A Participatory Workshop Design for Engaging Young People in IT Sustainability

Abstract

This paper presents an approach to teaching and consolidating skills in the context of sustainability “Prototyping Sustainability–Designing Sustainable IT” (ProS), using the workshop format for participatory and creative learning. The workshop integrates principles from Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), transformative and experiential learning, participatory design, and critical reflection on the digital age to engage participants in critically examining the environmental, economic, and social impacts of digital technologies in the context of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Structured in five modular phases, from self-reflection and knowledge activation to collaborative prototyping and peer evaluation, the workshop offers a hands-on, gamified learning experience centred on real-world sustainability challenges. Learners create user-centred paper-based prototypes for digital products using tactile materials, persona-driven scenarios and knowledge of sustainable product characteristics gained in the workshop. Outcome measurement is supported through pre- and post-workshop surveys, peer voting templates, and paper-based prototype artefacts, enabling rich insight into behavioural intentions and learning gains. The paper discusses the educational value and sustainability relevance of the workshop engaging young people in critically reflecting on the environmental, economic, and social consequences of digitalization. Finally, it highlights challenges and limitations and proposes directions for future research.