Positioning Development Education and Climate Change Education at the Heart of Initial Teacher Education?

Abstract

Abstract: This article seeks to consider the place of development education (DE), including climate change education (CCE), in initial teacher education (ITE). The article focuses on a DE elective module for Professional Master of Education (PME) students which enables student teachers to learn and to teach about a variety of global justice topics including climate change. The methodology is based on two qualitative phases. Firstly, three focus groups were conducted, one with students, one with graduates and one with ITE pedagogy lecturers (not involved with the elective module). Secondly, a narrative account from one of the study’s authors captures examples of practice and challenges when engaging with DE (including specifically CCE).

The article provides evaluative reflection on the DE elective as well as insights into the translation of the student teachers learning into school-based practice. Focus group findings suggest that more general issues regarding ITE and school culture surrounding DE integration impact on the approach taken by student teachers to DE teaching in schools. The article goes on to examine the transition between an ITE experience which aims to support student teachers use of experiential and transformative pedagogical approaches to global justice issues - including climate change - and the broader ITE and school culture which may foster or inhibit such practice. Furthermore, the article discusses the need to embed CCE in a theoretical framework of care derived from sustainability literature in order to bring a clearer focus on the intricate and interconnected knowledges and ways of knowing sustainability and DE. This article concludes by reaffirming the significant contribution of DE but suggests further gain might be made by engaging the broader ITE community and school context to nurture teachers’ and pupils’ love for the environment and enhance the lifelong journey of learning for global justice and sustainability.