's experience as a sixth grader in 1968, entering an education experiment aimed at preparing students for the 21st century, characterized by rapid change, complexity, and interdependence.
• 🔮 The emphasis was on teaching students to learn, think critically about their thinking, and stay open-minded to adapt to the fast-paced changes of the future.
• 🌐 The concept of global education was the forefront of forward-thinking at the time, shaping the author's career as a global educator.
• 🌿 The introduction of the term 'sustainability' in 1987 prompted a shift in the author's focus to sustainability education, despite initial skepticism from peers.
• 📝 A simple yet profound definition of sustainability is provided by a third-grader, Alexa: 'Sustainability means when people get what they want without trashing the world so animals and other people can get what they want and need.'
• 🌳 The script introduces a model where economic and social activities are seen as dependent on natural capital, highlighting the interconnectedness of all aspects of life and production.
• 🏢 Examples of sustainability initiatives are given at various levels, from national businesses to local food industries, clean tech industries, and educational institutions.
• 🏫 The script emphasizes the importance of learning organizations and communities that learn, suggesting that schools and communities working together are key to achieving a sustainable future.
• 🌱 Stories of innovative educational practices, such as the Compass charter school in Brooklyn and a Hawaiian school using biomimicry, demonstrate how sustainability is being integrated into education.
• 🏛 The design and operation of Kellum High School in Virginia Beach, which includes gardens and sustainable practices, show how students and teachers can actively participate in creating sustainable environments.
• 🛠️ The script concludes with a call to action to teach and learn for the future we want, emphasizing the need for a collective effort to educate for a sustainable future.

Q & A

What was the main focus of the education experiment the speaker entered in 1968?

The main focus was on preparing students for the 21st century by teaching them to take responsibility for their own learning and adapt to rapid change, complexity, interdependence, diversity, and uncertainty.

What does the speaker believe is essential for students to learn in order to succeed in the future?

The speaker believes that learning how to learn, think critically about one's own thinking, and staying open-minded are essential skills for students to succeed in the future.

What was the speaker's reaction to the emergence of the term 'sustainability' in 1987?

The speaker was intrigued by the term 'sustainability' and decided to shift their focus from global education to sustainability education, despite the skepticism from their father.

What is the definition of sustainability provided by the third-grader named Alexa?

Alexa defines sustainability as when people get what they want without trashing the world, allowing animals and other people to get what they want and need.

How does the speaker describe the relationship between different forms of capital in the context of sustainability?

The speaker describes the economy and financial capital as dependent on social and human capital, which in turn is dependent on natural capital, emphasizing the interconnectedness of these systems.

What examples does the speaker provide to illustrate the implementation of sustainability at the local and national levels?

The speaker mentions the American Sustainable Business Council, local food industry, corporate sustainable leadership programs, sustainable small business development initiatives, and the growing clean tech industry as examples of sustainability implementation.

What is the concept of 'schools and communities that learn' as described by the speaker?

The concept refers to the idea that learning organizations, which include students, teachers, parents, and families, are nested within communities that also learn and adapt, creating a cycle of continuous improvement and change.

What is the significance of the Compass charter school story in the context of the script?

The Compass charter school story illustrates the practical application of teaching for sustainability, focusing on responsible citizenship and inventing the future, even at the early stages of a child's education.

What is biomimicry and how did the Hawaiian school use it in their sustainability education?

Biomimicry is a science that seeks to solve human problems by emulating solutions found in nature. The Hawaiian school used biomimicry to teach students how to apply natural solutions to environmental and societal issues.

Can you explain the 'ho NOAA ek Lua' project mentioned in the script?

The 'ho NOAA ek Lua' project is a building designed to address the problem of non-sustainable construction practices. It incorporates features like living roofs, self-healing concrete, solar energy, and water circulation systems inspired by nature.

What is the role of the 'sustainability officer' in the context of the Kellum High School story?

The sustainability officer, Tim Cole, played a key role in the design and implementation of sustainable practices at Kellum High School, including the creation of gardens and the overall green certification of the building.

What is the speaker's recommendation for educators and learners in relation to sustainability?

The speaker recommends that educators and learners should teach and learn for the future they want, focusing on creating a vision for a sustainable future and addressing problems in innovative ways.