Critical Action Learning: Addressing Socio-Environmental Issues in the Classroom

University of Toronto | 5-week course | Intermediate level

Course Description

Welcome to "Critical Action Learning: Addressing Socio-Environmental Issues in the Classroom," an innovative and transformative course designed to equip educators with the tools and strategies needed to empower students in today's challenging world. This intermediate-level course, offered by the University of Toronto, is a five-week journey that will revolutionize your approach to teaching and inspire your students to become agents of change.

In an era marked by climate change, economic disparities, social injustice, and uncertain futures, students often feel overwhelmed and disconnected from their education. This course aims to bridge that gap by introducing critical action as a pedagogical paradigm, enabling you to address pressing socio-environmental issues effectively in your classroom.

What You Will Learn

  • Develop a comprehensive understanding of critical action education as a pedagogical perspective for addressing socio-environmental issues in the classroom.
  • Learn strategies and approaches for lesson design and enactment of critical action curricula.
  • Gain a deeper understanding of various themes related to socio-environmental justice education.
  • Explore ways to empower students as transformative agents in challenging times.
  • Acquire a pedagogical framework for critical action curriculum design to create lessons, units, and courses with broader scope and deeper impact.

Prerequisites

While there are no specific prerequisites for this course, it is designed for intermediate-level learners. A background in education or teaching experience would be beneficial, but it is not mandatory. An open mind and a passion for addressing socio-environmental issues in education are essential.

Course Content

  • The confluence of multiple crises in the current world scenario
  • Educational approaches that emphasize agency and collective responsibility
  • Strategies for students' action on global issues (e.g., Covid-19 pandemic)
  • The role of teachers as learning experience designers
  • Challenges and approaches to designing for collaboration
  • The CALE Framework for designing critical action curricula
  • Knowledge Building theory and Critical Pedagogy
  • Arts-based curriculum supporting student action on decolonization
  • Personal and collective next steps for teachers engaged in Critical Action education

Who This Course Is For

This course is primarily designed for K-12 teachers who want to make a meaningful impact on their students' lives and the world around them. However, it is also valuable for:

  • Teacher candidates
  • Higher education instructors
  • Educational leaders
  • Curriculum designers
  • Anyone interested in education, critical action, and social justice

Real-World Applications

The skills and knowledge gained from this course can be directly applied to:

  • Designing engaging and impactful lessons that address real-world issues
  • Creating a classroom environment that fosters critical thinking and social responsibility
  • Empowering students to take action on local and global socio-environmental challenges
  • Developing interdisciplinary curricula that connect various subjects through critical action
  • Collaborating with other educators to implement critical action learning in schools and communities
  • Addressing student anxiety and apathy by providing meaningful, action-oriented learning experiences
  • Preparing students for an uncertain future by equipping them with problem-solving and critical thinking skills

Syllabus

Week 1: Why Critical Action? Why now?

  • Examination of multiple crises in the current world scenario
  • Discussion on educational approaches emphasizing agency and collective responsibility
  • Case study: Indian teacher's storytelling strategy for student action on Covid-19
  • Expert psychologist's insights on committed action to counter student anxiety

Week 2: Designing for learning communities with a critical eye

  • The role of teachers as learning experience designers
  • Challenges and approaches to designing for collaboration
  • Case study: US educators' project-based civic learning experiences for youth in urban planning
  • Expert discussion on creating a culture of collaboration in the classroom

Week 3: The CALE Framework

  • Introduction to the CALE Framework for designing critical action curricula
  • Expanding scope and deepening exploration of socio-environmental problems
  • Case study: Chinese educator's inquiry-based curriculum on Climate Change
  • Expert deep dive into Climate Action education

Week 4: A deeper look on pedagogies for Critical Action

  • Review of Knowledge Building theory and Critical Pedagogy
  • Case study: Colombian teacher's Arts-based curriculum on decolonization
  • In-depth discussion with an expert critical pedagogue

Week 5: Personal directions and community building

  • Examination of personal and collective next steps for Critical Action educators
  • Q&A session with guest teachers from previous weeks

Optional Design Strand

Collaborative curriculum design in small teams, creating actionable critical action curriculum for classroom implementation.