Empowering sustainable minds: A handbook for integrating sustainable development into school curricula

Diana Garašić, Mirela Sertić Perić*, Borjanka Smojver

 *University of Zagreb, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Zagreb

msertic@biol.pmf.hr

Education for sustainable development

Abstract

This presentation will introduce a comprehensive handbook aimed at teachers, pre-service teachers and educators to facilitate the integration of the Sustainable Development Goals into curricula. The handbook offers practical insights to meet the cross-curricular educational expectations, with a focus on promoting ecological awareness, social responsibility and global citizenship among children and students of different ages. In line with the broader concept of sustainable development, the handbook emphasizes educational activities aimed at developing higher-order thinking, interpersonal relationships, good communication and problem-solving skills. In addition to historical perspectives and an overview of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, several examples of the activities described in the handbook are presented to help educators plan, implement and assess sustainable development as a cross-curricular subject within the Croatian curriculum. The practical examples of teaching strategies and learning activities presented include a variety of approaches that encourage students' active engagement in thinking, analysing, predicting, evaluating and reflecting, as well as several successful school projects and research initiatives that show how Education for Sustainable Development is put into practice and how to improve teaching in general. The importance of skills that are often neglected in schools and are aimed at personal and social development is emphasized. The handbook aims to enable educators to promote a sustainable mindset and thus contribute to education for sustainable development, but also to support purposeful modern education as we move in a complex world with increasing threats.

Key words

active learning; economic goals; environmental goals; project-based learning; social goals