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Teaching resources

Adapt learning activities

CBL is especially suited for tackling sustainability challenges due to its interdisciplinary, action-oriented, and inquiry-driven nature. By structuring your course around real-world problems, student-driven investigations, and collaborative solution development, CBL naturally fosters key sustainability competencies such as systems thinking, strategic problem-solving, and stakeholder engagement. We already have outlined the steps to navigate your CBL course Design in this toolkit that you could follow directly. 

In the previous section we discussed key competences that are fundamental for Sustainability Education. While Challenge-Based Learning education by default creates the opportunity for student to develop several of these competences, we advice creating specific Learning Activities to equip students with the tools to develop these competences further. Our colleagues at TU/e innovation Space will be happy to support and co-create such sessions. Examples include:

Reflection is key when it comes to understanding the implication of technology and innovation in all spheres of Sustainability, including the environment, society and the broader economic context.

Reflection is a skill which is often assessed in education, but which is seldom taught. Insightful reflections require specific knowledge and abilities need to be acquired and developed prior to producing a reflection paper. A reflection workshop can aid students develop this competence further.

The ability to think at systems level is crucial to develop a holistic understanding of Sustainability, and to understand how social, environmental and economic challenges connect with one another. CBL education provide the context to develop systems thinking competences, however, a workshop at the beginning stages of the course can help students understand the deeper meaning of systems thinking and identify key areas to focus on while carrying out their project.

Mapping stakeholders that contribute to and are affected by a Sustainability challenge is important when considering Sustainability as an all-encompassing concept. A stakeholder mapping mini-lecture can instruct students about mapping strategies and expose them to stakeholder management theories.

Sustainability is also about the understanding of complex concepts, such as Climate Change, the Circular Economy, and more. Specific content workshops, such as the Climate Fresk provide a great opportunity to develop this foundational knowledge. 

A Teaching Toolbox for Inner Development Goals 

Together with our partners in our strategic alliance EWUU and University of Amsterdam, we developed The Transition Makers toolbox for teachers that includes step-by-step learning activities, structured around the Inner Development Goals. The tools cover 5 categories and reflect 23 learning outcomes. Each learning activity includes assessment and resources and can be tailored to suit your teaching needs.

Other Sustainability Awareness Rasing Activities 

Consider integrating other engaging and activating learning instruments (e.g. games) to raise awareness, establish urgency or context for the sustianability challenge. 

More information

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