Engaging Learners in Sustainability: Reflections from SMALEI Digital Academy Talks
11/12/2024
On 5 December 2024, the SMALEI Digital Academy hosted its third webinar, focusing on the theme of engaging learners in sustainability. This interactive session brought together participants and experts to explore how adult learning can drive local action and societal transformation.
The session featured Nikolas Berg, ecopedagogue, speaker, and author of books on the rights of nature and the potential of thriving local communities. Joining him was Johanna Anemalm, ecopedagogue, permaculture designer, and adult educator specialising in social and environmental organising and community building.
Pedagogy for Local Action and Transformation
The webinar began with a discussion on pedagogy as a tool for inspiring local action towards sustainability. Johanna traced its roots to liberation pedagogy and linked it to ecological justice movements such as the Earth Charter Declaration. She described pedagogy as a living practice, continuously shaped by collaboration and the evolving needs of society. Nikolas expanded on this by discussing how adult learning institutions can adopt a broader view of education that includes ecological, social, and economic dimensions. Both speakers emphasised the importance of redefining traditional learning approaches to address contemporary challenges and engage learners in meaningful ways.
Building Holistic Learning Ecosystems
The session highlighted the need for holistic approaches in education. The speakers introduced strategies for building relational care, trust, and inclusivity within learning environments. Using a process model from the SMALEI project’s workbook, they presented learning as a cycle of reflection, action, and integration—an approach designed to create spaces for collaborative growth and transformation.
Transformative Narratives and Practical Applications
A key focus of the session was on the power of storytelling and practical applications in eco-pedagogy. Nikolas discussed the need to challenge unsustainable narratives and develop new stories centred on interconnectedness and ecological balance. He described how tensions and conflicts, rather than being avoided, can serve as opportunities for creative problem-solving and collective growth.
Johanna shared examples of applied eco-pedagogy, including programmes on ecological democracy and community initiatives like the Village of the Future. She highlighted the transformative impact of these initiatives, where participants embrace sustainable lifestyles and contribute to meaningful local solutions. The speakers stressed the importance of creating safe learning environments that encourage exploration, questioning, and mutual learning.
Reflections and Next Steps
The webinar offered a compelling exploration of how pedagogy can address today’s challenges by engaging learners in sustainability-focused education. Both speakers concluded with a call for patience and persistence, urging participants to integrate ecological perspectives into their educational practices.
The next SMALEI Digital Academy webinar will take place on 19 December 2024, focusing on awareness-raising and involvement of people. Follow this link to sign up and join.
To explore the project and its resources, visit smalei.eu.
