Education, Transformative Learning and the Earth Charter

Education, Transformative Learning and the Earth Charter with Sam Crowell

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Listen to this episode: Duration: 70 min.

Quick Overview

Dr. Crowell shares inspiring stories and projects behind a number of his publications. On systems thinking, he not only stresses on the interconnection reflected in the content of teaching and learning, but also draws attention to the interaction in the classroom, the connection among teachers, and the dynamics in the school. Seeing emergence as part of systems thinking, Dr. Crowell gives a lucid introduction to the process in emergent teaching. As for transformative learning, he sums up the essential aspects as participation, engagement, choice, and sharing. Dr. Crowell believes that sustainability should be the focus of education endeavours, and that the introduction of the Earth Charter to classrooms should go beyond reading and discussion. Educators should guide students to take the Earth Charter to their heart, their community, and ultimately, the world.

Questions and Topics Addressed in this Episode

  1. An overview of the Mindshift series
  2. Can you share some reflections of your work as director at the Center for Research in Integrative Learning and Teaching, while also acting as founder of the Masters Programme in Holistic and Integrative Education?
  3. What is systems thinking and how to bring that to educational setting?
  4. How did the Earth Charter inform your thinking? How have you used the EC in your teaching?
  5. How do you envision the education of the future to be?
  6. Can you share how your thinking on education evolved over the past 30 years? What has changed and why?

Sam Crowell

Education, Transformative Learning and the Earth Charter

Who is Sam Crowell?

Sam Crowell is professor emeritus from California State University, San Bernardino. He serves as a faculty member of the Earth Charter Education Center for Sustainable Development and has been engaged in the Earth Charter movement for several years. He founded the MA in Holistic and Integrative Education and is a founding member of the Network in Spirituality and Education. He is the former director at the Center for Research in Integrative Learning and Teaching and has been an elementary teacher, a principal, and a school administrator. He has a PhD on Education from University of Virginia. His books include Emergent Teaching: A Path for Creativity, Significance, and Transformation (2013), The Re-Enchantment of Learning, Mindshifts, and two e-books on Earth Charter Pedagogy.

This podcast is developed by Earth Charter International as part of our work as UNESCO Chair on Education for Sustainable Development with the Earth Charter.