Rob Turner presents Pedagogy for Change at the Just Sustainability Conference

IAS faculty member Rob Turner presented at the Just Sustainability Conference at Seattle University on August 9, 2016. The talk, “Pedagogy for Change: Effects of Sustainability Engagement on Student Attitudes, Values and Beliefs,” examined shifts in student environmental perspectives and cultural worldviews in 4 courses based on responses to survey instruments completed at the beginning and end of each course. In 2 of the courses, one at UW Bothell and another at UW Tacoma, students participated in the UW Carbon Challenge. Results indicated that a course and a specific pedagogy can make a quantifiable difference in the perspectives of students. After the completion of 3 of the 4 courses, student survey results indicated less support for anthropocentric statements, more support for the idea that nature’s balance is fragile, and a likely shift in their worldview from individualism toward communitarianism. Coauthors of the abstract are Dr. Tom Koontz, UW Tacoma and Nick Begley, UWB undergraduate student. Coauthors of the abstract are Dr. Tom Koontz, UW Tacoma and Nick Begley, UW Bothell undergraduate student.