ERIC Number: EJ1422223
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0313-7155
EISSN: EISSN-1837-6290
Digital Technologies and School Gardens: Possibilities for Transformative Pedagogies and Sustainable Development
Issues in Educational Research, v34 n1 p123-144 2024
The changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have compelled schools to transform their pedagogies, with two seemingly contrasting trends emerging: the growing digitalisation of schools and the increased recognition of outdoor education. Our study, based on the experience of a European project, addressed the following questions: What digital competences can be fostered through school garden-based learning activities? Which UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be addressed by combining garden and digital activities? How do these practices align with the framework of transformative pedagogy? To answer these questions, we conducted a qualitative content analysis of 16 learning activity lesson plans designed and implemented by teachers from Slovenia, Greece, Portugal, and Spain. The findings indicate the activities contributed to exploring diverse online sources of information and integrating them into shareable digital products while developing SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 3 (health habits), and SDG 12 (sustainable consumption and production), among others. These activities align with the principles of transformative pedagogy, as they encourage students to think and interact globally while empowering them to take action at a local level. These results also emphasise the importance of enhancing students' decision-making abilities and providing opportunities for reflective questioning, less frequently identified in the activities.
Descriptors: COVID-19, Pandemics, Outdoor Education, Gardening, Electronic Learning, Foreign Countries, Sustainable Development, Elementary Secondary Education, Learning Activities, Transformative Learning, Technological Literacy, Skill Development
Western Australian Institute for Educational Research Inc. 5/202 Coode Street, Como, Western Australia 6152, Australia. e-mail: editor@iier.org.au; Web site: http://www.iier.org.au/iier.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Secondary Education; Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Slovenia; Portugal; Spain; Greece
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A