Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Poetic Learning for a Sustainable Future: Transforming Our Collective Story

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Poetry and Sustainability in Education

Part of the book series: Palgrave Studies in Education and the Environment ((PSEE))

  • 245 Accesses

Abstract

Sustainable development presents a transformative narrative for shaping human development trajectories in a balanced manner that can overcome the grand, socio-ecological challenges of the twenty-first century. As an implied narrative, sustainable development dares us to deliberate upon and develop new visions for a positive future that not only seek to address these challenges but also aim to achieve greater well-being for all in harmony with the natural environment. While the narrative value of sustainable development is a socially significant feature, surprisingly little attention has been paid to this aspect in the discussions on education for sustainable development. This chapter discusses how the narrative features of sustainable development can capture our collective imagination and inspire transformative, social learning. Moreover, it considers the important role that poetry in education can play in strengthening learners’ creative and communicative abilities for establishing a new discourse and story of our common visions for a sustainable future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Barth, M., et al. 2007. Developing Key Competencies for Sustainable Development in Higher Education. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 8 (4): 416–430. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370710823582.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baugh, G. 1990. The Politics of Social Ecology. In Renewing the Earth: The Promise of Social Ecology, ed. J. Clark. London: Green Print.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beyers, J.M. 2012. Sustainability as Meaningful Relatedness: Lessons from Grandmother Bear. In Learning for Sustainability, ed. P.B. Wals et al., 255. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bloomfield, M. 2015. Unsettling Sustainability: The Poetics of Discomfort. Green Letters 19 (1): 21–35. https://doi.org/10.1080/14688417.2014.982674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonnett, M. 2013. Sustainable Development, Environmental Education, and the Significance of Being in Place. Curriculum Journal 24 (2): 250–271. https://doi.org/10.1080/09585176.2013.792672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buckler, C., and H. Creech. 2014. Shaping the Future We Want: UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005–2014) - Final Report. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burns, H.L. 2015. Transformative Sustainability Pedagogy: Learning From Ecological Systems and Indigenous Wisdom. Journal of Transformative Education 13 (3): 259–276. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344615584683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capra, F. 2005. Speaking Nature’s Language: Principles for Sustainability. In Ecological Literacy: Educating Our Children for a Sustainable World, ed. M.K. Stone and Z. Barlow, 18–29. North Atlantic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007. Foreword. In Social Learning: Towards a Sustainable World, ed. A.E.J. Wals, 13–15. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carson, R. 1962. Silent Spring. New York: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cowin, K.M. 2012. Enhancing Student Teacher Reflective Practice through Poetry. New Educator 8 (4): 308–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/1547688X.2012.726587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davison, A. 2008. Contesting Sustainability in Theory-Practice: In Praise of Ambivalence. Continuum 22 (2): 191–199. https://doi.org/10.1080/10304310701861598.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Didham, R.J., and P. Ofei-Manu. 2015. The Role of Education in the Sustainable Development Agenda: Empowering a Learning Society for Sustainability through Quality Education. In Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: From Agenda to Action, ed. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies. Institute for Global Environmental Strategies.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2018. Advancing Policy to Achieve Quality Education for Sustainable Development. In Issues and Trends in Education for Sustainable Development, ed. A. Leicht et al., 87–110. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • van Dijk, S.C., and E.E. van Dijk. 2012. Transformative Learning: Towards the Social Imaginary of Sustainability: Learning from Indigenous Cultures of the American Continent. In Transformative Learning: Towards the Social Imaginary of Sustainability: Learning from Indigenous Cultures of the American Continent, ed. A.E.J. Wals and P.N. Corcoran, 225–240. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Furman, R. 2005. Using Poetry and Written Exercises to Teach Empathy. Journal of Poetry Therapy 18 (2): 103–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/08893670500140549.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gay, G., and K. Kirkland. 2003. Consciousness and Self-Reflection in Preservice Teacher Education. Theory into Practice 42 (3): 181–187. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15430421tip4203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grunwald, A. 2007. Working towards Sustainable Development in the Face of Uncertainty and Incomplete Knowledge. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. https://doi.org/10.1080/15239080701622774.

  • Han-Shan. 2018. The Complete Cold Mountain: Poems of the Legendary Hermit Hanshan. Boulder, CO: Shambhala Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hogan, L. 1995. Dwellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World. New York: Simon and Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holden, E., et al. 2017. The Imperatives of Sustainable Development: Needs, Justice, Limits. New York: Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Howie, P., and R. Bagnall. 2013. A Beautiful Metaphor: Transformative Learning Theory. International Journal of Lifelong Education 32 (6): 816–836. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2013.817486.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. 1980. World Conservation Strategy: Living Resource Conservation for Sustainable Development. Gland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Laurie, R., et al. 2016. Contributions of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to Quality Education: A Synthesis of Research. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development 10 (2): 1–17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lawrence, R.L. 2005. Knowledge Construction as Contested Terrain: Adult Learning through Artistic Expression. In Artistic Ways of Knowing: New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education, No. 107, ed. R.L. Lawrence. R. L. Lawrence.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lotz-Sisitka, H., et al. 2015. Transformative, Transgressive Social Learning: Rethinking Higher Education Pedagogy in Times of Systemic Global Dysfunction. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2015.07.018.

  • Lozano, R., et al. 2017. Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Proposal. Sustainability (Switzerland) 9 (10): 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/su9101889.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lubchenco, J., and S.D. Gaines. 2019. A New Narrative for the Ocean. Science 364 (6444): 911.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mebratu, D. 1998. Sustainability and Sustainable Development: Historical and Conceptual Review. Environmental Impact Assessment Review 18 (6): 493–520. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0195-9255(98)00019-5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mezirow, J. 1991. Transformative Dimensions of Adult Learning. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1997. Transformative Learning: Theory to Practice. New Directions for Adult and Continuing Education 74: 5112. https://doi.org/10.1002/ace.7401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2003. Transformative Learning as Discourse. Journal of Transformative Education 1 (1): 58–63. https://doi.org/10.1177/1541344603252172.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muir, J. 1901. Our National Parks. Boston: Houghton, Mifflin, and Company.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Newig, J., et al. 2013. Communication Regarding Sustainability: Conceptual Perspectives and Exploration of Societal Subsystems. Sustainability (Switzerland) 5 (7): 2976–2990. https://doi.org/10.3390/su5072976.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ofei-Manu, P., and R.J. Didham. 2018. Identifying the Factors for Sustainability Learning Performance. Journal of Cleaner Production 198: 1173–1184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raskin, P., et al. 2002. Great Transition: The Promise and Lure of the Times Ahead. Boston: Stockholm Environmental Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rieckmann, M. 2018. Learning to Transform the World: Key Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development. In Issues and Trends in Education for Sustainable Development, ed. A. Leicht et al., 39–59. Paris: UNESCO.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, J. 2004. Squaring the Circle? Some Thoughts on the Idea of Sustainable Development. Ecological Economics 48 (4): 369–384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2003.10.017.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rudnick, H.H. 2000. The Poetry of Life between Construction and Deconstruction. In The Poetry of Life in Literature, ed. A.-T. Tymieniecka, 3–15. Springer Netherlands.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Shrivastava, P., et al. 2012. Sustainable Development and the Arts. International Journal of Technology Management 60 (1-2): 23–43. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTM.2012.049104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sipos, Y., et al. 2008. Achieving Transformative Sustainability Learning: Engaging Head, Hands, and Heart. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education 9 (1): 68–86. https://doi.org/10.1108/14676370810842193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sneddon, C., et al. 2006. Sustainable Development in a Post-Brundtland World. Ecological Economics 57 (2): 253–268. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2005.04.013.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterling, S. 2010. Learning for Resilience, or the Resilient Learner? Towards a Necessary Reconciliation in a Paradigm of Sustainable Education. Environmental Education Research 16 (5-6): 511–528. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2010.505427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka, M.T.D., and Vanessa V. Tse. 2015. Touching the Inexplicable: Poetry as Transformative Inquiry. Journal of Curriculum Theorizing 30 (3): 45–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO. (2017). Education for Sustainable Development Goals: Learning Objectives, https://www.sdg4education2030.org/education-sustainable-development-goals-learning-objectives-unesco-2017.

  • United Nations General Assembly. (2015). Resolution A/RES/70/1: Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, United Nations, https://undocs.org/A/RES/70/1.

  • Wals, A.E.J., and T. van der Leij. 2009. Introduction. In Social Learning: Towards a Sustainable World, ed. A.E.J. Wals, 17–32. Wageningen, Netherlands: Wageningen Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wiek, A., et al. 2011. Key Competencies in Sustainability: A Reference Framework for Academic Program Development. Sustainability Science 6 (2): 203–218. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-011-0132-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • World Commission on Environment and Development. (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ziervogel, G., et al. 2016. Moving from Adaptive to Transformative Capacity: Building Foundations for Inclusive, Thriving, and Regenerative Urban Settlements. Sustainability (Switzerland) 8 (9). https://doi.org/10.3390/su8090955.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Collaborative Learning for Sustainable Development, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Hamar, Norway

    Robert J. Didham

Authors
  1. Robert J. Didham
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Robert J. Didham .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Humanities, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Elverum, Norway

    Sandra Lee Kleppe

  2. Department of English, Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Angela Sorby

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Didham, R.J. (2022). Poetic Learning for a Sustainable Future: Transforming Our Collective Story. In: Kleppe, S.L., Sorby, A. (eds) Poetry and Sustainability in Education. Palgrave Studies in Education and the Environment. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95576-2_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-95576-2_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-95575-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-95576-2

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation