Creative+Change+Education+Solutions+(MB)



Matai Blacklock Creative Change Education Solutions (CCES is a non-profit company based in southeast Michigan which receives its funding from a list of select “universities, public school districts/schools, certain foundations or corporations, other nonprofit organizations and research institutions and government agencies.” (Partners & Supporters, 2009) CCES has developed a number of curricula based around teaching environmental and economic sustainability which they claim will ultimately leads to a better sustainable world. CCES “mission is to provide and promote innovative education that helps create a sustainable world: a healthy environment, a fair economy, and a just and equitable society for current and future generations.” (Who We Are / History, 2009) Their philosophy includes a detailed definition of the concept sustainability when applied to the environment, economy and education. *See __Attachment A__: __ (What is Sustainability, 2009) __* A key part of their definition of sustainability states that “achieving sustainability requires rethinking economic systems and cultural beliefs that equate ‘more’ with ‘better’.” (What is Sustainability, 2009) This is a key principle which drives their curricula. The curricula’s missions are also to not only improve “student achievement” but “teaching quality” as well through “evaluation methods” (Creative Change Education Solutions, 2009) Their mission is well stated and truly seems to have their curriculums aim to educate and alter a community through on individual education and activism towards develops a more sustainable society.
 * __ Creative Change Education Solutions (CCES) __**

__A Taste of Change__: Shaping Sustainable Food Systems The learning outcomes’ of Creative Change Education Solutions particular curriculum, A Taste of Change, is to develop a knowledge base which connects: history and geography, economic policies, ecosystem services, community involvement and core cultural and domestic values all together. The curriculum’s learning outcomes include education about the topics of “food and culture; the food ‘footprint’ history of food systems, agricultural technologies, food chains/webs, energy and food systems, price vs. cost, subsidies and food policy, globalization, local economies.” (A Taste of Change: Shaping Sustainable Food System, 2009) The curriculum uses this knowledge base to establish relevance, investigate and reflect, make informed decision and finally take action. (Taste of Change Slideshow, 2009) The curriculum aims to illustrate how a sustainable food system is reached through interdisciplinary changes and not single practice. The curriculum is varied to reach grades K through 12 and even for college or adult education programs. The curricula are also divided into three categories: Imagine the Change a 1-3 day program, Begin the Change a semester or yearlong course/program, and Sustain the Change an “extended initiative to build up internal capacity and maintain effective change.” (Taste of Change Slideshow, 2009)

__Our Town__: Sustainable Places, Green Spaces Our Town, another curriculum module developed by Creative Change Education Solutions (CCES) broken down into 4 age groups: 6-8, 9-12, higher education and adult education. The overarching mission of the curricula is to “Revitalize communities and invigorate learning through interdisciplinary place-based programs on land use, brownfields redevelopment and sustainable communities.” (Our Town Program Overview, 2009) The module is attempting to impart the student with an education about the topics of “land use planning communities, habitats, brownfields, soil / water / toxicology, green building, environmental justice, public policy and government.” (Our Town: Sustainable Places, Green Spaces, 2009) While building up a knowledge base about the listed topics the curriculum tries to develop early activism within the student to promote his individual effort towards improving his communities’ sustainability. The curriculum aims to allow the student to make a connection between: the choices and impacts the make, air & water quality, equity & social justice, regional economic activity and land use policies. (Our Town Program Overview, 2009) Our Town also attempts to illustrate the connection between the different professional disciplines and careers that handle the issue to environmental planning.

__Sustainable by Design__: The Science and Economics of Green Design The Sustainable by Design curriculum was created by the CCES to educate the student about the topics of “life cycle analysis, materials science, green chemistry, toxicology, green-washing, social/environmental justice, economics, entrepreneurship, investing, energy, technology, policies” (Sustainable by design: The Science and Economics of Green Design, 2009) This curriculum focuses on connecting the S.T.E.M. regions or study and careers with economic policies, ecosystem services and core cultural and democratic values. (Sustainable by Design Program Overview, 2009) The curriculum differentiates within itself whether it’s being taught to 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 graders or for higher educational opportunities or adult education. The curriculum wants to impart a key understanding in the student's mindset that “there is no AWAY”; meaning that nothing on Earth is truly ever disposed of. (Creative Change Education Solutions, 2009) By relating the topics to possible careers or disciplines along with generating key understandings about our worlds ecosystem the Sustainable by Design curriculum gives its students a firm knowledge base and promotes them to pursue careers that will be related to sustainable design in the future.

__Overall Review:__ The curricula are multi-faceted and address the sub-topics which encompass every aspect of environmental problems and potential solutions to create intellectual sustainable activist in their defined sense (What is Sustainability, 2009) and seems to be able adequately achieve their learning outcomes they try to reach within the curricula. Every curriculum has been shown to have hands-on and interesting activities to go along with the lesson plan to ensure that the student remains captivated and intrigued with which ever curricula he is being taught. Each individual curriculum addresses a portion of the literacies the EcoEd research Group advocates. When the curricula set (Ecological Footprint, Sustainable Design, Out Town, Economics for the Common good, Sustainable Energy Systems, All Together Now and A Taste of Change) are examined as a whole learning set the curricula accomplish ever literacy goal that the EcoEd Research Group advocates along with other ones. The curricula also aim to teach the students about the career paths related to solving sustainability issues which is key goal that EcoEd advocates. Overall these curricula are quite impressive and seem to be well thought out. From the examples given they seem to be backed up with scientific facts and cover issues of sustainability from every aspect. It would be interesting to purchase one of these modules to see the full extent of the educational capability that these modules have. Creative Change Education Solutions has case studies which illustrate the previous success of programs that were completed by them and the Children's Environmental Literacy Foundation (CELF). Based on the information available on their website the CCES has developed a truly comprehensive sustainability module.

__Attachment A: (What is Sustainability, 2009) __

What Is Sustainability? There is growing acknowledgement that forces such as population growth, consumption, and inappropriate “development” are combining to weaken the ecological systems on which all life depends. Although environmental fluctuations have occurred throughout history, changes generated by human activity may be altering ecological systems in ways that will be irreversible.

An alternative future is “sustainability,” defined as lasting environmental health, economic prosperity, and social equity for current and future generations.

In a sustainable society,

The regenerative capacity of the environment is maintained. All people have the opportunity to live a fulfilling life within the earth’s capacity. Democracy and justice are core values guiding people and institutions. People live, work and communicate successfully in multiple cultural contexts Conflicts are resolved without violence. Beauty and wonder are celebrated. Achieving sustainability requires rethinking economic systems and cultural beliefs that equate “more” with “better.”

Creative Change's pedagogical approach is known as sustainability education. This international movement emphasizes how economic, environmental, and social well-being are linked, and how to apply this knowledge to better our lives and communities.

The goal of sustainability education is to prepare effective, caring citizens who contribute to these outcomes at the personal and community level. This approach raises the bar on all facets of instruction and requires that learners think critically, evaluate their assumptions, make connections, and grapple with compelling questions.

Sustainability education fosters the following:

an integrated scientific, social, cultural, and ecological literacy critical thinking, decision-making, collaborative problem-solving, and interpersonal communication appropriate applications of technology that help solve, not create, problems equity, justice, inclusivity, and respect for all people a pedagogy that fosters community, vision, and compassion What sustainability education really offers, then, is the power to infuse a fundamental sense of purpose, meaning, and relevance across academic disciplines. With its focus on developing a positive future, sustainability promotes students' sense of connection, purpose, and social connection while developing values-based decision-making and problem-solving skills. And, while the term "sustainability" may be new to educators, the pedagogy integrates the best practices of more familiar approaches, including thematic instruction, project- and inquiry-based learning, academic service learning, multicultural education, and authentic assessment.

Learn more about our approach to Content and Pedagogy, and Instructional Design.

All contents © 2009 Creative Change Education Solutions

= Works Cited = Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //A Taste of Change: Shaping Sustainable Food System//. Retrieved 2 27, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/programs/taste_change Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Impact and Reach//. Retrieved 02 27, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/results/impact/ Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Our Town Program Overview//. Retrieved 2 27, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/programs/our_town/slide_show Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Our Town: Sustainable Places, Green Spaces//. Retrieved 2 27, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/programs/our_town Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Partners & Supporters//. Retrieved 2 28, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/about_us/partners_support/ Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Sustainable by Design Program Overview//. Retrieved 2 28, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/programs/sustainable_design/slide_show Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Sustainable by design: The Science and Economics of Green Design//. Retrieved 2 27, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/programs/sustainable_design Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Taste of Change Slideshow//. Retrieved 2 12, 2012, from Creative Solutions: http://www.creativechange.net/programs/taste_change/slide_show Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //What is Sustainability//. Retrieved 02 27, 2012, from Creative Change: http://www.creativechange.net/our_approach/sustainability_ed/ Creative Change Education Solutions. (2009). //Who We Are / History//. Retrieved 02 27, 2012, from creative change: http://www.creativechange.net/about_us/