Education for Sustainable Development and Civil Engineering for Children: Interactive Model Case Study
Publication: Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 136, Issue 3
Abstract
This paper describes the further development of a previously reported interactive model developed to enhance the understanding of the concept of sustainable development (SD) and the role of civil engineers among school children. The earlier model and associated teaching materials for a lesson based around a river valley flooding problem for small groups of 6th grade pupils were modified and trialed with a larger group of 8th grade pupils. Subsequently a further lesson using the same model framework was developed based around groundwater contamination from landfill leachate. This was trialed with small groups of both 6th and 8th grade pupils. A competitive element in landfill liner design was introduced into the lessons. The model and lessons received praise and were shown to achieve their aims of teaching SD in a memorable and practical context and explaining something of civil engineering, though the smaller group lessons were found to be much more successful than the larger group lesson.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The writers are extremely grateful to the students and teachers of Sciennes Primary, Hermitage Park Primary, Tynecastle High, Broxburn Academy, Knox Academy, Lasswade High, and Gracemount High Schools as well as Andrew Firth for taking part in the lessons and supplying feedback.
References
ASCE. (1998). “Civil engineering enrolment decreases.” Civ. Eng. (N.Y.), 68(9), 8.
Bernstein, A. B. (2004). “Chapter 6: The red careers.” Guide to your career, Princeton Review, Princeton, 67–212.
Borradaile, L., and Grant, R. (2007). “A time of opportunity: The current status of sustainable development education in Scottish schools.” A Rep. to the Sustainable Development Education Liaison Group, Executive Summary, Learning and Teaching Scotland, Glasgow.
Crapper, M., Donald, R., Hill, D., Hall, A., and French, W. (2008). “Models for teaching sustainable development to children.” Proc. Inst. Civ. Eng.: Engineering Sustainability, 161(4), 229–236.
Kassoff, H., Shute, A., and Singer, L. (1993). “Civil engineering evolution.” J. Profl. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract., 119(1), 8–13.
Nehdi, M. (2002). “Crisis of civil engineering education in information technology age: Analysis and prospects.” J. Profl. Issues Eng. Educ. Pract., 128(3), 131–137.
Roth, W. -M. (1996). “Learning to talk engineering design: Results from an interpretive study in a Grade 4/5 classroom.” Int. J. Technol. Des. Educ., 6(2), 107–135.
Scottish Executive. (2004). “A curriculum for excellence: The curriculum review group.” Introduction, Scottish Executive, Edinburgh, 9–10.
United Nations General Assembly. (2005). “Resolution adopted by the General Assembly [on the report of the Second Committee (A/59/483/Add.7)] 59/237.” United Nations decade of education for sustainable development, United Nations.
Vest, C. M. (2005). “Educating the engineer of 2020 and beyond.” Educating the engineer of 2020: Adapting engineering education to the new century, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 161–169.
Woodcraft Folk. (2009). “The Powerpod.” ⟨http://www.edinburgh-powerpod.org⟩ (April 16, 2009).
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Professional Issues in Engineering Education and Practice
Volume 136 • Issue 3 • July 2010
Pages: 165 - 174
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Apr 28, 2009
Accepted: Nov 10, 2009
Published online: Nov 12, 2009
Published in print: Jul 2010
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.