Instructional Strategies for Climate Justice
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Environmental Solutions Initiative has developed the Climate Justice Instructional Toolkit to enhance climate justice education. Aimed primarily at educators in introductory undergraduate courses, the toolkit provides resources and programming to integrate climate justice content and instructional approaches across various disciplines. The toolkit is openly licensed and includes adaptable teaching modules (with downloadable pptx files), instructional guides, and student resources. The toolkit focuses on climate justice—addressing the unequal impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups and identifying solutions. The proposed instructional strategies align with the University of Saskatchewan’s teaching practices for sustainability competencies and types of experiential learning.
| The initiative also encourages feedback and collaboration for continuous improvement. If you try any parts, or even if not, please consider completing this feedback form. |
In this supplemental video, creator Chris Rabe explores five instructional approaches for climate justice education: community-engaged teaching, place-based teaching, case study pedagogy, critical pedagogy, and inclusive/anti-racist instructional approaches. Chris outlines each approach below:
Community-Engaged Teaching
-build relationships with community members.
-integrate community members into the teaching process, such as inviting them to discuss environmental justice issues with students.
Place-Based Teaching
– prioritize local environmental issues.
– engage students in projects related to their surroundings.
-review, analyze, and discuss environmental justice case studies globally.
-Chris gives examples from the United States but we can localize this (see above) or use international, Canadian, or Saskatchewan examples connected to the Sustainable Development Goals.
Critical Pedagogy
– design opportunities for critical thinking in addressing power, privilege, and oppression.
– frame key points of the course with reflective questions about learnings on climate and environmental justice.
Inclusive/Anti-Racist Instructional Approaches
– Include diverse perspectives, authors, and guests in the classroom.
– Share power and authority, allowing students to engage in learning they select.
–Renew relationships as an important component of success for Indigenous students.
Throughout the video, Chris provides valuable insights into these instructional approaches, offering a framework for educators aiming to integrate climate justice into their teaching. This not only enriches the curriculum but also promotes a more inclusive and holistic understanding of sustainability issues. Students of all disciplines must work towards addressing the planet’s greatest challenges.
You May Also Like
