Some of the main ideas and tools are presented in the following figures.

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Some of the main ideas and tools are presented in the following figures."

Anne Lloyd
6 years ago
Views:

Creating and testing educational theories and methods to promote Education tor Sustainable Development: OECDIENSI in Finland from 1997 2004 A poster and handout in the thematic SEED/OECDIENSI

1 Creating and testing educational theories and methods to promote Education tor Sustainable Development: OECDIENSI in Finland from A poster and handout in the thematic SEED/OECDIENSI conference School Development in ilse Light of Educutionfor Sustainable Deve!oprnent Chullengesfor Teacher Educailon und School, Sep 29 to Oct 3, 2004, Kassel, Germany Prof. Dr. Mauri Ahlberg Professor ofbiology and Sustainability Education Department of Applied Sciences of Education, University of Helsinki, FINLAND Address: P.O.ßox 9,00014 University of Helsinki, FINLAND mauri.ahlberghelsinki.fi Homepage: Since 1 960s 1 have followed international development of Environmental Education and tried to apply the best parts ofit to my own lift. From 1970s as a university teacher 1 developed own theories and own methods on basis of the best earlier one s 1 had found. In created a research group ofee. In 1997 our group bad a possibility to join OECD/ENSI project. lt was made possible by Professor Peter Posch, who bad in 1996 participated an international conference (Northem Call for the Environment), which we had arranged in Finland at University ofjoensuu, Savonlinna Campus. We have always wanted to leam from the best of each fleld, and in many ways OECD/ENSI was and is one of the best in the world. Learning from the best is an aspect ofmy high quality learning. Another aspect ofit is meaningftil leaming. 1 visited in 1993 at Cornell University, USA, to sttidy it and Vee heuristic, practice ofthem and their theoretical underpinnings for three months. Still another aspeet ofhigh quality learning is to construct own tentative theories on basis ofthe best earlier ones, to explicate them, to test them both theoretically comparing them to other theories and empirically in own practice. For all these purposes our research group has found concept mapping and Vee heuristics useflil tools. 1 have developed theories ofsustainable Development, integrating education, and high quality leaming. Methods 1 have developed in coopention with my researeh group include design experiments, integrating action research, an improved method of concept mapping, and an improved method ofvee heuristic. My research group has been tested them both theoretically and empirically since Ms. Vuokko Vienola was the first to have her PhD thesis in Mr. Markku Kankkunen bad his PhD thesis in After that the following persons have had their PhD theses: Mr. Raimo Pitknen 2001, Ms. Ilona Wilska-Pekonen 2001, Ms. Pirjo Änismaa 2002, Ms. Kaija Salmio 2004 and Ms. Vuokko Ahoranta Together from rny research group seven doctoral theses have been successftlly constucted. In was nominated as the first hill professor of Biology and Sustainability Education at Unversity of Helsinki, which is one of the ten leading research universities in Europe. 1 developed a new approach to Education for Sustainable development. 1 integrated my theory of Sustainable Development with theories of different capitals (natural capital, social capital, human capital etc.), and Professor Robert J. Sternberg s balanced theoiy ofwisdom, and accompanying theories of creativity and successhil intelligence. This project ofmy research group for the UN Decade ofeducation for Sustainable Development has been accepted into the Forum on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development, based at Harvard University, USA. 1.haiward.edu/bcsialfomm.nsf/proi/cultunllysd 1.harvard.edulbcsialforum.nsf/people/AhlbergMauri Some of the main ideas and tools are presented in the following figures.

prornote the UN Decade ofeducation for Sustainable

fle original figure was created by Professor Ahlberg

This project has hill support of Professor Robert).

2 arc needed to promote FIGURE 1. A theoretical framework for our research project to prornote the UN Decade ofeducation for Sustainable Development ( ). fle original figure was created by Professor Ahlberg in June 2004 during his visit at Yale Univesity, USA. This project has hill support of Professor Robert). Sternberg and his research group at Yale Univcrsity, USA. More international partners would be welcome. in

3 The Figurel shows only the main ideas what is needed to promote sustainable deveiopment in education. These ideas are more elaborated in the Table 1.

3 3 The Figurel shows only the main ideas what is needed to promote sustainable deveiopment in education. These ideas are more elaborated in the Table 1. Aspect ofsustainable Form of capital (accumulatcd work) Interests which ought tobe development balanced applying Sternberg s balanceil tbeory ofwisdom 1) Ecologically Natunl capital, accumulated work of Nature s interests, interests oflife, sustainable Nature, work of ecosystems and resulting ecosystems, biodiversity, protection development free services: cicaning of air, and water, ofnature, management ofnature fond, raw materials, biodiversity etc. 2) Economically Monemry capital, financial capital: lnterests of global, regional and local sustainable lnfnstrncmre, houses, factodes, roads, economy, interesis ofhouseholds, development money etc. interests of quality of life for individual and societies 3) Socially sustainable Social capital, social networks, family, lnterests of individuals, families, development friends, humankind, all who share societies and humankind for good life increasing and accumulating win-win thinking and acting 4) Culturally Cultural capital, in a new and broader Cultural interests, interest for sustainable sense: eveiyffiing worthwhile that education and leaming, developing development individuals, societies, organizations, abilities, competence and expertise, nations and humankjnd have leamt inlelligence, creativity and wisdom during history, including all developing abilities, competence and expertise, intelligence, creativity and wisdom. Culmral capital in this sense includes intellectual capital, creativity capital and a partofhuman capital. 5) Health-centered Heaith capital is an important pan of Health interests, interests for sustainable human capital which ought tb be taken obtaining anti maintaining optimal development care of. Good health is requirement Ihr all level ofhealth individualiy and other forms of human capital. socially, nationally anti for humankind 6) Politically Trust capital, political capital, e.g: Political interests, individual and sustainable Representatives of nations have signed group interests to promote common development many agreements to promote sustainable good as they understand it. Interest development. They have promised to promote lt. If the nations, municipalities, organizations anti individuals do not act as they have promised anti agreed on, thea they lose credibility, their trust capital, political capital. for obtaining am maintaining credibility, trust. Table 1. How different aspeets (components) ofsustainable development are related to different forms of Sustainable Development according to Ählberg (June 2004).

4 may be used can be used to anaiyse Ählberg 1988-2004, Ähoranta 1997-2004, Kankkunen 1999, Ätänismaa 2002 probably improves e.g. from many interviews an integrating synthesis may be constructed as a presentation of FIGURE 2.

4 4 may be used can be used to anaiyse Ählberg , Ähoranta , Kankkunen 1999, Ätänismaa 2002 probably improves e.g. from many interviews an integrating synthesis may be constructed as a presentation of FIGURE 2. A concept map of concept mapping as a wrsatile tool for research. The most central concepts of this concept map based on the number of links with other concepts are concept maps and research methods both of which have live (5) links with other concepts.

5 PL4NNI NG EVALUATION 2. Value basis: Why do you want 10 use time, resources am your life 10 solve this problem? 3. Theoiy basis: What do you know about the issues beforehand? 4.

5 5 PL4NNI NG EVALUATION 2. Value basis: Why do you want 10 use time, resources am your life 10 solve this problem? 3. Theoiy basis: What do you know about the issues beforehand? 4. Conceptuai basis: What arc the most important concepts in earlier knowledge? 5. Methods basis: By which methods do you plan 10 solve the problem? 1. Focus question: Express as an aceurate question: What is at the time being the most important problem in your life which you wozu 10 sone? 10. Value claims: How worthwhile arc the new knowledge claims? Kow valuable was the research process? 9. Knowledge claims: What arc the main truthful conclusions which you constructed out ofdata? 8. l4ow did you find out the main conelusions out of masses of dato? 7. Quality of dato: What kind of data did you actually succeed to gather? IMPLE%IFNrA11ON 6. Objects and events: What do you have 10 do in order to construet answer to the focus question? FIGURE 3. Ten basic steps ofthe improved Vee heuristic. Steps 3 and 4 may be replaced by the fust concept map. Steps 8 and 9 may be replaced by the second concept map. This tools requfres pupils, students. teachers and researchers to refleet values at the beginning and at the end ofeach leaming and research project.

6 6 Is followed by collectfng research data, that at the same time promotes students learn Ing is followed by the ncxt cycle of collecting research data, that at the same Urne promotes students Ieam mg is followed by is offen partially transform. into the next cycle of integrating action research FIGURE 4. Main ideas of integrating action research as a concept map. Originally Ahlberg (1994) developed the basic strategy, which has since then tested empirically in many doctoral theses.

7 Collaborative knowledge building as one ofthe main building blocks ofthe fourth phase of OECD/ENSI project in Finland Since the year 2000 we have experimented with coliaborative knowledge building

7 7 Collaborative knowledge building as one ofthe main building blocks ofthe fourth phase of OECD/ENSI project in Finland Since the year 2000 we have experimented with coliaborative knowledge building using Knowledge Forum, a leading edge computer program deveioped for it. In visited three times at University oftoronto, Canada, to learn the method and its theoretical underpinnings from its developers professors Carl Bereiter and Marlene Scardamalla. We have mixed results after using the program for live years. Occasionally the use ofit may be veiy rewarding. For most participants it has been too time consuming. Active participants of OECDIENSI/SEED/FINLAND research group inclnde: Ms. Vuokko Ahoranta, Ms. Annukka Alppi, Ms. Mervi Heinonen, and Ms. Arja Kaasinen. Critical friends include: Dr. Lea Houtsonen (National Board of Education, FINLAND) Dr. Taina Kaivola (University of Helsinki, FINLAND) Prof. Patrick Dillon (University ofexeter, UK) Prof. Michael Reiss (University of London, UK) Litterature ÄÄNISMAA, Ympäristäkasvatusta kehittämässä katitalousopettajien koulutuksessa [Researching and developing a university course in teacher education by integrating action research and collaborative leaming; in Finnishj. Doctoral dissertation. Pubtications in Education no. 74. Joensuu: University of Joensuu, AHLBERG, M Concept maps, Vee diagrams and Rhetorical Argumentation (RA) Analysis: Three educational theory-based tools to facilitate meaningftil leaming. Paper presented at The Third International Seminar on Misconceptions in Science and Mathernatics, August 1-5, 1993, Cornell University. ÄHLBERG, M Education for sustainability, good environment and good life. In Ählberg, M. & Leal Filbo, W. (Eds.) EnvironmentatEducationforSustainability: good environment, goodhje. Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, AHLBERG, M Concept mapping as a research method. tutkimusmenetelmanaj. ÄHLBERG, M. (2002) Suomentajanjätkisanat: Eheyttävän kasvatuksen teorian, käsitekarttojenja Vee heuristükan käyräsrä sekä tutkirn us-ja kehittärnisryöstä Suomessa [Twenty years research on theoiy of integrating education, improved concept maps and Vee heuristics in Finland; in Finnish]. In Novak, J. Tiedon oppiminen luominenja käynö [Finnish translation ofjoseph D. Novak s (1998) Learning, creating md using knowledge] (pp ). Jyväskyla, Finland: PS-kustannus. ARLBERG, M Tutkimus ympäristökasvamksen, leirikoulutoiminnanja yleisemminkin kestävä kehitysta edistvän kasvatuksen laadun varmistajanaja kehittäjana. [Educational research promotes quality assurance and continual quality improvement in education for sustainable development, in environmental education and in resident outdoor education.] In Lovn, L. (toim.- ed.) Ympäristökasvatus - Environmental Education. Seminaari Kolin kansallispuistossa Proceedings ofthe Seminar at Koli National Park in Finland Metsäntutkimuslaitoksen tiedonantoja 887. Finnish Forest Research Institute, Research Papers 887,

8 1 ÄHLBERG, M. 2004. Concept mapping for sustainable devclopment. A paper presented at The First International Conference on Concept Mapping, Public Univenity of Navarra, Spain.

Poster and a handout in OECD/ENSI strategy workshop FROM THE PILOT TO THE MAINSTREAM: generalization ofgood practice in international environmental education. December 9-12, 1999, Hadeland, Nonvay.

8 8 1 ÄHLBERG, M Concept mapping for sustainable devclopment. A paper presented at The First International Conference on Concept Mapping, Public Univenity of Navarra, Spain. September 14 17, ÄHLBERG, M. & AHORANTA, V. 1999a. Good practice in EE needs good theodes and tools - systemic research and a success story in Finland. Poster and a handout in OECD/ENSI strategy workshop FROM THE PILOT TO THE MAINSTREAM: generalization ofgood practice in international environmental education. December 9-12, 1999, Hadeland, Nonvay. ÄHLBERG, M. JA AHORANTA, V. 1999b. Improved qualitative ways to monitor and promote high quality leaming. Paper presented at the eighth EARLI Conference in Gothenburg, Sweden, August ÄHLBERG, M. & AHORANTA, V. 1999c. High quality leaming, thinking and acting in EE at primary school level an integrating theory and a case smdy. Roundtable presentation and a handout at the Annual Conference ofaera, April 19 23, 1999, Montreal, Canada. ÄHLBERG, M. & ABORANTA, V Two improved educational theory based tools to monitor and promote quality of geographical education and learning. InternaüonalResearch in Geographical a,zd Environniental Education, 11(2), ÄHLBERG, M. & AHORANTA, V. 2004a. WHAT DO CONCEFT MAPS REVEAL ABOUT PUPILS LEARMNG AND THINKING? Paper presented at the annual conference of NARST (National Association for Research in Science Teaching), April 1 3, 2004, Vancouver, CANADA. ÄHLBERG, M. AND AHORANTA, V. 2004b. Six yean of design experiments using concept mapping - at the beginning and at the end ofeach of 23 learning projects. A paper presented at The Fint International Conference on Concept Mapping, Public Univenity ofnavarra, Spain. September14 17, ÄHLBERG, M., ALPPI, A. & HEINONEN, M J3ow to promote Education for Sustainable Developrnent and Environmental Education by integrating action research and design experiments. A poster and handout from University of Joensuu in Savonlinna, Savonlinna Department of Teacher Education to SEED (School Development through Environmental Education) NETWORK. Presented at the OECD/ENSI/SEED Thernatic workshop and COMENTUS 2 contact seminar on Innovation in Teacher Education, the potential of Action Research and Environmental Education in Szeged University, Hungary, September 4-7, 2003 ÄHLBERG, M. & HEINONEN, M Professori Peter Poschin merkitys kansainväliselle OECD/ENSI - ympäristökasvatushankkeelleja sen Suomen osaprojektille [fle importance of Prof. Peter Posch for international OECD/ENSI project and its Finnish part project]. In Mietola, R. & Outinen, H. (toim.) Kulttuurit, erilaisuusja kohtaamiset Kasvatustieteen pilivien 2003 julkaisu. Helsingin yliopiston kasvatustieteen laitos. ISBN , htt:// ÄHLBERG, M., ÄÄMSMAA, P. & DILLON, P Education for sustainable living: Integrating theory, practice, design and development. Accepted to be published. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 49(2). AHLBERG, M. & DILLON, P Materials for Constructivistic Environmental Education, mainly tobe used in pre-service and in-service teacher education: An integrating approach to environmental learning. In De Paz, lvi. & Pilo, M. (Eds.) European Project for Environmental Education. A Curriculum for Enropean Schoois. Genoa: University ofgenoa, ]taiy, [Published panly digitally: ilqioco/prngetto/ahlbergiahlberfahlberg.hbn1 1 ÄHLBERG, M., KAASINEN, A., KAIVOLA, T. & HOUTSONEN, L Collaborafive knowledge building to promote in-service teacher training in environmental education. Journal of Information Technology for Teacher Education 10(3), ÄHLBERG, M., TURJA, L. & ROBINSON, J Educational research and development to promote sustainable development in the city ofhelsinld: Helping the accessible Helsinki Programme to achieve its goals. International Journal ofenvironment und Sustainable Devetopment, 2(2),

The recognition, evaluation and accreditation of European Postgraduate Programmes.

1 The recognition, evaluation and accreditation of European Postgraduate Programmes. Sue Lawrence and Nol Reverda Introduction The validation of awards and courses within higher education has traditionally,