Teaching sustainability-oriented capabilities using active learning approach

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss how educators can teach sustainability-oriented capabilities (SOCs) using an active learning approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a case study methodology centered on a Brazilian business school, this research combines qualitative analysis of content, such as teacher notes and student work, with quantitative analysis of student grades. The authors used variance analysis and Bonferroni tests to establish whether the means of three test groups were significantly different. The authors also tested for normality, using the Skewness Kurtosis test, and for homoscedasticity, using Levene.

Findings

The authors’ findings suggest that the active learning (AL) method may be useful in developing SOCs related to the capabilities of “to know,” “to do,” “to interact” and “to be” because it improved student engagement in the program. In addition, this improved engagement was shown to have a positive influence on grades.

Research limitations/implications

Using convenience sampling, the authors studied a limited number of the mandatory management courses offered by Insper. There is a need to check for nonlinear positive effects over a more extended period of time and considering more courses.

Practical implications

This paper offers a practical and replicable technique for teaching SOCs in a business school context using AL.

Originality/value

The existing literature on education and sustainability discusses the role of business schools in the development of SOCs, especially with respect to curricular changes that integrate content and frameworks related to the conceptualization of sustainable development for business (Cebrián and Junyent, 2015; Cortese, 2003; Fairfield, 2018; Aleixo et al., 2020; Leal Filho, 2020; Arruda Filho et al., 2019). However, some studies suggest that the learning process at many business schools fails to explore the complexity of real life by not using a teaching approach that favors the development of SOCs (Leal Filho et al., 2015). Thus, prior studies have pointed to the need for further research on the impact of the active learning approach in teaching about sustainability (Leal Filho et al., 2015; Fisher and Bonn, 2011; Hesselbarth and Schaltegger, 2014). The aim of this research is to contribute to this discussion.

Citation

Claro, P.B. and Esteves, N.R. (2021), "Teaching sustainability-oriented capabilities using active learning approach", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. 22 No. 6, pp. 1246-1265. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-07-2020-0263