Prepared for: UOIT Special Topics Professor Francois Desjardins Proposed Research Project

1. Sustainable Development Education:Collaborative On Line Learning Environments and Social TransformationAn examination of the influence of digital technology upon educational instruction, curriculum development and experiences. Prepared for: UOIT Special Topics Professor Francois Desjardins Proposed Research Project Presented: June 23rd, 2010 Presented to: Classmates Presented by: David Belsey

2. Contents • Domain of Study • Literature Review and Definitions • Problem Statement(s) • Theoretical Framework • Research Questions • Proposed Study • Future Research

3. Sustainable Development, Digital Technology and Social Transformation • Large-scale economic and social choices made by individuals, organizations and communities about how to use ICTs to change their structures and behaviours will play a potentially significant role in determining whether there is a successful global response to the challenge of achieving sustainable development • ICT’s and social networking applications are just beginning to reveal their potential for facilitating transformative change • IISD 2010

4. Domain of Study Promotion of Social Change Through SDE

5. Literature Review and Definitions Sustainable Development is….. “A complex concept...that spills over multiple disciplinary borders, employing metaphors and insights from a number of relatively new scientific disciplines including systems and ecological sciences, it resists simple definition.” (Elshof, 2005, pg 1) The development of multiple definitions has reached over 40 since 1992. (Dryzek, 1997) So what is the basic definition of SD?

6. Sustainable Development is…. Altruistic definition is the equitable, bearable and viable interactions of environmental, social and economic development that meets the needs of current and future populations

7. Therefore SD is dependent upon education….. Formal Educational Environments Informal

8. Why Education for the Environment? • Three Pillars of Sustainability: • Economic: Exploitation levels have surpassed certain capacities of survival • Social: Globalization and societal consumptive habits are exceeding global provision ability • Environment: Provides the necessities of human survival • There is a moral obligation to our Seventh Generation to address the past and current environmental malignancies to ensure sustainability of life. IISD 1992

9. Problem Statement(or Opportunity Statement) • Need to hear and understand the voices and stories of (Sustainable Development Education) educators” (Sammel, 2003) • Need to move away from an agenda focused on awareness raising and behavioural change towards processes based on Paulo Fiere’s notion of Concientiizacion. (Elshof, 2002) • Critical consciousness and informal education

10. Problem Statement(or Opportunity Statement) • As the DESD closes in 4 years there remains little or no forward progress • There is an agreed upon shift from prescribed learning pathways to an enhanced student centric approach that addresses the needs and motivations   of students is predominant. (White, 2009) There is little understanding of the infantile state of collaborative processes used in SDE and the use of digital technology to enhance future initiatives

11. TheoreticalFramework

12. TheoreticalFramework • Piaget: Passion to support SDE • ARCS: Model of Motivation • Attention/Relevance/Confidence/Satisfaction • Situated: Participatory within context/culture • Critical Consciousness and from “to” to “with” the people • Soc Dev: Consciousness/cognition end product of socialization/behaviour

13. Research Questions • What is the current state of Post Secondary SDE in Ontario with respect to: • Use and implementation of digital technology for sync/async curriculum communications • COLE’s • MOOL • What is the current state of informal SDE initiatives in Ontario with respect to digital technology • How can these specific areas of focus enhance social change through SDE?

14. Proposed Study • Survey Monkey and Interviews • Formal Education • Ontario Universities with programs specific in Sustainability • Specifics: • University of Ottawa: Prof. Mellissa Marscke • University of Toronto: Prof. Teresa Dawson Director of Teaching and Learning Services • Prof. M Bunce • University of Toronto: Office of Sustainability • Lakehead University: MA of Sustainability • Trent University: Prof. A Zohur • York University: Prof. David Bell Prof. RanuBasu ETC.

15. Proposed Study • Survey Monkey and Interviews • Informal Education • EASO Prof Jim Greenlaw • ONFC Janet Tovey • KEG Mark Trealout • Everdale Environmental Education Centre • Kortright Environmental Education Centre ETC

16. Key Concepts/Factors for Discussion • Levels of digital literacy and use of ICT’s by respondents (educators) • Forms of digital technology used • Length of use specific to SDE • Asyncvs Sync communications • Challenges to implementation • Successes of implementation • COLE’s and successful social movement development examples • Perceptions of accreditation and SDE (informal vs formal)

17. Future Research • Create a model of development for a SDE based curriculum utilizing strictly COLE’s for UOIT!!!!!