Top Sustainable Trends this year that Educators should consider

It also means to teach in a way that protects the natural resources of the planet. Sustainable Teaching a long-term solution in order to improve both the education we provide and our world as a whole. It is the practice of giving students the skills they need for life-long learning outside of the classroom. The top sustainable trends that every educator need this year are done through teaching issues of sustainability as well as soft skills such as critical and STEM thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills.

Students are expected to be able to navigate the information available to them and keep their skills up-to-date in an ever-changing world. In the post-truth age of social media and advertising, deciding where to educate oneself is no easy task. In Al Hekma International School Bahrain (AHIS) for example we develop students ‘toolbox’ of skills and practice them over the course of their secondary education, so students can continue to learn long after they leave the classroom. As one of the UNESCO schools AHIS focuses on Sustainable Teaching, students learn the ability to make informed decisions and analyse the credibility of information they are exposed to. They learn to work in collaboration with others, using effective communication skills to express ideas. In short, Sustainable Teaching prepares students for the modern world.

Not all factors lie outside of our control. There are ways to work within the system, making small changes to make our schools and organizations more sustainable. In fact, all individuals, teachers and administrators alike, play a role in working towards a sustainable school. The values of all 17 UN SDGs, UAE’s “Year of Sustainability” vision, Bahrain’s “Let’s make it Sustainable” vision along with all GCC counties suitable 2030 visions should be built into every lesson. This means that students and their wider communities are introduced to sustainable concepts and solutions early, with the hope that they grow into empowered global citizens.

Author: Rasha Al Najjar