Mapping what young students understand and value regarding the issue of sustainable development

Yıl 2013, Cilt: 3 Sayı: 1, 17 - 35, 14.01.2013

Annika Manni Karin Sporre Christina Ottander

Öz

This paper presents the results of a study carried out to investigate how 10-12- year old Swedish students’ understand and value the issue of sustainable development (SD). The responses from open-ended questions in a questionnaire have been analysed through a content analysis based on a phenomenographic approach. The results show that there are considerable variations in the level of understandings and the values related to the three aspects of SD. Understanding within as well as between the aspects are noted, with students having the most difficulty in seeing the relationships between all three aspects, i.e. a holistic understanding. Furthermore, students’ understanding and values are often expressed in an integrated way i.e. expressed in the same sentence. The results as well as the methods used in this study are discussed in relation to systems thinking and ethical issues within education for sustainable development (ESD).

Anahtar Kelimeler

ESD, levels of understanding, values, student perspective, ethical reflections

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