The DfE has initiated a program called ‘Sustainability Leadership and Climate Actions Plan’ for educational settings in England.
“By 2025, all education settings will have nominated a ‘Sustainability Lead’ and put in place a Climate Action Plan.” Sustainability leadership and climate action plans in education – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The DfE has pledged to support all settings with regional coordinators offering expert support, peer-to-peer learning opportunities and digital hubs with resources, tools and best practices.
We have established that sustainability is crucial for our future, and integrating it into education ensures that the next generation is well-equipped to address environmental challenges.
Consider the steps that you need to take to ascertain how sustainable is your current digital strategy:
- Have you established sustainability goals as a part of your current digital strategy?
- Review/assess your current strategy – what technologies are currently in use? How well do they align with your sustainability goals? Consider both environmental and social aspects.
- Identify gaps and areas where sustainability and edtech integration could be improved.
- Set clear SMART objectives – reducing energy consumption, promoting environmental awareness and integrating sustainable practice within the curriculum and the organisation as a whole.
- Align these objectives with your educational goals.
- Engage and involve stakeholders – teachers, students, professional service staff, etc. Encouraging collaboration to share initiatives.
- Look at case studies and reports for positive impact and concerns.
- Explore EdTech solutions – investigate EdTech tools that prioritise sustainability. Considering factors such as energy efficiency, recyclability and ethical practices.
- Promote digital literacy – teach students (and staff) about responsible digital practices, including minimising e-waste.
- Start small – implement pilot programs – monitor effectiveness, and gather feedback.
- Monitor and evaluate – regularly review and assess the impact of sustainability and EdTech efforts – is the technology being used more effectively and responsibly by all?
Viewing sustainability, digital strategy and edtech integration as a hand-in-hand process is key to success. Fostering awareness and leveraging digital tools effectively can help your organisation contribute to a sustainable future for all.
Some EdTech tools to consider:
- Online learning platforms e.g. Microsoft Teams and Google Classroom
- Virtual Learning Platforms
- E-books and Digital Textbooks
- Interactive Learning Apps e.g. Kahoot, Blookit
- Energy Efficient Tech Tools – laptops, tablets, etc with energy-saving features
- Disposal of electronic waste – to reduce environmental impact
- Smartboards – consume less energy than traditional whiteboards and projectors
- LED Monitors
- Cloud collaboration tools e.g OneDrive, Google Drive