Hours: 5 + 1 hour for social interaction

Objectives of the course:

This interactive course wants to explores the principles of sustainable development and, in particular, the United Nations 2030 goals.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges that our planet faces and explore potential steps to implement change at the local level through engaging activities and discussions.

At the end of the course, participants will have the knowledge and tools to become change agents for a more sustainable future.

Objectives of the course:

1. Understand the concept of sustainable development and its meaning.
2. To become familiar with the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
3. Identify challenges and obstacles to sustainable development.
4. Explore practical actions to promote sustainability at the local level.
5. Develop a sense of responsibility and actions that contribute to sustainable development goals.

Course outline:

1: Introduction to Sustainable Development and to the Agenda 20230

– Definition of sustainable development. Approaches and views

-Activity: What is sustainability?

Material needed: Pictures printed, pens. With this activity, participants will start thinking about what type of actions, productive activities, etc. are o not sustainable. With this activity the facilitator will support the explanation of sustainability and sustainable development.

–  The 2030 agenda. Introduction to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

– Interactive activity: “Exploring the SDG’s: Bingo”.

     Material needed: The activity is an interactive online quiz that will allow participants to get familiar with the SDGs. It will be needed a screen, laptop/computer and a projector, the bingo cards and the list with the numbers and sentences.

2: Challenges and Barriers to Sustainable Development

– Identification of key challenges to sustainable development using the three pillars: environmental, social, and economic

– Discussion on global vs. local challenges to sustainable development.

– What can I do? Designing Actions for contributing to Sustainable Development from the local level (1 1/2 hour)

– Strategies for initiating change at the grassroots level

– Importance of community involvement and collaboration

– Interactive activity: “Local Action Plan” – Participants work in groups to develop actionable plans addressing a specific sustainable development challenge in their community. The facilitator will explain the main elements that an action plan has to take into consideration. Participants will elaborate in groups particular action plans addressed to specific challenges identified in the activity “Sustainable Development challenges: the planet and me”

Material needed; for the facilitator: projector, board, laptop/computer. For participants: sheets of paper, pens, adhesive paste.

There will be dedicated spaces for recording: Digital StoryTelling

Social interaction related to sustainable development

Learning outcomes:

Participants will be able to identify the concept of sustainable development and divide the SDGs on three main levels (interrelated among them): society, economy and environment. They will also have tools to recognize key global challenges through examples and their interdependence. Last but not least, participants will explore how community involvement/engagement and individual practices can contribute positively on the achievement of the SDGs. The course wants to promote among participants: critical thinking, collaboration, problem-solving perspective and awareness on sustainable development challenges, their interrelation and the role of the local community and themselves in providing answers to these challenges.

Teaching methods:

This course is based on participation and interaction between participants.

The facilitator(s) will provide theoretical background through readings, videos or short explanations and will encourage students’ participation through interactive and dynamic group activities in which participants will have to explain their opinions, will have to dialogue, negotiate and at the end of the activity present the results and discuss with the rest of the classmates.

Individual/Group: Both

Main elements of the course:

• The session will be participatory. The participatory approach to the content means that prior learnings and experiences of the participants will be taken into account and valued.
• The material delivered will follow the UDL principles
• The material will be designed thinking in a module for beginners, and introductory module for learners that don’t have a background on the topic
• Among the different pedagogical aims we will introduce the one related to the promotion of critical thinking among participants of the course