INTRODUCING ESD CONCEPTS INTO TEACHING EDUCATION PROGRAM

Abstract

In response to the new Basic Plan for Promotion of Education drawn by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the Faculty of Education of Shizuoka University redefined its mission upholding target item such as education closely connected with community, and enhancing the level of teacher training from local, national and global perspective. And based on this new orientation, the faculty introduced class subject on ESD in the teacher education curricula, and in order to deepen students’ understanding of ESD, the field trip (or Student Exchange Program) aimed to learning with/at community was also scheduled. In this paper, we introduce these two activities and explore their possibilities in enhancing educational practices in ESD. It’s considered essential that in teaching ESD context the educator need to,; a) building ownership on issues of creating sustainable society, b) acquiring regional/local cognition positioning oneself as one of stakeholders, c) understanding links between local and global issues. Enhancement of these skills and capacities will be discussed from the perspectives of; i) system of teacher education, ii) method of teaching and learning, iii) collaboration among university, schools and community, iv) evaluation of qualifications and capacities.