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ESDGC

ESDGC has become an increasingly important part of teaching in recent years.

But what exactly does it mean?

The spirit of ESDGC is to inform learners that their decisions and lifestyle choices are linked inextricably to the lives of others all over the world.

Everything from the brand of coffee we buy to the size car we drive has local and global implications. For example, buying local produce helps to sustain local suppliers; flying domestically instead of using the train has a far greater environmental cost, which may directly impact on the lives of people living thousands of miles away.

In short, everyone’s actions are interlinked. People are rapidly becoming more aware of this through the media, with stories on carbon footprints and the dangers of climate change becoming daily fodder in the news. Unfortunately, the media has a tendency to sensationalise as well as inform. By using ESDGC within the curriculum, teachers and tutors can present a more level headed and practical view of the subject, and hopefully effect real changes in people’s thinking.

It should be remembered that ESDGC is not intended as an ‘add-on’. It should be integrated into every subject wherever possible. If you need your students to practice their research skills for example, you could ask them to find information on an ESDGC related topic. A desktop publishing course could involve putting together a poster to raise awareness. There are many ways in which the topic can be integrated into learning.