Well-Being, Sustainability & Experimental Learning I

0.5 credits · Graduate

Well-being, for all, forever' is a definition of sustainability used by Hopkins (2013) in a report for UNESCO. How can education be repurposed so that it contributes to this goal, both through the endeavors of the schooling system and beyond? The course will start by considering O'Brien's concept of 'sustainable happiness', one that brings together the idea of sustainability and evidence from the field of positive psychology concerning what makes us truly happy. Using this concept as a lens, during the rest of the course we will explore the role of experiential learning as a vehicle for sustainability education in the local community. With a range of activities, readings, visits and guest speakers, we will critically explore the true meaning of sustainability education and raise fundamental questions about the purpose of education.