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Knowledge Systems for Sustainable Development

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    • Training and scientific knowledge : essential components of education
      • Extension work is Making knowledge accessible is a job for the experts - Jacqueline McGLADE

Extension work is Making knowledge accessible is a job for the experts - Jacqueline McGLADE

The time has come to understand the extent of the problems raised by the process of education. An approach based on practical and experimental methods is the appropriate response, in particular for education on health and the environment.

Health and the environment are complex matters which demand increased understanding from public opinion. These issues involve interaction between ecological, biological, and socio-economic systems.

This also means that more effective methods must be found to make information and communication technologies serve pedagogical objectives. The time has come to take stock of the dimensions of problems raised by education, using practical and experimental methods ("learning by doing").

But as we progressed, we became aware that we needed to associate children in our action, so that we developed some tools for them to use. For example, we shall be launching Honoloko, which is an educational game about health and the environment for children in the 8 to 12 age group. The purpose of the game is to raise awareness about these issues and to promote a gradual modification of behaviours. The game is designed to illustrate the relationship between environmental causes and health effects, especially in children. The game also serves to encourage the view that small behavioural changes can have large impacts.

It was interesting to note that at first, children behaved very well, because they wanted to win. However, as time went by, they frequently scored less well, because of lack of motivation. This demonstrates that education about health and the environment is really a long-term effort. Another lesson learned from this game is that learning has to be recreational. In conclusion, integrating pluridisciplinary knowledge via expert systems and interactive games, aimed to facilitate public participation and stakeholder dialogue, is daunting. However, evidence and experience from a number of initiatives now available show that such endeavours are extremely valuable.