Digital Geomedia in Education for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Successful Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) requires contemporary methods to achieve its goal, to motivate people to change their behavior necessary to shape a sustainable future and actively work for sustainable development. Such methods include the use of information and communication technologies and digital geomedia. Despite numerous possibilities, digital geomedia still seems to be used little or less in ESD. As a result, the associated advantages remain untapped. An important measure to deal with this situation is to provide suitable (i.e., user-centered) materials to guide the use of digital geomedia in ESD (teaching materials) and to prepare ESD-educators for this (training materials). But how can the need for materials that actually meet the requirements of ESD-educators be met? What should such material look like? This is addressed by the ESDplus project. By considering design approaches, development models, and various methods such as literature research, analysis of similar systems, online surveys, and workshops with the target group, requirements and recommendations were identified. They are central to providing materials that support the use of digital geomedia in ESD. Examples are the need to combine analog and digital ESD methods, the consideration of usability, accessibility and user onboarding criteria, and the taking into account of motivational factors and interests of ESD-educators.