Where is the connection? Research Statement

In this blog I will post my thoughts on sustainable development and distance education, and some of the intertwined work I have developed in these fields.

RESEARCH STATEMENT
Ana Mendes e Land


1. RESEARCH INTERESTS
My research interests lie in the general areas of Education for Sustainable Development (EfSD) and Distance Education (DE). In particular, I plan to focus on elucidating the role and the potential of cross-sector and interdisciplinary work between EfSd and DE in solving the global crisis. The educational systemic approach [Nov07] is a powerful way for making general education a useful tool in promoting and implementing the principles and values of sustainability. The methods and strategies presented by this approach have the potential to enable radical new progress in the DE field and to achieve the goals traditionally targeted by EfSD.

2. EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMIC APPROACH
The mentalities and management models of present times have led to an environmental, economic and social crisis [Gor06], [Sen83] and [Nov07]. This current paradigm – in the context of Modernity and also of Globalization – has jeopardized the dignity and integrity of several individuals and groups, as well as the well-being of organizations and the environment. I believe that a democratic education based on the principles and values of sustainability can face and win the fundamental challenges of the 21st century, namely social and economic, and in this way be an effective way in solving the environmental crisis. This can be done in the classroom, by favoring critical thinking about moral and ethical past and present values, by using scientific, ethical and creative capabilities / tools that help creating a better world, and by adopting and promoting harmony with nature and inter-generation equity approaches.

3. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Education for Sustainable Development plays a vital role in solving the global crisis. The promotion of the principles and values of sustainability in the classroom can lead to the implementation of these same principles and values by civil society, business and government. It is paramount to promote a new vision that will raise awareness to the present environmental, social and economic problems, and also to empower people to assume responsibility for creating a sustainable future. Through curricula that are based on the principles and values of sustainability, this goal can be achieved.

4. DISTANCE EDUCATION
The possibilities of Distance Education (DE) are numerous and in line with the concept of sustainable development. Access to education can be widened and democratized through DE, especially due to the fact that there are no space or time constraints in DE. Also, DE enables autonomous learning and promotes learning experiences that are connected with the student’s professional or personal past / present experiences. This type of education promotes life-long learning, while reducing the costs of traditional learning [Gar92].

5. TOWARDS INTEGRATION
I believe that through the educational systemic approach, the fields of EfSD and DE can be usefully combined. One of my future goals is to develop and implement such an integrated modeling framework.


REFERENCES

[Gor06] Gore, A. (2006): An Inconvenient Truth [DVD]. Hollywood, CA: Paramount Classics.

[Sen83] Sen, A. (1983): Poverty and Famines: An Essay on Entitlement and Deprivation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

[Nov07] Novo, M. (2007[2006]): El desarrollo sostenible. Su dimensión ambiental y educativa. 2ª ed. Madrid, España: Pearson, Prentice Hall.

[Gar92] García Aretio, L. (1992): Educación a Distancia y Desarrollo. Publicado en Radio y Educación de Adultos. No 20, Boletín cuatrimestral ECCA, Mayo-Agosto, 8pp.