Among Facilitators, Instructors, Advisors and Educators – How Teachers Educate for Sustainability in Design and Craft Education

Abstract

Design and craft education, like that of the Swedish school subject, Sloyd, has great potential for Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). With so many possibilities, it is relevant to investigate what teachers teach about sustainability, and how. Therefore, the aim of this article is to examine what Sloyd teachers express that they do as they educate for sustainability in design and craft education (Grades 3–9). This aim is guided by two research questions: (1) What ESD content is prominent in Sloyd teachers’ statements about their teaching? and (2) What expected learning outcomes and teaching strategies become visible in the Sloyd teachers’ statements about ESD? Our analysis of the qualitative questionnaires answered by 70 teachers shows that working with design and craft materials is a key factor for the teachers. Specifically, three learning outcomes have been identified: to utilise material, to use sustainable materials and to become a maker with materials. The most common teaching strategies are instructing and advising strategies, where the goal is known beforehand by the teacher. The findings are discussed in relation to the mix of sustainability concepts and different logics that emerge in the teachers’ expressions and also in relation to what consequences the findings have for teaching ESD in design and craft education.