ProfESus at Home Economics Conference hosted by the Caribbean Association of Home Economists Inc. (CAHE)

1.    Presentation

Innovative Multidimensional Learning Concept for Home Economics - Discovering a Sustainable Mindset in Learners/Professionals

Author: Johanna Michenthaler, University College for Agrarian and Environmental Pedagodgy, Vienna, Austria, ProfESus-Project

Key words: Innovative Education for Sustainable Development  –  Learning concept – Sustainable Mindset –

Assessment of learning outcomes – ProfESus

A sustainable mindset is not just about knowledge and skills, it’s about feeling, values, experiences, habits, change and transformation.

Based on this statement the ProfESus project team developed in the last two years an innovative concept for learners in Home Economics fields to foster sustainable development in vocational areas.

Previous needs analyses have shown that private households, commercial kitchens, guest-orientated businesses and communities not only have a great demand for environmental measures but also a great potential for the implementation of sustainable schemes for the protection of their local environment. These professional fields have also a great impact on social and economic improvements for employees and staff members.

To support the development of a sustainable mindset in professionals, education has to be transformed (UNESCO, 2015).

The innovative approach of the education concept ProfESus Pathway to Discovering a Sustainable Mindset (see graphic 1) is built on Green Pedagogy and integrates/combines professional competences related to the professional curricula and sustainability competencies for learners in vocational training (Source: adapted from UNECE, 2011).

The different learning steps combined with the sustainable key competences guide people through the process of discovering their personal sustainable mindset and enables learners to build necessary links between knowledge, skills, values and collaboration.

The collaboration in the sense of sustainability includes

• the personal consideration of sustainable aspects in working processes

• the motivation and conviction of others (head, colleagues, clients or guests) to support sustainable development through cooperation.

To assess a sustainable mindset in different learning phases, all dimensions of professional and sustainability competences have to be reflected (see graphic 2).

Learners should work on tasks, activities, processes which enable them to demonstrate that they are able to plan, decide, act, discuss, transform and reflect in a sustainable manner.

UNESCO (2015): Rethinking Education? Towards a global common good. UNESCO publishing 2015. ISBN: 978-92-3-100088-1

UNECE (2011): The Competences in Education for Sustainable Development (Learning for the future: Competences in Education for Sustainable Development). (2011, 7 April).  Retrieved from https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/esd/ESD_Publications/Competences_Publication.pdf

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2.    Presentation

ProfESus - Teacher Training - Improving Education for Sustainable Development in Home Economics Fields

Author: Anne v. Laufenberg-Beermann, International Federation For Home Economics, Bonn Germany, ProfESus Project

Key words: Teacher Training - Innovative Education for Sustainable Development  – Blended Learning

Aspects for developing the innovative ProfESus - Teacher Training:

-    UNESCO demands: The World is changing – Education must be changed to!

-    UNECE recognized the competence of educators as a frequent bottleneck vis-à-vis improving the quality of education!

-    UNEP stated the process of reorienting teacher training to address sustainability is an outstanding challenge facing educational institutes!

Innovative dimensions of the ProfESus - Teacher Training

Based on the recommended

-    pedagogical and methodical approaches for education for sustainable development (ESD) as well as the

-    teachers competences in ESD or ESC

an innovative concept for a Teacher Training Course “ProfESus - Discovering a Sustainable Mindset” has been developed for future thinking professionals in Home Economics fields.

A Pilot-Run of the course was conducted in 2018.

Modules of the blended-learning ProfESus-Course :

-    Module 1 aims to raise the awareness of the participants for the dimensions and innovative approaches for ESD including the specific sustainability UNECE competences integrated in professional trainings. They learn about the “ProfESus - Pathway to Discover a Sustainable Mindset” as an innovative teaching concept.

-    Module 2 focusses on the key competences for sustainable development. Participants get familiar with the theories and valuable tools for educational processes in ESD.

-    Module 3 participants get to know the stages for developing a learning activity plan (LAP) based on the concept of the ProfESus-Pathway and the specific ProfESus – Learning Activity Template. They planned and conducted lessons and  at least improved the LAP.

-    Module 4 concentrates on the assessment of conducted LAPs and the specific ProfESus - Assessment of a sustainable Mindset. Additional aspects are strategies to forster transformation in educational systems.

UNESCO (2015): Rethinking Education? Towards a global common good. UNESCO publishing 2015. ISBN: 978-92-3-100088-1

UNECE (2011): The Competences in Education for Sustainable Development (Learning for the future: Competences in Education for Sustainable Development). (2011, 7 April).  Retrieved from https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/esd/ESD_Publications/Competences_Publication.pdf

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