Search results

In England, climate change and sustainability education (CCSE) is predominantly taught with a focus on knowledge in school geography and science. However, whole-school approaches to CCSE exist which encompasses curriculum, campus, community and culture. Drawing on conceptualisations of the ecological approach to teacher agency we explored the ways in which the leadership of a whole-school approach to CCSE was implemented across four case study schools.

Four case study schools were identified as having implemented CCSE across the areas of classroom, culture, campus and community, with opportunities to share good practice. During visits to each school, we completed a series of 15 interviews with teachers who had roles leading geography (n = 4) and science (n = 4) curricular; school leaders (n = 4) and sustainability coordinators (n = 3). We engaged with a range of school curricula and policy materials and toured each site.

At the heart of an effective approach to whole-school CCSE are leaders who create the conditions for teachers to achieve agency and enact curriculum making as a social practice. School leaders themselves are critical in ensuring the culture, professional norms and expectations are established and nurtured. Over time, teachers are able to identify and create spaces of agency in relation to CCSE which reach beyond their immediate communities.

This research brings together teacher agency, curriculum making and leadership practices to better understand why some schools achieve agentic cultures as part of whole-school CCSE.

In this study, students’ perceptions of the effective practices of their research mentors were examined. The research mentors implemented the practices informed by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER) mentorship competencies to mentor underrepresented students in engineering education research in a virtual environment.

This research experience for undergraduates (REU) program, situated in the United States of America, consisted of undergraduate students (i.e. mentees), graduate students and faculty mentors who all had at least one underrepresented identity in engineering (i.e. Black, Latiné/x, and/or women). Using qualitative methods, we used data from reflection surveys and follow-up interviews with REU mentees to understand the outcomes of the mentorship strategies employed by the mentors in the program. The data were analyzed thematically using CIMER model constructs and social capital theory as guiding frameworks.

The results indicated the identified strategies students perceived as the most impactful for mentorship throughout the program. Students in the REU gained knowledge on how to activate social capital in mentorship relationships and how to better mentor others.

The findings provide insight on how to operationalize the CIMER mentorship competencies to skillfully mentor underrepresented students in engineering. Given the size of the REU and the nature of qualitative research, the sample size was limited.

The results help inform mentorship practices for underrepresented individuals in engineering education and the workforce. Further, they add to the practical knowledge of implementing CIMER best practices virtually, at a time when the world has transitioned to more hybrid and virtual working and learning environments.

This study identifies impactful strategies for operationalizing mentorship strategies informed by theory- and evidence-based CIMER mentorship competencies. In addition, this study extends knowledge about how to implement mentoring best practices and engage mentorship in a virtual environment.