Implementation of “Education for Sustainability” in Three Elementary Schools – What can we Learn about a Change Process?

Shirley Miedijensky; Anat Abramovich

doi:10.29333/ejmste/109145

Full Text (PDF)

Shirley Miedijensky ¹ ² ^* , Anat Abramovich ³

More Detail

¹ Oranim Academic College, Tivon, ISRAEL² Shamir Research Institute, Haifa University, Haifa, ISRAEL³ Israeli Center for Scientific and Technological Education, Technion, Haifa, ISRAEL^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This study examines the process of educational change as demonstrated in three elementary schools implementing education for sustainability (EfS). Actions and stages in the change process were characterized. Data included interviews with the school principals and teachers involved, in-school observations, and documentation (schools’ vision statements, websites, and reports). Our findings indicate that important factors for a successful implementation include motives for change, persons involved, actions carried out, and follow-up activity. While all three schools showed evidence of changes implementing EfS as a regular part of the school’s philosophy, only one school demonstrated changes deemed permanent and significant. This was the only school that implemented a gradual and structured process of change, that executed many actions at each stage, and where the principal and staff were well-qualified and fully committed. This study contributes to understanding how changes may be implemented in educational systems and emphasizes the importance of each stage.

Keywords

educational change
education for sustainability
environmental education

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2019, Volume 15, Issue 10, Article No: em1754

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109145

Publication date: 03 May 2019

Article Views: 2762

Article Downloads: 2187

Open Access References How to cite this article

References

Aas, M. (2017). Understanding leadership and change in schools: expansive learning and tensions. International Journal of Leadership in Education, 20, 278-296.
Abramovich, A., & Loria, Y. (2015). The Long-Term Impact of an Education for Sustainability Course on Israeli Science & Technology Teachers’ Pro-Environment Awareness, Commitment and Behaviour. The Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 31(2), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2015.31.
Anderson, S. E. (2010). Moving change: Evolutionary perspectives on educational change. In A. Hargreaves, A. Lieberman, M. Fullan, & Hopkins (Eds.). Second International Handbook of educational change (pp. 65-84). New York: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2660-6_4.
Argyris, C., & Schon, D. A. (1978). Organizational learning: a theory of action perspective. Reading, Mass: Addison Wesley.
Avidov-Ungar, O. (2010). “Islands of innovations” or “comprehensive Innovation.” Assimilating educational technology in teaching, learning, and management: a case study of school networks in Israel. Interdisciplinary Journal of E-Learning and Learning Objects, 6, 259-280. https://doi.org/10.28945/1314.
Bonnet, M., & Williams, J. (1998). Environmental education and primary children’s attitudes towards nature and the environment. Cambridge Journal of Education, 28, 173-159. https://doi.org/10.1080/0305764980280202.
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3, 77-101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
Carter, E. (2008). Successful change requires more than change management. The Journal for Quality & Participation, 31, 20-23.
Chawal, L., & Cushing, D. F. (2007). Education for strategic environmental behaviour. Environmental Education Research, 13(4), 437-452. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620701581539.
Common, M., & Stagl, S. (2005). Ecological economics. An introduction. New-York: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511805547.
Cresswell, J. W., & Plano Clark, V. L. (2011). Designing and conducting mixed methods research. 2nd Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Cummings, T. G., & Worley, C. G. (2014). Organization development and change. Stamford, CT: Cengage Learning.
Didham, R. J., & Ofei-Manu, P. (2018). Advancing policy to achieve quality education for sustainable development. In Leicht, A., Heiss, J., Byun, & W.J. (Eds.). (2018). Issues and trends in Education for Sustainable Development. Paris: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.
Ernst, J. (2007). Factors associated with k–12 teachers’ use of environment-based education. Environmental Education Research, 3, 15-32. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEE.38.3.15-32
Fullan, M. (2006). The future of educational change: system thinkers in action. Journal of Educational Change, 7, 113-122. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-006-9003-9.
Fullan, M. (2007). The new meaning of educational change, 4th edition, New York: Teachers College Press.
Fullan, M. (2008). The six secrets of change. San Francisco: Josse-Bass.
Hargreaves, A. (2002). Sustainability of educational change: the role of social geographies. Journal of Educational Change, 3, 189-214. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1021218711015.
Hargreaves, A. (2009). A decade of educational change and a defining moment of opportunity – an introduction. Journal of Education Change, 10, 89-100. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-009-9103-4.
Hargreaves, A. (2010). Change from without: Lessons from other countries, systems and sectors. In Hargreaves, A., Lieberman, A., Fullan, M., & Hopkins, D. (Eds.). Second International Handbook of Educational Change (pp. 105-118). London New York: Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2660-6_6.
Jickling, B., & Wals, A. E. J. (2008). Globalization and environmental education: looking beyond sustainable development. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 40, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220270701684667.
Levin, B. (2010). How to change 5000 schools. In A., Hargreaves, A., Lieberman, M., Fullan, & D., Hopkins, (Eds.). Second International Handbook of Educational Change (pp. 309-322). London New York: Springer Dordrecht Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-2660-6_18.
Levin, B., & Fullan, M. (2008). Learning about system renewal. Educational Management, Administration and Leadership, 36, 289-303. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143207087778.
Loughland, T., Reid, A., Walker, K., & Petocz, O. (2003). Factors influencing young people conceptions of environment. Environmental Education Research, 9, 3-20. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620303471.
Marshall, C., & Rossman, G. B. (2014). Designing qualitative research (sixth edition) Sage.
Negev, M., Sagy, G., Garb, Y., Salzberg, A., & Tal, A. (2008). Evaluating the environmental literacy of Israeli elementary and high school students. Journal of Environmental Education, 39, 3-20. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOEE.39.2.3-20.
Oplatka, I. (2005) Imposed school change and women teachers’ self-renewal: a new insight on successful implementation of changes in schools, School Leadership & Management, 25, 171-190. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632430500036165.
Oplatka, I. (2015). The essentials of educational administration. (Third extended edition). Haifa: Pardes (Hebrew).
Raz, A. (2006). Managerial culture, workplace culture and situated curricula in organizational learning. Organization Studies, 27, 165-182. https://doi.org/10.1177/0170840605056399.
Rogers, E. M. (1995). Diffusion of innovations. 4th edition, , New York: The Free Press.
Sagy, G., & Tal, A. (2015). Greening the Curriculum: Current Trends in Environmental Education in Israel’s Public Schools. Israel Studies, 20, 57-85. https://doi.org/10.2979/israelstudies.20.1.57.
Sanera, M. (1998). Environmental Education: Promise and performance. Canadian Journal of Environmental, 3, 9-26.
Sarason, S. B. (1995). The school culture and processes of change. In Sarason, S. B. School change: The development of a point of view (pp. 65-84). Teacher College, Columbia University, NY and London.
Sauvé, L. (2005). Currents in environmental education: Mapping a complex and evolving pedagogical field. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 10, 11-37.
Spektor-Levy, O., & Abramovich, A. (2017). From “Hesitant” to “Environmental Leader”: The Influence of a Professional Development Program of the Environmental Leadership of Preschool Teachers. EURASIA Journal of Mathematics Science and Technology Education, 13(3), 649-671. https://doi.org/10.12973/eurasia.2017.00637a.
Stapp, W. B., Bennett, D., William B.J., Fulton, J., MacGregor, J., Nowak, P., Swan, J., Wall, R., & Havlick, S. (1969). The concept of environmental education. The Journal of Environmental Education, 1, 30-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/00139254.1969.10801479.
Stevenson, R. B. (2006). Tensions and transitions in policy discourse: recontextualizing a decontextualized EE/ESD debate. Environmental Educational Research, 12, 277-290. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620600799026.
Tal, T. (2004). Community-based environmental education – a case study of teacher-parent collaboration. Environmental Education Research, 10 (4), 523-543. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350462042000291047.
Tal, T. (2016). The gap between theory and practice in environmental education. In: I. Avisar (ed.). Challenge of Sustainability Education and Social-Environmental Responsibility (pp. 70-86). The Mofet Institute. (Hebrew).
Tal, T., & Abramovich, A. (2013). Activity and action: Bridging environmental sciences and environmental education. Research in Science Education, 43, 1665-1687. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-012-9327-9.
Tal, T., & Peled, E. (2017). The philosophies, contents and pedagogies of environmental education programs in 10 Israeli elementary schools. Environmental Education Research, 23, 1032-1053. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2016.1153047.
Tal, T., Mintz, K., & Amir, P. (2015). The program for integrating education for sustainability in the education system: whether and how the program succeeded in generating behavioural and ethical change among teaching staff and students. Research Report to the Chief Scientist, Ministry of Environmental Protection. (Hebrew).
Tilbury, D. (1995). Sustainability: defining the new focus of environmental education in the 1990S. Environmental Education Research, 1, 195-212. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350462950010206.
Tsevreni, I. (2011). Towards an environmental education without scientific knowledge: An attempt to create an action model based on children’s experiences, emotions and perceptions about their environment. Environmental Education Research, 17, 53-67. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504621003637029.
Yin, R. K. (2012). Applications of case study research (3nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

How to cite this article

APA

Miedijensky, S., & Abramovich, A. (2019). Implementation of “Education for Sustainability” in Three Elementary Schools – What can we Learn about a Change Process?. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15(10), em1754. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109145

Vancouver

Miedijensky S, Abramovich A. Implementation of “Education for Sustainability” in Three Elementary Schools – What can we Learn about a Change Process?. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2019;15(10):em1754. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109145

AMA

Miedijensky S, Abramovich A. Implementation of “Education for Sustainability” in Three Elementary Schools – What can we Learn about a Change Process?. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2019;15(10), em1754. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109145

Chicago

Miedijensky, Shirley, and Anat Abramovich. "Implementation of “Education for Sustainability” in Three Elementary Schools – What can we Learn about a Change Process?". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2019 15 no. 10 (2019): em1754. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109145

Harvard

Miedijensky, S., and Abramovich, A. (2019). Implementation of “Education for Sustainability” in Three Elementary Schools – What can we Learn about a Change Process?. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15(10), em1754. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109145

MLA

Miedijensky, Shirley et al. "Implementation of “Education for Sustainability” in Three Elementary Schools – What can we Learn about a Change Process?". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 15, no. 10, 2019, em1754. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109145