Fifteenth International Conference on Environmental, Cultural, Economic & Social Sustainability

Abstract

Where do we put the waste? Despite the growing global problem of electronic waste (e-waste) and waste couture (the environmental impact of the textile industry), a silent majority of students and teachers remain largely uninvolved in discourse or action around sustainable living. Crucially, today’s children and youth will be profoundly affected by environmental pollution; hence they deserve to be better educated on what uncontrolled and unsustainable consumption patterns mean for their future. There is a gap, however, in curriculum, resources, and knowledge of how to effectively teach environmental literacy and responsible citizenship in diverse school contexts and learning environments. The purpose of this study is to analyze the effectiveness of an equity-oriented Makeathon in which pre-service teachers worked collaboratively to develop innovative curriculum and pedagogy for mobilizing youth action on sustainability issues. The central focus of the UBC Girls’ Makeathon emphasized “greening making” (assembling what assembles a world with a focus on sustainable living and shared knowledge). Teams were challenged to make mobile apps related to pro-social and environmental change, upcycle old clothing using augmented reality technologies, and make reusable tote bags from unwanted t-shirts. Participants learned how to identify an environmental problem, create new solutions, and change the world for the better by taking personal initiative and advocating for sustainable living. The lessons learned in this study will be useful for teachers and researchers who are interested in empowering youth with meaningful digital tools and pedagogical practices applied to sustainability education in schools, homes, and across our communities.