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New Competences to Develop in Students to Help Them Get Involved in Sustainable Development While They Learn Through Inquiry Methods

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New Developments in Science and Technology Education

Part of the book series: Innovations in Science Education and Technology ((ISET,volume 23))

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Abstract

The sustainability competences field was established because of current complex problems: climate change, desertification, pandemics… These interdependent, contradictory and urgent problems do not have immediate solutions. To solve problems, to take advantage of opportunities, to become agents of change and managers of a society in transition, learners should develop key competences in sustainability. In sustainability science, researchers recommend the development of many key competences linked to complex problems analysis and societal transformation.

The analysis of the Canadian science and technology curricula highlights two common pedagogical approaches: inquiry and technological problem solving. Some sustainability competences feature among the analyzed science programs’ objectives: problem solving, critical thinking and creativity. Other competences could advantageously be added: strategic action; systemic, design and futures thinking.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) for contributing to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté des sciences de l’éducation, Université de Moncton, Moncton, NB, Canada, E1A 3E9

    Diane Pruneau, Jackie Kerry & Joanne Langis

Authors
  1. Diane Pruneau
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  2. Jackie Kerry
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  3. Joanne Langis
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Diane Pruneau .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Département de didactique, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQÀM), Montréal,, Canada

    Martin Riopel

  2. Nati'l & Kapodistrian Univ of Athens, Zografou, Greece

    Zacharoula Smyrnaiou

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Pruneau, D., Kerry, J., Langis, J. (2016). New Competences to Develop in Students to Help Them Get Involved in Sustainable Development While They Learn Through Inquiry Methods. In: Riopel, M., Smyrnaiou, Z. (eds) New Developments in Science and Technology Education. Innovations in Science Education and Technology, vol 23. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22933-1_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22933-1_14

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-22932-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-22933-1

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