Esther García-González

This study analyses the attitudes of 108 engineering students towards modelling practices in the automation laboratory. Two Likert-type questionnaires were applied: one on perceptions and beliefs, and the second on emotions. The results show a generally positive response to modelling practices, especially regarding perceived learning achievement, although limitations were identified in relation to perceived usefulness, individualized feedback, and team work. Self-efficacy levels were moderate, and emotions were generally positive, though with room for improvement in relation to surprise and enthusiasm. Gender differences were slight, though point to the need to strengthen emotional support and mentorship for women. Overall, the results indicate a satisfactory educational experience, but with room for improvement in relation to cooperation, teacher guidance, and practical connections between content.

This qualitative descriptive-interpretive study aims to understand and describe the perceptions of a group of pre-service teachers of the degree of environmental literacy in primary education at the University of Seville. They participated in a training proposal focused on the current eco-social crisis related to the socio-environmental impact of food in which the different dimensions constituting environmental literacy were analysed. Those dimensions are knowledge, attitudes and emotions, behaviour, and the didactic knowledge associated with socio-environmental issues. The students’ diaries were used as a data-collecting tool in this study. The results reveal a heterogeneous distribution in the students’ understanding and internalisation of concepts related to the dimensions of environmental literacy. In terms of knowledge, most students show a deep and holistic understanding. Diversity is observed in their attitudes and emotions towards socio-environmental issues, and tentative attitudes towards change prevail. Finally, their intentions and proposals for solutions mainly reflect simplistic perceptions. This emphasises the importance of encouraging active participation and collaboration in the search for socio-environmental solutions. In general, the results stress the need to continue improving the preparation of future teachers with regard to environmental education. A deeper understanding and a committed attitude towards sustainability and the preservation of the social and natural environment should be encouraged in initial teacher training.

The objective of this work is to analyze whether the curricula derived from the LOMLOE (Organic Law 3/2020, of 29 December, which amends Organic Law 2/2006, of 3 May, on Education) for the Early Childhood and Primary Education stages favor environmental literacy. Because environmental literacy is understood as the ability to reflect on the interrelationship between social systems and the biosphere, we consider it of general interest that its dimensions be included in the Royal Decrees. For content analysis, a qualitative and interpretive approach has been used. This process gave rise to a prior analysis system and another final one considering the data. The results indicate the low degree of prescribed environmental literacy and the negative implications that this entails for the environmental education of citizens. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar si los currículos derivados de la LOMLOE (Ley Orgánica 3/2020, de 29 de diciembre, por la que se modifica la Ley Orgánica 2/2006, de 3 de mayo, de Educación) para las etapas de Educación Infantil y Primaria favorecen la alfabetización ambiental. Debido a que la alfabetización ambiental, se entiende como la capacidad de reflexionar acerca de la interrelación entre los sistemas sociales y la biosfera, consideramos de interés general que las dimensiones de esta se recojan en los Reales Decretos. Para el análisis del contenido, se ha empleado un enfoque cualitativo e interpretativo. Este proceso dio lugar a un sistema de análisis previo y otro final a la luz de los datos. Los resultados señalan el bajo grado de alfabetización ambiental prescrito y las implicaciones negativas que ello supone para la educación ambiental de la ciudadanía.

In this paper, a self-created analogy is presented based on comparing the process of osmosis with a situation recreated in a train carriage. It was implemented with upper-secondary education students at a secondary school in Chiclana de la Frontera (Cádiz, Spain). To assess the progression of the students’ models on osmosis, their activities during the implementation were used. Their perceptions of the analogy and the strategy used were analysed from their answers to a questionnaire using Likert-type and open questions. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was carried out. The results show that the analogy helps the initial models of osmosis advance towards more complex models. The students value the analogy positively. They explain it helped them develop scientific skills and attitudes like teamwork. It is concluded that the analogy designed is a valuable tool to bring students closer to the concept of osmosis, although it needs to be integrated into teaching-learning sequences.

Teachers play a key role in the construction of a more equal, fairer and sustainable world. Incorporating education for sustainable consumption into teacher training should therefore be a priority. This education should aim to develop students’ awareness of environmental issues, to encourage lifestyle changes, and to promote reducing their personal ecological footprint (EF). Training processes will hence lead to active learning approaches promoting critical thinking about production and consumption patterns, linking the curriculum content to real life, and involving students in activities that reduce their EF. This paper presents research carried out at three Spanish faculties of education. The main goal is to analyse the relationship between active teaching and learning strategies, and the reduction of the students’ individual EF. Pre- and post-test questionnaires were used to collect data. A total of 93 primary education degree students took part in this study. The results show the students’ individual EF decreased at the end of the learning processes. This proves that active teaching and learning strategies can foster sustainable consumption habits, and more sustainable lifestyles in general, in student teachers.

The eco-social crisis urges the transformation of teacher training programmes. It is imperative for educators to be able to respond to global challenges. This transformation involves working from new perspectives that integrate assessment processes focused on eco-social justice and inclusion from a broad perspective. Bearing this in mind, a training process focused on the theoretical construction of assessment practice from the perspective of Education for Sustainability and Inclusive Education was designed. It is framed within the context of the Master’s Degree in Educational Research for Teachers’ Professional Development. The study presented, which is of a qualitative and interpretative nature, focuses on knowing the impact of the process in the progression of the participating students’ ideas and knowledge construction. The students’ group work, two questionnaires of a different nature and a teaching journal, were used to collect data. Likewise, an ad hoc analysis system was developed that allowed transforming and interpreting the data obtained. The results show progress in the ideas and knowledge of the students in aspects related to the socio-environmental and ethical dimension of the assessment, integrating the principles of Education for Sustainability and Inclusive Education in the design of assessment activities in the classroom. The results reflect that the developed training process has influenced the complexity of the ideas of the students with regard to the content worked on. The proposal could hence serve as a reference for other training processes that have similar characteristics.

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the presence of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) proposed by the UN (2015) in university degrees within the fields of education, humanities and environmental sciences (ES) at Andalusian public institutions (Spain).Design/methodology/approach: This paper shows an empirical analysis from a mixed methodological model on a total of 99 syllabi and training programs from nine different universities. The collection of information has been carried out through a rubric specifically designed within the framework of this body of research.Findings: The results show that the syllabus of the subjects in the faculties of education includes the SDGs related to the social aspect of sustainability, with special focus on SDG4, SDG5, SDG10, SDG16 and SDG17, whereas others like SDG6 and SDG7 are less represented. SDGs are present in the majority of syllabus of the subjects analysed. It is certainly a positive finding which shows predisposition and a high interest on by the teachers involved. However, this is not enough as there is still a long way to go until achieving a thorough and complete incorporation of the principles of sustainability.Originality/value: This research sheds light on the changes and transformations that the discourse linked to sustainability is generating in the university syllabi. Taking the SDG as a framework this paper highlights the most original aspects: a replicable methodology that allows diagnosing the level of curricular greening of the university syllabi is provided to other contexts the innovative value of connecting teaching with local and global environmental problems in their physical-chemical social and economic dimensions is shown and it has been possible to compare the difficulties of some universities in addressing compliance with the SDGs and curricular sustainability from a systemic and integrative perspective that will lead to methodological transformation and pedagogical renewal.

In the initial training of prospective environmental educators, sustainability must be understood from a systemic and complex perspective. Teaching experience shows that it is unfeasible to advance in such conceptions as Sustainability without first constructing basic concepts such as Environment. There is thus a need to take time in building this concept so that educators can access the concept of Sustainability, and hence the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). An educational process with this in mind has been developed over 11 years as part of the Andalusian Interuniversity Master's Degree in Environmental Education. The present work examines to what extent SDGs are present in the prospective environmental teachers' conceptions about the Environment, and how this varies over the course of the process. The results show that the SDGs are indeed present in these conceptions at both the beginning and the end of the process, although there is an increase in their richness and representativeness at the end. With regard to the areas of sustainable, natural, social, and economic development and their combinations (natural/social, natural/economic, and economic/social), the greatest increases at the end correspond to the SDGs comprising the economic area in combination with the social and the natural.