Module 7.5: Reading
7.5 Future prospects
7.5.1 Introduction
Looking to the future, environmental conditions can improve with inclusive and high-quality education and training that promotes sustainability competencies to train systemic thinkers and ethical change agents that are necessary to promote a sustainable society. Let's see how this will affect education and how we can adapt our schools to the change.
7.5.2 Towards a competent education
We have already seen how the GreenComp provides a competence framework with which it is hoped that in the future schools and educators will become aware of the importance of learning for environmental sustainability and design learning opportunities focused on developing the sustainability skills.
This new competence framework is reinforced with pedagogical practices such as:
- Active learning.
- Transformative learning contexts (learning situations), centered on the student and based on design and projects.
- Gamification
- Dramatizations, experimental games and simulations.
- Project-based learning.
- Outdoor activities.
Experts have highlighted the need to take into account the context, such as the educational level, the school environment and the local community. Pedagogical approaches can incorporate digital technologies to help people acquire skills.
On the other hand, experiencing sustainability is essential to stimulate a change in mentality. An example is the promotion of good practices to reduce waste, reuse, repair or share among students.
7.5.3 A leading Europe in a sustainable economy
It is expected that in the coming years the sectors related to sustainability and the environment will play an increasingly important role in the global economy. Hence the importance of training citizens capable of this new context.
So, the initiatives adopted by the European Union in relation to sustainability and digitization want to prepare Europe to lead a new global economic context in which an increasingly interconnected world will have to face new social, economic and environmental challenges.
7.5.4 The participation of the youngest
On the other hand, the civic participation of European citizens will play a key role in this new scenario. That is why it is vitally important to regain the support and faith of the people, especially young people, in the process of European integration and the achievement of the objectives towards a more sustainable economy.
Hence the importance of training and raising awareness in our students to develop their critical spirit so that they take the lead, participate and become agents of the change we want to see in our world.
Activity: Watch this video on Europe's climate in 2050, write 4 proposals to avoid this situation or how the population can adapt to climate change.