We designed a sustainability course for 10th-grade students at the Environmental Charter School in Pittsburgh. By applying the five phases of backward design—from understanding learners to course evaluation—we created a curriculum that instructors can effectively implement to promote environmental awareness and action among students.
THE PROBLEM
Challenges in Teaching Sustainability
High school sustainability education is challenging: there is a gap between society's sustainability goals and the knowledge, skills, and attitudes taught in schools.
Particularly, the interdisciplinary and abstract nature of sustainability makes it difficult to integrate into traditional subject-based curricula, and students may struggle to grasp concepts that aren't immediately observable. Additionally, promoting behavioral change requires overcoming established habits, which can be challenging for students.
THE SOLUTION
We designed an engaging 10-week elective course that integrates knowledge with real-world applications. In this course, students will build upon their understanding of sustainable living in the areas of community, production, and consumption, and propose practical solutions to promote sustainability in their local community.
REFLECTION
Understanding Learners in Context: In this project, we devoted considerable time to researching the culture, curriculum settings, and grade-level standards on sustainability at the Environmental Charter School. By deeply understanding learners' existing knowledge and characteristics, we were able to target the right learning goals and ensure learning effectiveness. Even without implementing the course, this evidence-based design process has made us confident that the course can seamlessly integrate into the school's structure and effectively enhance students' sustainability skills
Ensuring Alignment Throughout the Design Process: Backward design emphasizes the importance of aligning each stage of the educational design process, ensuring coherence between learning goals, assessments, instruction, and evaluation. I found this focus on alignment incredibly helpful, not only in this project but also in my other work using different design models. It enables designers to effectively target learning objectives and make informed decisions that best address learners' needs.
