Practical challenges and digital learning: getting the balance right for future-thinking

Abstract

Purpose: This paper aims to present a food-themed project at Nottingham Trent University, the Sustainability in Practice (SiP) Certificate, a supra-disciplinary approach involving a collaborative enquiry into food sustainability through a flexible online course open to all staff and students. The focus will be on the SiP Challenge Days. Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper will describe the pedagogical approach of the certificate's online and offline components, the various activities undertaken by participants and the digital tools employed to encourage collaboration and skills development. Findings: The Challenge Days have, so far, proven to be effective in inspiring students to be creative in solving sustainability challenges, especially through supradisciplinary collaboration. Research Limitations/Implications: This is a new project hence participation has been relatively small. However, organisation of Challenge Days for the next academic year is already in progress including two new themes. These additions should offer extra dimensions of experience for the participants as well as a richer future dataset. Social Implications: Through collaboration across disciplines, the students have a wider understanding of contemporary sustainably issues as they play a pro-active role in solving these current challenges. Originality/Value: The practice element of this online module and the crowdsourcing of sustainable solutions within SiP are described in detail in this paper. Special attention is given to how the design of SiP equips students with the skills needed to solve sustainable challenges.

Students Perceptions of Digital Disruption in Learning

“…Digital disruption provides many challenges including updating curriculum and upskilling staff [11]. Higher education institutions can adopt a supradisciplinary approach to facilitate students through practical sessions on digital learning in overcoming realworld sustainability problems [12]. Educators are required to innovate learning continuously to prepare students for the future.…”

“Future-proof your Degree”

“…As time progressed, SiP Challenge Days were introduced, which allowed students to undertake the course over a full day of activities, working with others from across the University rather than sitting alone at their computer (Dharmasasmita et al , 2017). Many students welcomed this multi-disciplinary approach and the SiP course itself has developed from an initial focus purely on food, to a choice of energy or clothing, thereby appealing to a greater variety of students.…”