Green and digital go hand in hand - HTI Science Seminar
On April 9th, the HTI Science Seminar "Science-Based Approach to Sustainability Competencies and Digital Well-being" took place.
The key themes of the seminar were horizontal green skills, green skills in the EdTech sector, systems thinking as a green skill, and digital well-being as an enabler of green skills. The science discussion featured sustainable education guest researcher Katrin Männik and digital learning environments guest researcher Kadri Mettis.
"Green and digital go hand in hand; we need to find solutions where they work together for mutual benefit and ensure a reasonable package in schools, at home, and in the workplace," explains Katrin about the seminar.
According to Katrin Männik, green skills are necessary to have a comprehensive view of sustainable development, which requires value-based actions. Specific knowledge and skills in various fields are also important, shaping the role of businesses in international value chains.
"It is essential to develop people's skills and knowledge and shape attitudes so that we are more aware, better prepared to adapt to an increasingly rapidly changing world, and ready to act," says Katrin. She adds that those who have a long-term plan and develop sustainable solutions, which may include technologies (including educational technologies), circular business models, and organizational innovations, will have an advantage.
Sustainable management and behavior, according to Katrin, are necessary regardless of regulatory demands. Learning and cooperation are always beneficial and expand opportunities in the labor market.
Topics discussed at the seminar:
Green skills
Project example: "Developing Green Skills Horizontally," where the concept of sustainability competencies for enhancing organizational competencies was developed, curriculum development for higher education and vocational institutions was launched, and more. The results so far are shared, and research opportunities are opened.
Green skills in the EdTech sector
Project example: "EdTech Talents," where knowledge transfer and co-creation take place between researchers and entrepreneurs internationally. An experiment on sustainability competence assessment in an EdTech company: situation mapping and key challenges.
Systems thinking
Science education didactics development project "Developing Students’ Scientific Thinking and Systems Thinking in Science Lessons for Grades III and IV, and Enhancing Teachers' Teaching and Assessment Competence." Natural sciences are the primary channel where we can raise students' awareness about environmental and sustainability issues. It is crucial for students to understand complex systems and learn how to solve problems.
Digital well-being
Recently launched URMA working group projects LED Education and WINDEE, which focus heavily on supporting the digital well-being of learners and teachers. There is a lot of stress in society right now, and the expectations on our students are very high. We need to think about how to support the well-being of students and teachers in the numerous educational technologies we use in teaching and in the research and development work we create.