Search

Recent studies claimed that the absence of a paradigm is a challenge to developing education for sustainable development and soft skills competencies. This integrative study examines stimulating these transferable and transversal competencies through constructivist approaches to teaching from the cognitive, social, radical, and critical perspectives. The study argues that the use of constructivist approaches to teaching can contribute to the achievement of education for sustainable development and soft skills competencies through the delegation of power from teachers/lecturers to students. This, in active and interactive classrooms, empowers students and builds their confidence to develop on the personal, academic, and professional levels. The use of the cognitive constructivist approach assists in developing competencies based on a clear understanding of the cognitive structures of students in a vibrant classroom environment. The use of the social constructivist approach assists in constructing individualized learning environment based on predetermined zones of proximal development in sociocultural contexts. The radical and critical constructivist approaches to teaching, through the rejection of conventional epistemologies, allow students the freedom to creatively address issues related to environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This becomes effective through the fostering of self and social awareness, challenging existing ideas, and provoking innovative thoughts that are necessary to shape a sustainable future.

The worsening global environmental crisis highlights the urgency of integrating Environmental Education (EE) throughout the curriculum including in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) curricula. However, challenges exist, such as the development of appropriate curriculum documents and educators' understanding of approaches to EE. This study looked at Indonesian EFL textbooks for elementary schools, focusing mainly on the images and how they can portray environmental themes. These images and some brief texts that accompany the images were examined using tools from ecolinguistics literature, including Stibbe's (2021) nine stories and the United Nations' EE objectives (UNESCO-UNEP, 1975). This study intends to fill a gap in the EE literature by analyzing images in elementary school textbooks in the specific context of Indonesia, generalizing the idea of EE to other contexts. Findings revealed that while some EE efforts were evident, the majority of the material leaned towards an anthropocentric (human centered) perspective, indicating a need for greater incorporation of insights from ecolinguistics to enhance the content. Moreover, in terms of EE objectives, the textbooks provided ecological knowledge but lacked emphasis on developing skills and encouraging student participation in solving environmental problems. Examples demonstrating the ability to evaluate and address environmental issues were also absent. Suggestions are made for future EE content in EFL materials.

With the growing importance of the United Nations' SDGs, many EFL textbooks addressing the goals have been developed. However, these textbooks generally discuss the applicability of the SDGs in Global South countries, and for university students in Japan, this has resulted in "SDG burnout," as they study the topic but often fail to find meaningful connections to the materials. This article builds on previous research into the efficacy of culturally familiar materials, and it takes SDG education in a new direction through the creation of materials in dialogue with social justice issues. Four lessons were created by the researchers, and as part of the post-reading assignment, learners had the autonomy to choose between culturally familiar or unfamiliar activities related to either the news or popular culture. A 6-point Likert scale was used to gauge student interest, which indicated that the inclusion of social justice issues may positively affect interest. A series of binomial tests revealed that learners preferred culturally familiar activities and activities related to the news. These findings provide important implications for teaching the SDGs as they suggest learners might be most receptive to culturally familiar materials that are based on the news and connected to issues of social justice.

While the past two decades have witnessed a surge of studies on the researcher identity of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) academics, research on how the intertwined connections between EFL academics and the larger ecological system within an institution affect their researcher identity construction remains relatively scarce. Utilizing a three-tier system framework, this study seeks to address this gap by exploring how EFL academics (micro level) in China navigate the complexities of aligning their researcher identity (re)construction with institutional practices (meso level) of a national policy (macro level). Adopting a case study design, this study collected and triangulated data from three sources: semi-structured interviews, narrative frames, and document analysis. Data analysis revealed that there were (mis)alignments between EFL academics' research expectations of national research policy and interpretations of research policy at the institutional level, and participants adopted different responses in re-adjusting their research practices to align with research policy. The study implies the need for university administrators to take into account academics' disciplinary features, research values, and needs when implementing institutional research policies. Such an orientation provides more opportunities and resources to shape, rather than break, the researcher identities of EFL academics and ultimately facilitate the sustainable development of higher education.

The Biltmore Forest School, despite its unusual existence within the affluent Biltmore Estate, played a crucial role in the early 20th-century American forestry movement. Founded by Carl A. Schenck and supported by George Vanderbilt II, the school aimed to educate foresters and promote sustainable forest management. However, many aspects of the Biltmore experiment failed due to the new and untested nature of forestry science in America. This experiment exposed a fundamental divide in forestry education, with Gifford Pinchot advocating for conservation-centered teaching while Schenck believed in the economic viability of lumber production. Ultimately, the Biltmore Forest School offered valuable vocational education for young men but could not address the broader goals of forestry education. The emergence of other forestry schools in the early 20th century led to the school's demise. The larger purpose of forestry education was rooted in scientific forestry, focusing on profitable production, renewable yield, and forest improvement, principles echoed in modern forest conservation efforts. The Biltmore Forest School closed in 1914 due to low enrollment. That same year, George Vanderbilt died. His widow Edith eventually sold the forest, which grew to 500,000 acres, to the United States Forest Service. Edith Vanderbilt's vision of private forest land as a public trust contributed to the establishment of Pisgah National Forest, preserving the pioneering work of Vanderbilt, Schenck, and Pinchot in forest conservation for the benefit of the American people.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has recently been gaining ground, particularly since November 2022, with the introduction of generative tools based on natural language processing and neural network algorithms. These kinds of tools have great potential for creators and users of Open Educational Resources (OER) and the Open Movement itself but they also represent risks. The International Council for Open and Distance Education OER Advocacy Committee (OERAC) developed two workshops to present the role of AI in OER at two international conferences in the fall of 2023. The workshops presented the features, benefits, key challenges, and practical issues related to using AI technologies from professional, ethical, sustainable, and equitable perspectives, while also focusing on the five areas of the UNESCO OER Recommendation. Participants were dynamically engaged in discussions, and documented their ideas in formats that could be used as OER in themselves. The OERAC noted and categorized the results, and developed short summaries and drafts for further work. Finally, drawing on the findings from the workshops, we asked ChatPDF for a second opinion on further suggestions for AI in connection with OER, which in turn related to the five areas of the recommendation. We conclude that, while there is great potential for the use of AI in the context of the Open Movement, there is also a need for professional ethics, equity, and sustainable capacity building, access, inclusion, policy, models, and international collaboration.

Understanding the variables that promote pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs) can be useful for sustainable development. Research has shown that several factors, including emotions, can influence PEBs. Eco-empathy and helplessness beliefs toward the environment (HBTE) can facilitate or discourage PEBs. To understand the role of these factors, it may be interesting to study their connection with different emotion regulation strategies suggested by Self-Determination Theory. The current study sought to test a model that could explain the associations of dysregulation, suppressive regulation, and integrative regulation with eco-empathy, HBTE, and PEBs. In a sample of 305 emerging adults, we found an association between integrative regulation and eco-empathy, dysregulation, and HBTE. The analyses revealed an indirect pathway from integrative regulation to PEBs through eco-empathy, suggesting the need to implement educational and informational programmes that consider the impact of emotional constraints on PEB implementation in the younger generation.

The purpose of this paper is to explore ways to cultivate learners who can take part in inquiry, discussion, and action toward realizing an equitable society from the perspective of the SDGs and ESD. After confirming the importance of dealing with the concept of and the issues around equity with consideration of the mutual interdependence among all 17 SDGs, the paper notes that the "inclusive and equitable quality education" mentioned in SDG 4 is assumed to be achieved by the integrated improvement and organization of a variety of aspects, such as educational environment, policy, systems, budget, teachers, and competency development. Next, based on the importance of competency development of all learners through ESD, the paper demonstrates the potentials of objective-referenced assessment for ESD. Finally, the paper proposes a tentative idea on a set of objectives for lessons on equity from the perspective of ESD, as a useful way to develop school-based curricula of quality ESD at each school and to promote effective lessons on equity to prepare learners who can attain the necessary competencies and take part in inquiry, discussion, and action toward realizing an equitable society

This research investigates the integration of Urban Environmental Quality, Materials and Resource Management, and Green and Sustainable Environment within the international maritime education framework at Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Pelayaran (STIP Jakarta/ Maritime Institute of Jakarta). The study explores cadet experiences in Nautical, Technical, and Port and Shipping Management Majors, analysing theoretical foundations, curriculum satisfaction, practical training, and the incorporation of Environmental Science elements. Utilizing a qualitative descriptive approach, data is gathered through document analysis and self-reported reflections from 100 randomly selected cadets. The findings reveal distinct dynamics across majors, indicating a strong alignment between theoretical foundations and curriculum satisfaction. However, variations exist in the emphasis on practical training and the integration of Environmental Science elements. Port and Shipping Management Majors stand out with a notable commitment to sustainability principles, while Nautical and Technical Majors show potential areas for enhancement. The implications for future research underscore the need for ongoing refinements in curricula to address the evolving demands of the maritime industry. The study contributes to the scholarly discourse on international maritime education, providing insights for academic institutions to foster environmentally conscious and globally competent maritime professionals.

Higher education institutions play a crucial role in advancing sustainable development goals. They bear the responsibility of informing and encouraging all stakeholders, including faculty members, students, and industry partners, to collaborate towards achieving these goals. While many universities are integrating Sustainable Development Goals into their operations and educational programs, there is an increasing need to establish collaborative platforms with private sectors and non-governmental organizations to further champion this agenda. Educating the future workforce is a key responsibility of these institutions, and they should actively raise students' awareness of these goals, enabling them to develop competencies related to sustainability. This study aims to explore how higher education institutions can effectively raise awareness of sustainable development goals. In addition, the research contributes to the literature by presenting a curriculum designed in a Turkish higher education institution to foster awareness of sustainable development goals. The findings hold the potential to significantly enrich existing literature on awareness-raising practices and the promotion of sustainability strategies, extending beyond higher education institutions to organizations at large.

The global climate crisis is present in national and international discourse, along with other challenges the world is going through, such as the current wars in Ukraine and Gaza or the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with the negative effects highlighted in the United Nations' sustainable development report. This paper aims to analyse and discuss how higher education institutions (HEIs) in Portugal cope with these challenges and contribute to a more sustainable world. The Portuguese case is interesting because, in recent years, they have been pressed to demonstrate their commitment towards sustainability publicly. We will proceed with framing the current role of Portuguese HEIs and their commitment to a sustainable world. This implies taking stock of their engagement with university social responsibility (USR), a concern of HEIs that is transversal to their roles -- research, teaching, and service to society -- but emphasises developing environmental sustainability and engaging students in active citizenship. Our argument is based on the importance that HEIs play in the sustainable development of societies, particularly in terms of environmental sustainability. Through documentary analysis of the strategic plans of HEIs, we explore if sustainability emerges and how it is framed in terms of policies and practices, contributing to a reflective debate on HEIs' potential role in addressing current challenges and committing to a more sustainable world. Therefore, the findings suggest that institutional diversity and territorial inequalities are important elements for understanding how different public HEIs in Portugal conceive and practice sustainability.

In 2015, Pakistan committed to United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4's provision of quality education for all. Target 4.7 of this Goal acknowledges that delivering quality education means ensuring that students develop a set of attributes characterised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in terms of global citizenship, and by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development using the nomenclature of global competence. There is ongoing debate regarding the agendas of the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; however, from a pragmatic perspective, both are already influencing domestic education policies. This article explores the extent to which this is the case in Punjab, Pakistan. A deductive thematic analysis of relevant education policies was undertaken to identify language reflective of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Programme of International Student Assessment Global Competence Framework. The analysis, based on meta themes identified by Vaccari and Gardinier, revealed the inclusion of language from these international agendas, as well as the reflections of local culture. Although this research was specific to Punjab, the findings may provide insights into how countries are adopting and/or contextualising these international agendas.

Underrepresentation of females in the field of engineering is overwhelming and posing a serious concern to the human race, especially in the developing countries. This has grievous impacts on the socio-economic and environmental growth and development of the nation. The paper seeks to investigate: (i) female students' knowledge of the fields of engineering; (ii) female students' perceptions of what the gender of engineers ought to be; and (iii) the various factors that influence students' career choice in engineering. The study was a descriptive study of the survey type. Data were collected using a self-constructed questionnaire. The sample of the study was 366 public female senior secondary II students who were in science class in Ikere-Ekiti, Nigeria. The findings revealed that majority of the respondents were familiar with the traditional disciplines in the field of engineering. The respondents perceived engineering as a male-dominating profession. Personal, family, school, and social indices were adduced as factors responsible for female students' choice of career. It was concluded that there exists gender discrimination in the choice of female students' career. It was recommended that female students have the ability, rights, knowledge, and duties in the society, and they can be professionals in engineering.

The article describes a participatory segmentation strategy, called the Actor Diagramming and Tracing Method, that enables Extension agents to tailor education initiatives. Using a case study, the authors demonstrate the method by segmenting North Carolina family forest landowners based on resources needed for sustainable forestry management. Instead of surveying select participants, as previous researchers have, the authors engage a diverse set of stakeholders through interviews, in-situ observations, and diagramming. Three segments emerged with explicit steps to engaging forest owners' barriers and motivations, as well as a key factor to adoption of sustainable forestry practices: owners' relationships/social networks.

The formation of environmental literacy in the education system through education for sustainable development (EfSD) experiences many obstacles. The aim of the research is to analyze the impact of interdisciplinary science learning for interdisciplinary oriented education for sustainable development to improve interdisciplinary thinking and environmental literacy of prospective teachers. The experimental method with a quasi-experimental pretest posttest group design was used in this study. The data collection technique used is an environmental literacy questionnaire and an interdisciplinary thinking test. Data analysis technique used independent t test. The results obtained were that the science interdisciplinary learning effective in improving interdisciplinary thinking performance and environmental literacy. The performance of students' interdisciplinary thinking affects environmental literacy of students. The university forms student teacher candidates who have the ability to think interdisciplinary so that they can manage science learning in an interdisciplinary and environmentally literate manner. The implication of this research is the importance of fostering interdisciplinary thinking and environmental literacy at all levels of education.

This study aims to analyze the responses of Indonesian researchers to the integration of Sustainable Developments Goals (SDGs) into language teaching. The data for the articles were collected using the SPAR-SLR technique and thematic analysis. A total of 1701 articles were analyzed, sourced from 42 language teaching journals classified under SINTA levels 1 to 6. The articles collected were from journals with two issues per year. The findings of this research indicate that Indonesian researchers have not given optimal attention to the integration of SDGs into language teaching. This limitation is primarily due to the lack of awareness and capacity among educators to integrate SDGs into language teaching. The limited integration of SDGs in language teaching corresponds with the scarcity of studies on this topic. There is a need to enhance the awareness and capabilities of educators in integrating SDGs into language teaching. Simultaneously, researchers must adopt a scientific inclination in their studies and publications related to the integration of SDGs into language teaching. Collaboration between educators and researchers to improve awareness and capacity is recommended as part of the effort to achieve educational quality, in line with the goals of the SDGs, through language teaching.

Rwanda started teaching English to support sustainable development and deliver the five key pillars that would help Rwandans transition from their existing way of life to the society they all desire and are happy to be a part of. As a follow-up to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Berlin Declaration on Education for Sustainable Development, the government ensured the standardisation and teaching of English. In order to assist the implementation of English teaching nationally, the theoretical paper explains how the 4Rs Framework--relationship-building, recognition, responsibilities, and reciprocity--combine to generate synergy among many stakeholders and cross-sectoral collaboration. The study presents literature on Rwanda's Vision 2050, education for sustainable development, and teaching using English as a medium of communication. It is founded on a critical literature review. The article discusses options for national transformation while emphasising the importance of locally rooted collaboration. The 4Rs technique is intended to foster discussion among important players about the issues and problems facing the area of education in emergencies rather than serving as a rigid theoretical framework. The study shows the connections between and tensions among the various "Rs," as well as the efficiency of the 4R dimensions in encouraging the teaching of English. The study considered ways to get beyond the approach's drawbacks and difficulties to support sustainable schooling in Rwanda. This framework encourages the creation of a synergistic educational ecosystem that equips students with the information, skills, and attitudes required to actively participate in Rwanda's path to sustainable development.

One of the points of science learning is to extend students' competence, counting problem-solving and analytical thinking. Conditions within the field appear that most students encounter trouble in fathoming relevant issues including the application of science concepts in real-world circumstances. This condition appears the require for compelling learning models and approaches to overcome the holes. This condition is additionally the premise for creating a problem-based learning (PBL) show based on Science Education for Sustainable Development (SESD). Research questions were investigated using a quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test design. This design is used to compare the learning outcomes achieved in the treatment class with those of the control class. The subjects of this study consisted of the students of class VIII of SMP Negeri X Ponorogo. Meanwhile, students of VIII class F, which is the experimental class, and students of class VIII D, which is the control class, were used as the research sample. From the t-test using independent sample test it is known that he use of PBL model and SESD approach has no significant impact on students' problem-solving skills but there is a significant impact on students' analytical thinking skills. From the MANOVA test we know that the overall significance values of Pillai's Trasce, Wilks' Lambda, Hotelling's Trace and Roy's Maximum Root are 0,000 < 0,05, so the use of PBL model and SESD approach has a significant impact on the 8th grade student's ability both to solve contextual problems and analytical thinking on the subject of food and digestive system.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a Universal Design for Learning (UDL)-based gender roles program on university students. The research was carried out utilizing an embedded mixed research design. The participants in the research took part in a UDL-Based Gender Roles Program that focused on sustainable development goals and gender equality. The study group included 15 female (83.3%) and three male (16.7%) university students enrolled in undergraduate programs at a foundation university during the 2021-2022 academic year. The Gender Roles Attitude Scale, reflection papers, learning diaries, and focus group interviews were used to collect data. SPSS was used to conduct quantitative data analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The content analysis technique was used to analyze the qualitative data. The quantitative results of the study found no statistically significant difference between participants' pre-test and post-test scores in terms of egalitarian gender roles, female gender roles, and total scores for sub-dimension of gender roles in marriage. However, the post-test showed a statistically significant difference in overall scores for traditional gender roles and male gender roles sub-dimensions. The qualitative outcomes of the study revealed that studies on gender roles have a positive impact on participants' perceptions and awareness. [This article includes an extended summary in Turkish.]

This study aimed to explore the familiarity with and opinions toward Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) among Montenegrin students at the end of their basic school years and upon entering upper-secondary school. The participants of the study were gathered in 2022, and the data were recorded via an online survey platform. The results were obtained from 705 students in the first grade of upper-secondary school. The results indicate a notable lack of student familiarity with the content of the ESD curriculum, despite it being a compulsory part of the basic school since 2014. The content listed in the curriculum of ESD for basic school is only sporadically or rarely integrated into teaching practice. Respondents mostly showed a neutral opinion toward the ESD content and its implementation practices. They did not demonstrate a clear majority opinion toward embracing sustainable thinking and behavior. Based on the study findings, there is an urgent need for comprehensive teacher training in all subjects for basic school teachers. The study recommends developing effective assessment tools for ESD concepts, providing teaching materials, and appropriate literature to integrate ESD content into each subject, ensuring the competent achievement of ESD goals.

In the study, repair activities were planned with prospective science teachers (f=24) using broken household appliances and it was aimed to establish a relationship between such practices and science teaching during the activities. The activities, which were carried out as a single group, were carried out in collaborative groups of four. Case study, one of the qualitative research models, was used as a method. The applications were planned within the scope of the 5E learning cycle, one of the inquiry-based learning approaches. After the activities, it was observed that the prospective teachers obtained important gains such as seeing the application areas of the science principles they learned in the lessons and transferring them to daily life, acquiring manual skills, and gaining experience. In addition, with such activities, sensitivity to issues such as recycling, sustainability, and recycling can be created instead of the disposable philosophy of our age.

Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) is a form of experiential learning that connects students with workplaces in their chosen field of study. WIL is a vital component of South Africa's teacher education, requiring pre-service teachers to complete a school practicum as part of their qualification. This research explores the question: What are effective WIL models for pre-service teachers in diverse South African contexts? The study reviews the practical and philosophical models of WIL and the concurrent model, examining their implementation in various universities as case studies. The study also identifies challenges, opportunities, and the need for support in South African WIL. The study adopts a social learning theory framework. The study informs how WIL effectively supports pre-service teachers and schools in diverse South African classroom. The study also discusses how WIL can promote education for sustainable development (ESD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This study aimed to construct a causal relationship model of factors influencing communication arts students' qualification for sustainability communication (SC), examine the goodness-of-fit model with empirical data, and analyze the effect size of the causal relationship model in terms of influencing factors. Data were collected from 400 communication arts students using a set of questionnaires rated on a five-point scale. The results were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23.0 and LISREL version 8.80 to determine the causal relationship model. The findings revealed that the construct of the causal relationship model of factors influencing SC of these students comprised four latent variables measured from 12 observed variables. Moreover, the influencing factors were consistent with the empirical data at a good level considering the accordance index, which consisted of x2 = 13.153, df = 25, p-Value = 0.974, RMSEA = 0.000, Standardized RMR = 0.006, GFI = 0.996, and AGFI = 0.979. The causal relationship model of the factors affecting SC revealed that education sustainable development could have direct, indirect, and total effects; the knowledge-based journalist concept could have direct, indirect, and total effects; and communication art principles could have direct and total effects, respectively.

The research is conceptual, introducing a synthetic picture of the teacher-student relationship with the environment in which they develop throughout their lives. Starting from the conception of cognitive and social constructivism (Piaget, 1952; Vîgotsky, 1978) and the alternative Reggio Emilia pedagogy (Hewitt, 2001; Moss, 2019), we use the TPACK model (Mishra & Koehler, 2006). On their foundation, we build a new integrative model in which the development of the professor, the student, and the environment support and influence each other. The model enables understanding of the role of the means and the prioritization of the unity of interests and ideals of the people who relate. The TPACK model serves as a relevant example to illustrate the benefits of technology and its relationship with pedagogy. The 3PT&Ii model situates technology as both a source of teaching tools and a mediator of relationships with other established discoveries in human and societal development. 3PT&Ii eliminates the error of an obsessive demand for schools to solely adapt to new technologies, arguing instead that humanity constantly refines and adapts means according to evolving needs and expectations. Technology and its tools have consistently played integral roles and meanings. The model emphasizes that humans produce everything, including innovative technologies, with decisions resting within individuals, communities, and society. The 3PT&Ii model is explanatory and illustrative, providing a framework for understanding individual, group, and societal development. Definitions of communication often oversimplify the relationship between Sender - Channel - Receiver and Feedback; digitization allows for dynamic imagery, and we aim to present the model accordingly. Explanations of the 3PT&Ii model are rooted in the T-time axis and directed towards the educational ideal represented by I.

This study delves into the intricate tapestry of Jiarong Tibetan embroidery, exploring its historical development, cultural significance, and educational implications in heritage preservation and sustainable practices. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the historical development and literacy of Jiarong Tibetan Embroidery in education. Conducted in Xiaojin County, known for its cultural significance in Tibetan embroidery, the research employed a multidimensional approach, including a literature review, interviews with key informants such as cultural experts and artisans, and thematic analysis of data collected through surveys, observations, and focus-group discussions. The research uncovered profound insights into the origins of Jiarong Tibetan embroidery, its cultural symbolism, educational pedagogy, market dynamics, and strategies for sustainable development. Based on these findings, the study suggests collaborative efforts among stakeholders to integrate heritage education, promote cultural literacy, and preserve traditional crafts like Jiarong Tibetan embroidery in the face of modern challenges.

Children are born into a world today with a drastically changing environmental climate. When young people develop an emotional attachment and sense of identity with nature, they may be more likely to behave in less destructive ways toward the planet and possibly live with a sense of responsibility and respect for nature. This mixed method study aimed to measure to what extent 3- to 6-year-olds demonstrated environmental sensitivity, awareness, and preferences at a nature-based Montessori school in the upper Midwest of the United States and asked if age was an influencing variable. Young children's connection to nature in these categories was determined using a modified age-appropriate psychological games testing tool, field observations of the types of nature features and activities the children experienced indoors and outdoors, and interviews with the two lead teachers. Results indicated that this cohort of children demonstrated a moderate to strong connection to nature in all three categories. Age was an influencing variable measuring environmental sensitivity and some aspects of environmental awareness, but not environmental preferences regarding where to play. This study adds to the body of work conducted in early childhood education, environmental education, early childhood environmental education for sustainability, and Montessori education.

There is no doubt that education for sustainable development (ESD) is important because it covers all areas: social, emotional, intellectual, physical, moral, etc. ESD helps people acquire the skills, knowledge, and values necessary for a successful life and a constructive contribution to society. If earlier early ESD was not at the centre of attention, recently it has become increasingly clear that early education has great potential for fostering values, behaviours, and skills that contribute to sustainable development. Despite this, ESD remains problematic due to the inadequate preparation of pre-service primary teachers in this area. It is obvious that ESD implementation in primary education is still poorly integrated. Empirical qualitative research aimed to reveal how pre-service primary school teachers understand ESD in primary school. Generally, 86 students from two Lithuanian universities, pre-service teachers of preschool and primary education, took part in the research. Verbal research data were analysed using the quantitative content analysis method. The results suggest that although ESD in early childhood is understood as significant and reasonable, however, the understanding of pre-service teachers is rather one-sided. ESD is understood as social welfare, while the natural and physical environment is the least expressed in their understanding structure. Meanwhile, the implementation of ESD is understood as a normal educational process, applying known techniques and methods. It is necessary to strive for the young generation to be characterised by responsibility, a sense of community, conservation, and citizenship, to understand the harmony of the surrounding world and their activities. For that purpose, changes in the education are needed to integrate the necessary ESD elements, including both managerial and educational processes.

Issues about climate change and its mitigation are crucial around the world. Universities play a vital role in addressing climate change by educating students on protecting and preserving the environment. Literary works and stories about the environment are texts to educate students in environmental care. This study explored students' attitudes toward caring for the environment through digital short stories. A mixed method with an explanatory sequential design was used in the study. Questionnaires were used as data collection instruments. The sample of this research is students at the Indonesian language and literature study program Universitas Negeri Makassar, Indonesia (N=60). The research results show that students acquire constructive mindsets toward environmental care from the digital short stories presented to them, particularly concerning the negative impacts of deforestation, as indicated by their support for tree planting and replanting. The findings of this study implied that using digital environmental short stories inspires the establishment of attitudes that aid in mitigating climate change.

This research is part of the "Ancient Xuzhou Houses in China: Cultural Memory, Symbol and Process Reconstruction in the Context of Rural Revitalization" project. Traditional houses contain a large amount of cultural value, literacy role, and historical memory. In order to sort out the transfer process more clearly between memory and people, this study set three research objectives. First, spatial memory transmission and literacy role needs to be studied and analyzed. Then, on this basis, we will further study the method of spatial memory transmission and literacy role. Finally, the appropriate medium for spatial memory transmission is analyzed. This study used descriptive analysis to summarize and discuss the results. The results show that spatial memory transmission and literacy is a process of maintaining and transmitting social and cultural values through the use and evolution of architecture and spatial design over time. Symbols in the memory space of residential buildings are containers for storing memories, just like a mobile hard drive that records relevant memory information. Residential buildings and people are like two devices that convey information and communicate through symbols. After comparison, in the dimension of cultural memory, symbols are more social and cultural and are more suitable as a medium for transmitting spatial memory and literacy role under cultural identity. This article explains the relationship between symbols and spatial memory, through spatial memory transmission to describe how common memories are shared and reproduced among collective members through cultural memory, literacy role and symbolic translation. It can transmit cultural and historical memories between different generations and acquires the importance of spatial positioning and environmental interaction in transmitting cultural memory.

This paper analyses the role of libraries in the development of Open Educational Resources (OER) and, more specifically, the impact and level of implementation of UNESCO's (2019) OER Recommendation in Higher Education libraries. This study, the result of a joint undertaking between a national R&D project and SPARC Europe, is based on an online survey, disseminated amongst the European Network of Open Education Librarians (ENOEL) and uses a descriptive research methodology. The results highlight the implementation actions being taken by university libraries (n = 136) in each of the five areas of action of UNESCO's Recommendation. We find that the main contributions are being made in the areas of capacity building and Open Education policies, but that considerable work has yet to be done in terms of promoting inclusiveness and the sustainability of OER. Thus, the full implementation of UNESCO's recommendation requires a greater commitment on the part of librarians to joint actions undertaken via international networks and projects, as well as greater institutional commitment and the building of interdepartmental alliances.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a worldwide commitment to a set of ambitious goals that advance sustainable social justice across the globe. Higher education (HE), while featuring in SDG 4: Quality Education, needs to occupy a bolder and more explicit position in the formulation of the SDGs and in their attainment, not only as an instrument toward the achievement of the SDGs but also in the sociocultural consciousness of countries towards a more sustainable and socially just world. Engaging with students in HE around these issues plays a vital role. Given Student Affairs and Services' (SAS) role and position in terms of support and development of students worldwide, it is a key player in supporting HE to become a more effective instrument in advancing the SDGs and in advancing students' attitudes and commitment to SDGs. To explore how SAS can play a more impactful role in advancing the SDGs and SAS' role in and contribution to SDGs around the world, we researched SAS practitioners' awareness of and engagement with SDGs. To collect data, we used a survey with open and closed questions via snowball sampling with self-selected participants from fifty-three countries (N=318). The results of our study suggest that SAS practitioners engage with and utilize the SDGs in a variety of ways across the globe, thus contributing to the role HE plays in advancing SDGs. In exploring the patterns, it emerges that SAS in the Global South (GS) and Global North (GN) engage differently with the SDGs. According to the results of our study, SAS in the GS appears to have more awareness of, engage more deliberately with, and use the SDGs more broadly in their work with students. While there are different trends on the role SDGs play across the global HE sector, the consensus seems to be around the need to discuss and engage with the SDGs more deeply, at curricular and co-curricular levels in higher education. Our research suggests that HE and SAS can do much more to generate awareness of SDGs, particularly in the GN.

Through a multistakeholder partnership, this research aims to catalyze the development of a blue economy corridor (BEC) through community-based asset mapping in the eastern portion of the Tar-Pamlico River Basin in North Carolina, a geographic area predominated by physically and culturally rural landscapes. Underpinned by appreciative inquiry, this project aims to counter a deficit model of community development in this portion of eastern North Carolina by increasing awareness of quality of life assets that communities currently possess and may leverage for sustainable economic, environmental, and social development through their inclusion in a digital interactive map freely available to the public.

Involving the global issues as listed in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in education is necessarily done in the education process, especially in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. Exposure to global issues is known to improve students' understanding, awareness, and ability to solve urgent issues faced by global society. This paper aims to find out the trend of research on the coverage of SDGs in students' learning process. This systematic literature analysis was done by applying Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Method. A total of 25 studies were recognized through a systematic search by using Sustainability, SDGs, and EFL as keywords. The result shows that the trend of associating SDGs with EFL settings was done mostly in Indonesia. In the recent year 2022, it reached the highest number of studies in the particular matter with 7 total of research. It was also found that the study involving SDGs on EFL learning was mostly done in the tertiary setting, compared with K-12, junior high school, secondary, high school, and other educational institutions. It was also discovered that the specific area of study enhances EFL students' learning achievement, environmental awareness, global citizen values, as well as students' levels of self-norms, beliefs, and self-value.

This study aims to investigate environmentally responsible and sustainable development of 56 pre-service teachers which relevant to framework of sustainable development goals. The qualitative data were collected and analyzed by summarizing general perspectives. The 9 concepts were found and reported. The ways to sustain environments and education students to reach sustainable development can be done by reduce, reuse, recycle; conserve water; save energy; sustainable transportation; grow trees and keep open areas green; waste management; support eco-friendly products; reduce carbon footprint; and conserve biodiversity. These frameworks and perspectives should be incorporated in education and classroom in action.

A systematic mapping review of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in higher education has been carried out. Forty-six articles published from 2018 to 2022 were identified using the Systematic Literature Review. The purpose of this literature review was to derive a research framework that effectively raise awareness of SDGs from the realm of higher education and show SDGs research opportunities that have not been widely implemented. Research findings in the implementation of SDGs innovation in higher education have a trend in the categories of learning, stakeholders (institutions), teaching and approach. Based on the five modalities of higher education, the category is spread over the aspects of education (79%) and knowledge production (10%). The other three aspects such as public debate, provision of public services and embodiment only have quantities below 5%. Innovations include the development of SDGs-based courses by integrating aspects of knowledge production and provision of public services into one learning goal through the Project-based Learning Model. Mapping of the implementation of the SDGs in higher education provides information that supports researchers, educators and policy-making institutions interested in educational innovation. The results of the analysis show that the integration of these aspects can not only increase the understanding of higher education graduates regarding the SDGs but also increase public awareness regarding the SDGs through the provision of public services by universities.

The year 2020 brought not only the COVID-19 pandemic but also a wave of racial injustice, which impacted many in the U.S. and beyond. Combined, these phenomena have been characterized as dual pandemics, which introduced new demands that forced faculty to redesign aspects of their doctoral programs to ensure sustainability during the pandemic and post-pandemic era. The purpose of this essay is to highlight changes we made to sustain our EdD program during and post dual pandemics. We achieve this by employing Ginwright's (2022) four pivots and brown's (2017) emergent leadership as a framework and to conceptualize how we transitioned from viewing the events of 2020 as problems to embracing the possibilities they offered for the present and future of our EdD program. Practical implications and recommendations for this work are discussed to offer EdD faculty ways to design, develop, and sustain their doctoral programs in the post-pandemic era.

Ensuring equity in education is a goal for sustainable development. Among the factors that hinder equity, socioeconomic status (SES) has the highest impact on learning Mathematics. This paper addresses the issue of equity at the secondary school level by proposing an approach based on adopting automatic formative assessment (AFA). Carefully designed mathematical activities with interactive feedback were experimented with a sample of 299 students of grade 8 for a school year. A control group of 257 students learned the same topics using traditional methodologies. Part of the sample belonged to low SES. The learning achievement was assessed through pre-and post-tests to understand if the adoption of AFA impacted learning and whether the results depended on the students' SES. The results show a positive effect of the experimentation (effect size: 0.42). Moreover, the effect size of the experimentation restricted to the low-SES group is high (0.77). In the treatment group, the results do not depend on SES, while in the control group, they do, suggesting that AFA is an equitable approach while traditional instruction risks perpetuating inequalities.

Nutrition facts are the details on food packaging that describe its nutritional value, including serving size, calories, macronutrients like carbohydrates, protein, and fat, and micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals. These facts have mathematical concepts that can be utilized as a context for prospective teachers to create mathematical problems. By leveraging this real-world data, educators can contribute to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), by promoting nutritional awareness, and SDG 4 (Quality Education) by enhancing student engagement and understanding through relatable examples. This study examines the profile of mathematical tasks created by prospective mathematics teachers using nutrition facts as a context that meets numeracy task criteria. Data were collected from 62 mathematical tasks created by 31 prospective teachers attending a realistic mathematics education course on numeracy based on a problem-posing task at a public university in Surabaya, Indonesia. The posed tasks were categorized into solvable or unsolvable tasks and the domains of the level of context use and the level of cognitive processes. Results revealed that the level of context use in the posed tasks varied from zero to second order. Surprisingly, most of the tasks were in the first-order level context. Most posed tasks reached the application level, with only a few identified as reasoning tasks. Interestingly, some tasks coded as second-order context were classified as reasoning tasks. The study provides implications for designing numeracy tasks using nutrition facts and interventions in teacher education related to numeracy task design.

In contemporary higher education, aligning student competencies with sustainable development goals (SDGs) is crucial for enhancing their employability. This necessity extends to graphic design undergraduate programs, pivotal in nurturing designers capable of addressing global sustainability challenges. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study aims to outline essential competencies for graphic design undergraduates pertinent to the SDGs. The research commenced with a systematic review of fourteen seminal articles, leading to the initial identification of fifty-eight key competencies. Subsequently, a Delphi study involving 44 graphic design experts validated these competencies. This iterative process refined the list, excluding twenty-seven competencies and affirming thirty one as critical. These validated competencies were categorized into four groups: Systemic, Performance, Contextual, and Global. The study's findings provide valuable insights for graphic design educators and industry employers, illuminating competencies essential for addressing sustainability challenges. Furthermore, this research contributes to academic discourse by offering a structured framework for integrating SDG-related competencies into graphic design education. This facilitates the development of designers proficient not only in their craft but also in sustainability imperatives. Our aim is to enhance pedagogical strategies and inform curriculum development in graphic design education, aligning them with evolving professional demands and sustainable development objectives.

The accelerated adoption of distance learning in post-pandemic times has resulted in increasing research publications and review studies in a short time. This necessitates the exploration of a large corpus of academic publications for effective distance learning and learning strategies. As distance learning stakeholders have assimilated the transactional approach to understanding distance learning, transactional distance theory (TDT) is relevant to understand ways to reduce the distance between learners and educators for maximum effectiveness of distance learning. Our study applies TDT to review distance learning from a supply perspective and as a tool to ensure the improved quality of distance learning. This paper has two key contributions: we have presented evidence synthesis and conducted a foresight exercise. Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines, 275 documents published between 1994 and 2022 were identified for review. Our analysis revealed patterns, relationships, and trends in the application of TDT in various distance learning contexts. Most TDT research is conducted in social sciences (83.7%), with computer science accounting for 42.6% of the studies. The course materials' structure and design have also received considerable attention, with around 40.0% of the research focused on this area. For distance learning, studies revolve around factors such as student engagement, satisfaction, and TDT, which examine the distance between learners and instructors in various learning environments. Through systematic review and metaanalysis, we identify the three thematic areas in TDT research on distance learning. We have chartered themes on the effect of alternate design distance learning platforms on learner success, pushing the development boundaries in distance learning success through TDT, and the practical processes for designing successful distance learning courses via TDT-based pedagogical frameworks. In doing so, we streamline research in TDT and distance learning thematically and provide insight into further work. In addition, this study analyzed the relationships between sustainable development goal (SDG) and TDT literature. The co-citation analysis suggested that the strongest links were observed between education and innovation (SDG 4 and SDG 9), followed by education and gender equality (SDG 4 and SDG 5).

English education in Japan has traditionally focused on grammar over communication, and the country has struggled to compete internationally in terms of English proficiency scores. As the country works toward the internationalization of higher education, improving English education is an important issue. One potential solution is the use of topics that elicit students' interest and make them feel like part of the international community. This paper explored the use of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a topic due to their global importance and position, along with English, as a key to furthering the global citizenship of Japan's youth. Because of the substantial number of SDGs, not all goals can be realistically addressed in a single course. Therefore, to find topics tailored to students' interests in sustainability, this study examined the relationship between student interest in sustainability, International Posture (IP), and personal connection to SDGs. A survey was given to 266 first-year university students in general education English classes. A separate multiple regression analysis was conducted for the target variable, "Topic Interest" within English class for each goal, to determine how the effects and significance of variables differed for each SDG. Results showed that the IP subscale, "Intergroup Approach Tendency," was significant for 14 and "Personal Value" was significant for 16 of the goals. For internationally minded students engaged in the study of English as a foreign language, the SDGs could be a useful motivational tool.

The review article presents an analysis of the literature on environmental literacy in sustainable development. By utilizing techniques to examine multiple documents published between 2013 and 2023, including citation analysis, co-authorship analysis, subject area analysis, and keyword analysis, this study aims to provide valuable information and insights into the research landscape surrounding environmental literacy and its contribution to promoting sustainable development. A systematic search was conducted to gather several scientific articles, conference papers, and publications from the Scopus database from 2013 to 2023. The findings of this analysis shed light on authors, influential institutions, and active research groups that contributed to the study of environmental literacy and sustainable development. This comprehensive review offers an understanding of the state of research in this field while identifying areas for further exploration and research gaps. The insights gained from this study can be highly beneficial for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to advance knowledge and take action toward promoting literacy's role in sustainable development. This analysis is a foundation for advancing our understanding of literacy's significance while emphasizing its vital role in sustainable development efforts.

Education is a crucial human right, occupying the fourth spot in the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite efforts by governments and donor agencies, Nigeria's educational expectations have not yielded the desired outcomes. With approximately 10.5 million children out-of-school as of January 2022, Nigeria remains among the nations with the highest rates of out-of-school children. Leveraging a combination of a survey with 352 valid responses from diverse demographics, document analysis, and a critical review of extant literature, this study seeks to highlight the dangers of out-of-school children and evaluate the role of the family, government, donor agencies, and media in ebbing the tide of out-of-school children. The study argues that the efforts of governments and donor agencies to eradicate the challenge of out-of-school children are, at best, false generosity and highlights media strategies that are critical towards increasing the enrolment of children in schools. The study goes further to identify handbills, posters, and community radio as the most efficient channels for disseminating information about the importance of formal education and concludes that achieving optimal school enrolment in Nigeria requires a deliberate and sustained programme by the government and diverse donor agencies in which the media has a crucial role to play.