ESD – From reading to action?

This article addresses the question of ‘ESD – from reading to action?’ using the example of the free digital learning platform Planet-N. This learning platform uses practically-oriented modules and interactive short stories with a connection to issues around sustainability to meet the significant teacher demand for ESD teaching materials which are easy to use. The article discusses the gap between on the one hand, the curricular requirement for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and, on the other, the implementation of ESD in the classroom, a gap which Planet-N seeks to close.

At the heart of the learning platform is the principle of interactive storytelling designed to help pupils apply their knowledge, supporting learners as they move from reading to action. First feedback from the workshops suggests that in, combination with the respective guidelines for classroom use, the stories presented have the potential to prompt learners to reflect on (un)sustainable actions and the associated changes in behaviour. While the exploratory approach taken does not result in robust statistical-empirical findings, it has nevertheless made it possible to further refine the platform. Work has already been undertaken to make the stories easier to understand, and at the same time further obstacles to reading and writing competency work on the stories have been identified.