Transformative Learning Through Small Group Discussion: Course Book Resources to Accelerate Change

AASHE Conference, October 28th, 2014

Presenter: Deborah McNamara, Director of Organizational Partnerships

Northwest Earth InstituteDeborah@nwei.org

Webinar Objectives

• Learn about a transformative pedagogy of sustainability that can be easily adapted anywhere on campus

• Introduce NWEI’s sustainability-focused course books as a curricular and co-curricular tool for your campus/classroom

• Discuss NWEI’s Methodology & Theory of Change• Highlight implementation ideas

NWEI’s Model for Change

“The volume of education continues to increase, yet so do pollution, exhaustion of resources, and the dangers of ecological catastrophe. If still more education is to save us, it would have to be education of a different kind: an education that takes us into the depth of things.” 

-E. F. Schumacher

About NW Earth Institute• National non-profit

leader in the development of innovative sustainability courseware for over 20 years

• 150,000 people engaged, over 300 higher education institutions, 4,000+ students, faculty, staff engaged each year

• Offerings: Course books, EcoChallenge

– Choices for Sustainable Living– Menu for the Future– Hungry for Change: Food,

Ethics & Sustainability– Sustainable Systems at Work– Voluntary Simplicity– Reconnecting With Earth– A World of Health:

Connecting People, Place and Planet

– Change By Degrees: Addressing the Climate Challenge

– New: Seeing Systems: Peace, Justice & Sustainability

Course Book Topics

Sustainability Education and Engagement

What is needed now?

•Teach ethical dilemmas•Reflective problem solving skills•Systems thinking•Experiential•Solutions focused

-from Stephen Mulkey at AASHE 2013,

Organizational Change for Sustainability Education

• Solutions-based, reflective pedagogy rooted in transformative learning theory

• Reflective discussion questions

• Inquiry based, participatory learning

• Additional resources, action planning tools and action assignments

NWEI Course Books

• Course books = discussion/dialogue based• We believe change starts at the personal level• Change is most effective in a social context• Content = accessible, stories, investigative

journalism, opinion pieces, thought leaders in sustainability field

NWEI Course Books

Core Concepts• Deep Ecology: seeing beyond the human-centric

perspective• How to connect environmental awareness to

values people find important? – health, money savings, etc.

• Personal responsibility is key. “We” perspective• How to translate information to behavior change? • Learning can be fun, social: small group

discussion encourages peer to peer learning

Methodology and Theory of Change

• Collaborative learning, transformative learning, active learning

• Systems thinking• “Uncovering” connections vs. “covering” content

NWEI’s Model for Change

“Information alone is just noise; it has to be applicable, it has to be interesting, it has to be doable, it has to have personal relevance. That is the power of the NWEI method. Because it’s not a question of ‘what did the author say about so-and-so?’ It’s ‘What do you think? How can you use it? And what was your reaction?’”

- Lena Rotenberg, Educational Consultant

Behavior Change and Sustainability• Lack of support is a barrier to changing behavior • Education is needed per “how to” • Health and safety are good motivators • What ultimately motivates is knowing how to

make changes along with SUPPORT -From University of Minnesota research

Why it Works– 80% feel a greater sense of personal obligation for solving

environmental challenges – 73% more regularly make reductions in energy and water

consumption– 72% take more seriously the challenges of biodiversity

loss, climate change, rising personal consumption and limited natural resources

– 60% more frequently volunteer for environmental causes and make alternative transportation choices

– 70% buy more local and organic produce– 87% feel the small group discussion process was helpful in

creating change

RESULTS:Community, Self-reflection, Interaction, Active learning, Increased sense of responsibility

Implementation

Classroom/Supplement to existing course– Introductory – as stand

alone course text, supplemental process

– 300+ level – as supplemental text and process

– Capstone Courses

Implementation, Cont’d

• Faculty and staff professional development• Student life: Residence Life, EcoReps• Green Teams• Sustainability Office Programming• Study Abroad• Service Learning• Freshman Orientation/First Year Experience• Libraries/Reference

*Customized curriculum, webinars to fit individual needs

Case Studies• Birmingham-Southern College:

Year-long, cross-disciplinary Dialogue Series on Food

• Illinois Wesleyan University: Sustainability training for Residential Advisors/Office of Res Life

• University of Portland: Food Justice Internship

• University of Florida: University Green Team Captains’ training & County Extension Programs

Resources: www.nwei.org

Q&AContact: Deborah McNamara,

Director of Organizational Partnerships Deborah@nwei.org

720.400.3739