Education for Sustainable Development: A Step Change
The challenges of climate change, finite resources and their unequal distribution are well understood. The science provides us with facts, and the technological solutions to change the ways things are done already exist. So why is there a gap between what we know needs to be done, and implementing change?
Science is critical and fundamental but only part of the picture. Education for sustainable development means giving children the right to ask questions. It is only with a questioning mindset that we will develop the critical thinking necessary to make progress and adapt.
The Learn2Think Foundation was set up in 2016 to empower young people to be creative, independent and compassionate thinkers. We do this by encouraging children to ask their own questions so that they can gain alternate perspectives, engage and ‘own’ their curiosity and give up the need to be right and see the ‘other’ as wrong. Developing this approach to thinking deeply about the larger questions in life equips children with the tools, not simply to challenge the status quo, but to prepare them for a rapidly changing world.
Creative - Imaginative; not following the status quo; flexible; courageous.
Independent - Feeling like they can make a difference; empowered; autonomous.
Compassionate - Seeing other points of view and recognising different possibly competing needs.
Our Programmes
The Questioning Project was designed to encourage both independent and collaborative learning, as well as the exploration of different perspectives. By encouraging new approaches to questions, this free programme helps embed pupil generated questioning within day-to-day teaching.
Our other key initiative is Tolerance Day, a free annual programme, under the patronage of UNESCO, of specially designed and curated, curriculum linked lessons and fun activities to help children understand and practice tolerance as a foundation for their individual world view.
ESD Resources
We have partnered with Earthday.org to promote climate literacy and build a knowledge base in schools.
The L2T Climate Quiz: ‘So You Think You Know About Climate Change?’ challenges common misunderstandings about climate change.
A critical thinking workshop, ‘The Knotty Tree Problem’, for ages 9-13yrs. Four interest groups present their case as to why an ancient tree needs to be preserved or cut down depending on each group’s individual needs. Children learn about the complexities of ‘wicked’ problems like climate change when ‘perfect’ solutions are neither obvious nor indeed ever possible and how creativity and communication, together with tolerant attitudes can drive a better result for everyone. This is not “win or lose” but rather about achieving fairer outcomes.
Biography
Felicia Jackson is the chair of the Learn2Think Foundation. Founding Editor of Sustainable Growth Voice, co-host of sustainability podcast Shaken Not Burned and current contributor to Forbes.com. She was a member of the UNEP Technical Expert Panel developing a methodology for targets and indicators for Sustainable Development Goal 17.7.1 and teaches at SOAS, University.
