Interdisciplinary Sustainability Education - by Ondine Gage (Hardcover)

About the Book

This volume demonstrates the value of faculty intercultural collaborations to support global solutions. Calling for a reevaluation of internationalization using pedagogy informed by the concept of "Design Experience" (Zhang and Gee 2023), the contributors suggest that intercultural networking offers hope and solutions to contemporary issues.

Book Synopsis

This volume calls for a reevaluation of internationalization, focused on faculty and curriculum design of interdisciplinary perspectives on sustainability education. The contributing authors reflect on the transformative intercultural experiences that drove their internationalized course redesigns. The chapters provide a blueprint for interdisciplinary course designs-many of which employ Collaborative Online Intercultural Learning (COIL)-which embed intercultural experiences into their pedagogies. Building on Zhang and Gee's (2023) theory of learning as a Design Experience, the contributors describe active pedagogies which create a culture of community and caring to address perspectives on global and local issues. Chapter topics include intercultural collaborations with West Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central and South America, Australia, and Asian Pacific Rim countries. From sustainable marketing and communication design to conversations on water, the authors reflect on intriguing course designs which engage intercultural collaborations for solving real-life issues. These chapters situate disciplinary knowledge within a global mindset and provide a roadmap for internationalization at home. Aligned with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization's (UNESCO) call to educate citizens to honor inclusiveness, peace, and sustainability, the contributions to this book present considerations for university coursework supporting internationalization, which build respect for both the Earth and our global inhabitants.

Review Quotes

"This very accessible volume presents a rich exploration of sustainability education, focusing on the intercultural diplomacy and sensitivity that globally minded faculty bring to their coursework. The chapters offer compelling case studies on how teachers can act as mentors in fostering a global citizen mindset, with examples from international exchanges and collaboration during the pandemic. The book also highlights interdisciplinary approaches to sustainability, such as using Collaborative Online Intercultural Learning (COIL) to examine water issues, ethical marketing, and the documentation of species facing extinction. These examples show how Virtual Exchange initiatives can connect students across borders, motivating them to engage with global challenges.

This fascinating collection showcases faculty modeling global collaboration and resilience, and also aligns with broader calls for action on climate change and sustainability. Overall, the book does an excellent job at illustrating how internationalized education can foster intercultural understanding and prepare students for global problem-solving."

About the Author

Ondine Gage is associate professor of education at California State University, Monterey Bay.