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A framework for teaching socio-environmental problem-solving

Author

Listed:
  • Cynthia A. Wei

    (National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC)
    Georgetown University)

  • Michael L. Deaton

    (James Madison University)

  • Teresa J. Shume

    (North Dakota State University)

  • Ramiro Berardo

    (The Ohio State University)

  • William R. Burnside

    (National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC))

Abstract

The urgent environmental challenges we now face, from climate change to biodiversity loss, involve people and the planet, the social, and the environmental. Teaching students to become effective socio-environmental problem-solvers requires clarity about concepts and competencies needed to understand and tackle these challenges. Here, we propose an educational framework that describes what students should learn and how they should apply this knowledge to address socio-environmental problems. This framework emphasizes the process of problem-solving and is based on socio-environmental (S-E) synthesis, an integrative, transdisciplinary approach to understanding and tackling complex socio-environmental problems. In addition to identifying the knowledge, skills, dispositions, and practices necessary for S-E problem-solving at the undergraduate and graduate levels, we clarify how one draws on such competencies to inquire about problems and generate solutions for them. Our primary goal is to provide a useful tool to help guide development of curricula, teaching materials, and pedagogies for S-E synthesis and interdisciplinary environmental education more broadly.

Suggested Citation

  • Cynthia A. Wei & Michael L. Deaton & Teresa J. Shume & Ramiro Berardo & William R. Burnside, 2020. "A framework for teaching socio-environmental problem-solving," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 10(4), pages 467-477, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jenvss:v:10:y:2020:i:4:d:10.1007_s13412-020-00603-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s13412-020-00603-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cynthia Wei & William Burnside & Judy Che-Castaldo, 2015. "Teaching socio-environmental synthesis with the case studies approach," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 5(1), pages 42-49, March.
    2. Rodrigo Lozano & Michelle Y. Merrill & Kaisu Sammalisto & Kim Ceulemans & Francisco J. Lozano, 2017. "Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Deana Pennington & Gabriele Bammer & Antje Danielson & David Gosselin & Julia Gouvea & Geoffrey Habron & Dave Hawthorne & Roderic Parnell & Kate Thompson & Shirley Vincent & Cynthia Wei, 2016. "The EMBeRS project: employing model-based reasoning in socio-environmental synthesis," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 6(2), pages 278-286, June.
    4. Caldarelli, Guido, 2013. "Scale-Free Networks: Complex Webs in Nature and Technology," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199665174.
    5. Tina Lynn Evans, 2019. "Competencies and Pedagogies for Sustainability Education: A Roadmap for Sustainability Studies Program Development in Colleges and Universities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-36, October.
    6. Susan Clark & Michelle Steen-Adams & Stephanie Pfirman & Richard Wallace, 2011. "Professional development of interdisciplinary environmental scholars," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 1(2), pages 99-113, June.
    7. Susan Clark & Richard Wallace, 2015. "Integration and interdisciplinarity: concepts, frameworks, and education," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 48(2), pages 233-255, June.
    8. Shirley Vincent & Will Focht, 2011. "Interdisciplinary environmental education: elements of field identity and curriculum design," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 1(1), pages 14-35, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Wadim Strielkowski & Evgeny Kuzmin & Arina Suvorova & Natalya Nikitina & Olga Gorlova, 2023. "Organizational economic sustainability via process optimization and human capital: a Soft Systems Methodology (SSM) approach," Papers 2311.17882, arXiv.org, revised Nov 2023.

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