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Early Childhood STEM Education for Sustainable Development

Author

Listed:
  • Coral Campbell

    (Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Education, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia)

  • Christopher Speldewinde

    (Faculty of Arts and Education, School of Education, Deakin University, Melbourne, VIC 3125, Australia)

Abstract

Early childhood education is crucial for the development of young children’s understanding of the natural world. Children have a role in sustaining a viable environmental and social future. This research interrogated key ideas concerning STEM education for sustainable development, drawing on seminal research and a range of government policy documents to formulate a futures-oriented approach to supporting children to build understandings in early childhood sustainability. Through the use of ethnography, a research methodology that uses both participation and observation of research participants, it became apparent that young children’s play-based learning enabled agentic responses in aligning with early understanding of STEM and sustainability. Using accepted descriptors of international Sustainable Development Goals within an early childhood research study, the research highlights how the development of interactive, learner-centred STEM teaching not only enables investigative, action-adapted learning, but also fosters independent learners who are responsive to their natural environment. The implication of this research is that further development of children’s environmental agency is suggested by the authors. The introduction of a whole-of-kindergarten approach that focuses on the systemic development of quality STEM education is posited as an avenue for educators to build young children’s understandings of sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Coral Campbell & Christopher Speldewinde, 2022. "Early Childhood STEM Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-11, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:6:p:3524-:d:773165
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
    2. Martín Bascopé & Paolo Perasso & Kristina Reiss, 2019. "Systematic Review of Education for Sustainable Development at an Early Stage: Cornerstones and Pedagogical Approaches for Teacher Professional Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-16, January.
    3. Thomas, Bibi & Watters, James J., 2015. "Perspectives on Australian, Indian and Malaysian approaches to STEM education," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 42-53.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jefferson Rodrigues-Silva & Ángel Alsina, 2023. "STEM/STEAM in Early Childhood Education for Sustainability (ECEfS): A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    2. Sylvia Christine Almeida & Aihua Hu & Michiko Inoue, 2022. "Alternative Perspectives on Environmental and Sustainability Education: A Study of Curriculum Policies across India, China and Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-14, August.

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