Using the insight, question, and challenge (IQC) framework to improve students’ environmental communication skills

Abstract

Environmental issues are complex because indeterminacy is part of the emergent character of many social and ecological systems. Decisions regarding environmental sustainability are increasingly negotiated through participatory, democratic deliberations, where scientific facts are considered alongside a plurality of normative opinions regarding acceptable trade-offs and quality-of-life standards. The skills needed to achieve democratic and sustainable solutions can be cultivated in the sustainability classroom through activities that allow students to practice and improve effective communication through structured dialogue. The goal of this learning activity is to help students critically and constructively read, reflect on, and discuss complex environmental and sustainability issues through practice. This is facilitated through the use of the insight, question, and challenge (IQC) framework, which helps students through an iterative process of careful reading, note-taking, and peer-to-peer interaction. For each reading, they will record their insights, questions, and challenges and use these to guide a dialogue with a classmate who will practice listening and taking notes. After completing this activity, students should be able to (1) critically challenge a given reading for its quality of information, regarding both facts and values; (2) reflect on environmental and sustainability issues to generate and communicate personal insights; (3) listen carefully and critically to, and record pertinent information about, a peer’s ideas on a shared reading; and (4) synthesize their own and a peer’s perspectives about a reading.