Creating sustainable futures/CSF100 OERu course specification

Part A: Course specification

Metadata

• OERu course name: Creating sustainable futures
• Level: 1st year Bachelor's degree
• Notional learning hours: 160
• Micro-courses (Four micro courses of 40 hours each)
  1. Inspiring challenge of sustainable development (CSF101)
  2. Designing the transition to a living future (CSF102)
  3. Strategic planning for success (CSF103)
  4. Taking action and choosing priorities (CSF104)
• OERu course codes: CSF101, CSF102, CSF103 and CSF104
• OERu assessing institutions: Otago Polytechnic
• Micro-credential options: Yes
• OERu mode of study: Self-directed study or cohort-based independent study with peer-learning support.

Course aim

Develop an effective framework for projects, products or organisations to create a sustainable future where society can thrive within nature’s limits

Learning outcomes

1. Analyse the ecological processes that support life systems and human impacts on these.
2. Critically evaluate the relationship between human activity and nature
3. Analyse the tipping-point issues that have influenced thinking about sustainability
4. Analyse trends, issues and opportunities that will influence future activity and generations on this planet

Indicative content

• Economic, social, cultural and political aspects of human relationship with nature
• Ecology
• Sustainable development
• Systems thinking
• Change process

Assessment and credit transfer options

Otago Polytechnic

Assessment type	Learning outcomes	Details	Weighting	Completion requirements
Assignment	LO1, LO2, LO3 and LO4	Assessed learning journal reflection and report	25%	Must pass with a minimum of 50%
Assignment	LO1, LO2, LO3 and LO4	Assessed learning journal reflection and application question	25%	Must pass with a minimum of 50%
Assignment	LO1, LO2, LO3 and LO4	Assessed learning journal reflection and analysis question	25%	Must pass with a minimum of 50%
Assignment	LO1, LO2, LO3 and LO4	Assessed learning journal reflection and analysis question	25%	Must pass with a minimum of 50%

Pre-requisites

• Proof of your English language capabilities: A copy of your official English language test results. Otago Polytechnic accept IELTS, TOEFL and New Zealand Certificate in English language (Levels 1-5) results.

Part B: Detailed objectives

Micro-course structure

Learners are required to complete four micro-courses for course credit.

Micro 1: Inspiring challenge of sustainable development

Micro-course aims

The Inspiring Challenge of Sustainable Development (CSF101) is a free micro Open Online Course (mOOC) designed for anyone who wants to learn more about creating a future where society thrives, through effective, strategic methodologies. Upon completion of this course learners will be able to:

1. Understand how social, economic and ecological systems are connected.
2. Understand the pressure humans are putting on natural systems
3. Reflect on the systems you are involved in and the benefit/harm being done by participating.

Learning objectives

This course will help learners to:

1. Gain insights into what’s already possible by exploring examples of sustainable and symbiotic industrial design.
2. Learn how completely sustainable buildings are being built with the Living Building Challenge.
3. Introduce the concept of systems thinking, and why this approach so critical to tackling issues of sustainability in an effective and meaningful way.
4. Introduce the Natural Step’s Five Level Framework for an effective and strategic approach to sustainable development.
5. Learn how the ecological system works, and how humans are adversely affecting it.
6. Learn how the social system works.
7. Learn how humans have become the dominant shaping force on the planet.
8. Explore the definitions of sustainable development and sustainability.
9. Understand how the social system works, and why meeting human needs sits at the very core of sustainability.

Micro 2: Designing the transition to a living future

Micro-course aims

Designing the transition to a living future (CSF102) is a free micro Open Online Course (mOOC) designed for anyone who wants to learn more about creating a future where society thrives, through effective, strategic methodologies. Upon completion of this course learners will be able to:

1. See that current human behavior is unsustainable.
2. Understand that planetary boundaries are pointing out unsustainable design and behaviour
3. Map trends as a powerful way to identify whats driving change.
4. Identify potential partners and collaborators that can help address complex sustainability challenges.
5. Understand the importance of recognising how others can help or hinder your sustainability goals.

Learning objectives

This course will help learners to:

1. Learn about the Funnel model to understand and conceptualise the shift from unsustainability to sustainability and a restorative future.
2. Gain understanding of that we have planetary boundaries.
3. Gain understanding of our Ecological footprint as a measure of impact.
4. Gain understanding of our Hand print as a measure of restorative value.
5. Be able to identify what’s behind the trends affecting your business/organisation/community.
6. Be able to analyse the likely outcomes from these trends.
7. Be able to identify existing assets and platforms that can support new initiatives.
8. Gain understanding of common organisational management systems that provide structure and accountability.
9. Be able to identify how an organisation, project or community is currently contributing to unsustainable impacts.
10. Begin to articulate the challenges that need to be addressed in strategic planning to move towards sustainable practices.

Micro 3: Strategic planning for success

Micro-course aims

Strategic planning for success (CSF103) is a free micro Open Online Course (mOOC) designed for anyone who wants to learn more about how to develop a clear and compelling vision that integrates a serious, smart approach to sustainable practice. Upon completion of this course learners will be able to:

1. Define sustainable success in a chosen setting.
2. Construct a suitable vision for a chosen setting.
3. Backcast from success rather than forecast towards it.
4. Frame strategic goals to take you to that vision.

Learning objectives

This course will learners to:

1. Understand what a vision is, and its critical importance to strategic planning processes.
2. Learn the characteristics and qualities of a compelling, inspiring and powerful vision.
3. Understand the benefits and advantages of backcasting.
4. Learn how to frame a vision of success using the Natural Step’s sustainability principles.
5. Understand how strategic goals give life to the vision.
6. Learn how to frame strategic goals that address the right challenges and opportunities.
7. Learn about some common frameworks that suggest strategic priority areas for sustainable development.

Micro 4:Taking action and choosing priorities

Micro-course aims

Taking action and choosing priorities (CSF104) is a free micro Open Online Course (mOOC) designed for anyone looking to prioritise the actions that sit between your baseline and your vision of success, and then learn how to communicate your work, your audience, and your story. Upon completion of this course learners will be able to:

1. Understand how creative solutions can be generated.
2. Use three prioritising questions as a check for success before action.
3. The fundamentals of communicating sustainability work for success.
4. Understand the use of suitable tools to measure success.

Learning objectives

This course will help learners to:

1. Learn that inspiration often comes from unexpected places.
2. Answer “How would nature do this?”
3. Understand prioritising questions to provide a check before action.
4. Understand that taking action changes perspective and that, together with reflection, it can provide new insight into the next course of action.
5. Understand your audience and what you need them to know.
6. Bring your audience and your message together
7. Learn to be clear and concise, with no jargon, no buzz words.
8. Ensure the right measures are in place.
9. Understand the Tools level of the 5 Level framework.
10. Explore which tools are best.

Course links (if available)

• Planning page
• Course materials
  1. CSF101 --- WordPress site
  2. CSF102 --- WordPress site
  3. CSF103 --- WordPress site
  4. CSF104 --- WordPress site