CRAFTS: Co-Designing Reflective Approaches for the Teaching of Sustainability

Kieran Higgins and Alison Calvert
Additional contact information
Kieran Higgins: Kieran Higgins, Learning Enhancement Directorate, Ulster University, 2-24 York Street, Belfast BT15 1AP, United Kingdom. E-mail: k.higgins@ulster.ac.uk
Alison Calvert: Alison Calvert, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.

Journal of Education for Sustainable Development, 2024, vol. 18, issue 1, 45-55

Abstract: Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) provides a viable framework for integrating sustainability into higher education curriculum design. This article proposes the CRAFTS (Co-Designing Reflective Approaches for the Teaching of Sustainability) methodology, leveraging Design Thinking principles to seamlessly incorporate ESD into curricula. The stages of CRAFTS—Co-Design, Theoretical Alignment, Learning Design, Curriculum Planning, Curriculum Testing and Empathize Further—offer a structured yet flexible approach to curriculum development through stakeholder collaboration, alignment with ESD theory and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the use of transformative pedagogy and active learning strategies, consolidated into actionable curriculum plans and supported by continuous evaluation and iterative improvement. This methodology not only prepares students to address complex sustainability issues but also ensures higher education institutions fulfil their ethical and moral responsibilities. By embedding ESD principles authentically and dynamically, CRAFTS can cultivate future-ready graduates who are passionate advocates for a sustainable world.

Keywords: Education for Sustainable Development; Design Thinking; curriculum co-design; transformative pedagogy; authentic assessment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0169796X241299929 (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:jousus:v:18:y:2024:i:1:p:45-55

DOI: 10.1177/0169796X241299929

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in Journal of Education for Sustainable Development
Bibliographic data for series maintained by SAGE Publications ().