Laumann,Kari

The Missing Story : Education for Sustainable Development in Norway

Oslo

2007

Thesis / Dissertation ETD University Of Oslo

This thesis is a narrative analysis of the role of sustainable development in secondary education (ages 13-16) in Norway. The aim is to examine narratives on sustainable development in education, and find whether these stories have the power to captivate and engage students and teachers. Relevant questions are: (1) Does sustainable development have a prominent role in Norwegian secondary schooling? Is it an area of priority that receives attention and reflection from students and teachers? (2) Is the story of sustainable development told in a way that is accessible and empowering for students and teachers? Accessibility entails being able to grasp the story and frame it within the world as you know it. Empowerment, in this context, entails ability to include yourself in the story as an active participant and to explore alternative possibilities. (3) Are the textbook representations of development and the environment, two key concepts in sustainability thinking, conducive to promoting a sustainable future? (4) What are the strong and the weak areas of the story of sustainable development as it is told in secondary education? The narrative analysis is based on the writings of J. Bruner that emphasizes the close connection between culture, education and narrative. The thesis methodology is based on participant observation, interviews with students and teachers, and narrative analysis of curricula and textbooks. The thesis argues that while environmental and developmental issues are part of compulsory secondary education, whether these issues are seen from a sustainable development perspective is very much left to chance. The holistic and inspiring story that provides a sound knowledge base, at the same time as it mobilizes students reflective, creative and analytical skills to bring about sustainable development, is missing.

ABBREVIATIONS

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NORWEGIAN SCHOOLS
1.2 THEORETICAL INSPIRATIONS
1.3 METHODOLOGY
1.4 DEFINITIONS OF KEY CONCEPTS
1.5 THESIS OUTLINE

2. EDUCATION AS STORYTELLING – THEORETICAL INSPIRATIONS
2.1 EDUCATION: A VEHICLE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE OR REPRODUCTION?
2.2 SUSTAINABILITY AND ″THE TWO CULTURES″
2.3 EDUCATION, NARRATIVE AND CULTURE
2.3.1 Narrative
2.3.2 Narrative Imagination
2.3.3 Education, Narrative and Social Change
2.3.4 An Example of the Use of Narrative in Education for Sustainable Development
2.4 CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

3. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
3.1 THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
3.1.1 The Brundtland Definition
3.1.2 Ambiguity as an Asset?
3.1.3 Normativity and Morality
3.1.4 A Sustainability Revolution?
3.1.5 Sustainable Cultures? .
3.1.6 Concluding Reflections on Sustainable Development
3.2 INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS FOR EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
3.3 THE IDEA OF EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
3.4 EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NORWAY
3.4.1 The National Curriculum
3.4.2 Shifting Priorities.
3.4.3 Previous Research
3.4.4 Values, Attitudes and Action
3.5 CONCLUDING REMARKS

4. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NORWEGIAN CURRICULA AND TEXTBOOK
4.1.1 The National Curriculum
4.1.2 Textbooks
4.2 THE NATURAL SCIENCES – NATURE WITHOUT SOCIETY
4.2.1 Curriculum
4.2.2 Tellus - Natural Science Textbooks.
4.3 THE SOCIAL SCIENCES – CIVIC ENGAGEMENT WITHOUT NATURE
4.3.1 Curriculum.
4.3.2 Underveis – Social Science Textbooks
4.4 GEOGRAPHY AT AN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

5. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – THE MISSING STORY
5.1 THE STORY OF THE ENVIRONMENT AS A NATURAL RESOURCE
5.2 THE STORY OF DEVELOPMENT AS MODERN PROGRESS
5.3 WHAT HAPPENED TO THE NORWEGIAN NATURE TRADITION?

6. FIELDWORK ANALYSIS
6.1 MIXED ENTHUSIASM
6.2 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – AT THE CENTRE OR ON THE MARGIN?
6.3 TEACHING RESOURCES FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE
6.4 WHAT CAN WE DO?
6.5 STUDENT ENGAGEMENT - SKEPTICAL OPTIMISM
6.6 AGENCY
6.7 CONCLUSIONS

7. CONCLUDING REMARKS
7.1 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT – THE MISSING STORY
7.2 A CAPTIVATING STORY?
7.3 CULTURAL REPRODUCTION OR SOCIAL CHANGE?
7.4 THE NEED FOR A STORY
7.5 POSSIBLE FUTURES

BIBLIOGRAPHY

APPENDIX A – INTERVIEW GUIDE, TEACHERS

APPENDIX B – INTERVIEW GUIDE, STUDENTS

APPENDIX C – SAMPLE INTERVIEW, TEACHER

APPENDIX D – SAMPLE INTERVIEW, STUDENTS

APPENDIX E – HISTORY OF EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

↑ http://urn.nb.no/URN:NBN:no-17761

08.03.2017