General entry requirements + English B.

The objective is to contribute to improving teaching competence in the area of education for sustainable development (ESD). The students should develop their knowledge of environmental problems and sustainable development, their theoretical knowledge of teaching and learning, practical knowledge and teaching skills.

The course will consist of lectures, seminars, workshops, project work, study visits and a home assignment. Group works will be organised thematically. These themes will focus on issues of international interest and importance using Sweden or the partcipants´respective home countries as an example. In the themes the students will work to improve their own knowledge about their ability to teach the topic. The themes will be studied from different perspectives, e.g. the social, economic and ecological perspectives. The course includes three days of compulsory school placement (international students) or a school related project work (students in Swedish teaching training). The university’s three areas of emphasis (International Migration and Ethnic Relations, Nature and Resource Management, Equality and Gender) are taken in consideration in the literature, in the group works, in the school practice follow up and in the home assignment.

After completing the course the student will be able to:

The educational approach is learning by doing and the course requires active participation in lectures, workshops, project work, study visits, literature seminar, as well as individual preparation through reading of literature. The students have liberty to influence the teaching and learning methods used in certain assignments. The main group work will be problem oriented and interdisciplinary. Tutoring and computer support is available.

The main criterion for passing the course is that the students can demonstrate an understanding of the theories, concepts and perspectives on ESD orally and in writing.

Learning outcome 1 is assessed individually in a literature seminar, and in group by a project presentation. Learning outcome 2 and 5 are assessed in a student-conducted workshop. Learning outcome 3 and 4 are assessed in an individual home assignment.

Attendance to most course components during the first six weeks of the course is compulsory, as the students learning activities will be assessed continuously and the student will work up the received experience and knowledge in the home assignment.

The bibliography consists of a few mandatory books. The student will choose the remaining literature in connection to the project work and the home assignment. Furthermore, articles from popular scientific and scientific international journals and the Internet will be included.

Brown, Lester R. (2011) World on the edge. How to prevent environmental and economic collapse. Earth Policy Institute. Available as pdf at http://www.earth-policy.org/images/uploads/book_files/wotebook.pdf

Sandell, Klas, Öhman, Johan and Östman, Leif (2005) Education for Sustainable Development. Nature, School and Democracy. Lund: Studentlitteratur. (pp. 79-235)

Liepina Inese och Jutvik Gitte (200x), Education for change. A handbook for teaching and learning sustainable development ISBN 978-91-86189-01-3 (72 pp.) Available as pdf.

Evaluation is an integral part of the course and takes place on two separate occasions: mid-course and at the end of the course. A final written individual evaluation based on the learning outcomes is done at the end of the course. The results of the course evaluation is summarised and made available in a report to be used as a basis for future courses.