Building Sustainable Learning Settings DUMF3095

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Environmental Sustainability
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 3 (SCQF level 9)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course seeks to empower future educators with the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes to build sustainable learning settings in relation to curriculum, culture, community, and campus. It explores Learning for Sustainability (LfS) as a cross-curricular approach which all Scottish educators are expected to adopt to help build a socially just, sustainable and equitable society. In line with LfS pedagogical principles, the learning content, teaching and assessments will provide students with rich learning opportunities rooted in real life, outdoor learning, with access to interdisciplinary and work-based learning, equipping them with the necessary tools to embed LfS in their future practice. 

Timetable

On campus teaching:

2 hours per week seminar (over 16 weeks - 1.5 semesters)

Requirements of Entry

Students should normally have achieved a D or better in a L2 MA Primary Education course to be admitted to this course.

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

■ Review of an SDG with policy links to create a professional learning resource for educators (10-minute presentation or podcast) - 40% (ILOs 1 and 2) 

 

■ Case study of a local organisation supporting an aspect of LfS - 2000 words, 60% (ILOs 3 and 4)

Course Aims

This course aims to:

1. Provide students with an understanding of LfS and its policy context.

2. Teach students about the pedagogical approaches associated with LfS.

3. Explore how to build sustainable learning settings.

4. Equip students with the confidence and knowledge to embed LfS in the primary curriculum and mobilise actions towards the achievement of the SDGs in their future practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

1. Analyse the concept of Learning for Sustainability and how it impacts the curriculum, culture, community and campus of an educational setting.

2. Critically reflect on the policies that affect implementation of Learning for Sustainability in education.

3. Evaluate the role of local organisations that support Social and Environmental Sustainability

4. Recommend solutions to challenges identified in the implementation of Learning for Sustainability, and justify choices made.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

1. In order to be eligible for the award of credit for this course, students must achieve a minimum of 80% attendance (see programme handbook for further details).

2. Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.