IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i3p1322-d487985.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Students’ Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development—A Longitudinal Study on Interdisciplinary vs. Monodisciplinary Learning

Author

Listed:
  • Mirjam Braßler

    (Institute of Psychology, University of Hamburg, 20146 Hamburg, Germany)

  • Martin Schultze

    (Institute of Psychology, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, 60629 Frankfurt am Main, Germany)

Abstract

Innovative ideas are essential to sustainable development. Students’ innovative potential in higher education for sustainable development (HESD) has so far been neglected. Innovation is often associated with an interdisciplinary approach. However, the results of research on diversity and its role in innovation are inconsistent. The present study takes a longitudinal approach to investigating student teams in project-based learning courses in HESD in Germany. This study examines how innovation develops in interdisciplinary student teams in contrast to monodisciplinary student teams. The results of the latent change approach from a sample of 69 student teams indicate significant changes in students’ innovation over time. Monodisciplinary student teams outperform interdisciplinary student teams in idea promotion (convincing potential allies) at the beginning, whereas interdisciplinary student teams outperform monodisciplinary student teams in idea generation (production of novel and useful ideas) in the midterm. There is no difference in the long term. The results indicate that interdisciplinary student teams have an advantage in the generation of novel ideas but need time to leverage their access to different discipline-based knowledge. We discuss practical implications for the design of interdisciplinary learning with strategies to support students in the formation phase in project-based learning in HESD.

Suggested Citation

  • Mirjam Braßler & Martin Schultze, 2021. "Students’ Innovation in Education for Sustainable Development—A Longitudinal Study on Interdisciplinary vs. Monodisciplinary Learning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1322-:d:487985
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1322/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/3/1322/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gisela Cebrián & Mercè Junyent, 2015. "Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development: Exploring the Student Teachers’ Views," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-19, March.
    2. Susan H. Frost & Paul M. Jean, 2003. "Bridging the Disciplines," The Journal of Higher Education, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(2), pages 119-149, March.
    3. Amith Khandakar & Muhammad Enamul Hoque Chowdhury & Antonio Jr. San Pedro Gonzales & Farid Touati & Nasser Al Emadi & Mohamed Arselene Ayari, 2020. "Case Study to Analyze the Impact of Multi-Course Project-Based Learning Approach on Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-21, January.
    4. van Knippenberg, Daan & van Ginkel, Wendy P. & Homan, Astrid C., 2013. "Diversity mindsets and the performance of diverse teams," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 121(2), pages 183-193.
    5. Eleni Sinakou & Vincent Donche & Jelle Boeve-de Pauw & Peter Van Petegem, 2019. "Designing Powerful Learning Environments in Education for Sustainable Development: A Conceptual Framework," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-23, October.
    6. Kelly Levin & Benjamin Cashore & Steven Bernstein & Graeme Auld, 2012. "Overcoming the tragedy of super wicked problems: constraining our future selves to ameliorate global climate change," Policy Sciences, Springer;Society of Policy Sciences, vol. 45(2), pages 123-152, June.
    7. Choi, Hoon-Seok & Thompson, Leigh, 2005. "Old wine in a new bottle: Impact of membership change on group creativity," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 98(2), pages 121-132, November.
    8. Joanna Blake & Stephen Sterling & Ivor Goodson, 2013. "Transformative Learning for a Sustainable Future: An Exploration of Pedagogies for Change at an Alternative College," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(12), pages 1-26, December.
    9. Rodrigo Lozano & Michelle Y. Merrill & Kaisu Sammalisto & Kim Ceulemans & Francisco J. Lozano, 2017. "Connecting Competences and Pedagogical Approaches for Sustainable Development in Higher Education: A Literature Review and Framework Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-15, October.
    10. Chunfang Zhou, 2018. "A Study on Creative Climate in Project-Organized Groups (POGs) in China and Implications for Sustainable Pedagogy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-15, January.
    11. Vasiliki Kioupi & Nikolaos Voulvoulis, 2019. "Education for Sustainable Development: A Systemic Framework for Connecting the SDGs to Educational Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, November.
    12. Julie Thompson Klein, 2020. "Sustainability and Collaboration: Crossdisciplinary and Cross-Sector Horizons," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-14, February.
    13. Albert Satorra & Peter Bentler, 2010. "Ensuring Positiveness of the Scaled Difference Chi-square Test Statistic," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 75(2), pages 243-248, June.
    14. Carlos Carbonell-Carrera & Jose Luis Saorin & Damari Melian-Diaz & Jorge de la Torre-Cantero, 2019. "Enhancing Creative Thinking in STEM with 3D CAD Modelling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-15, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mirjam Braßler & Sandra Sprenger, 2021. "Fostering Sustainability Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours through a Tutor-Supported Interdisciplinary Course in Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Luka Ursić & Godfrey Baldacchino & Željana Bašić & Ana Belén Sainz & Ivan Buljan & Miriam Hampel & Ivana Kružić & Mia Majić & Ana Marušić & Franck Thetiot & Ružica Tokalić & Leandra Vranješ Markić, 2022. "Factors Influencing Interdisciplinary Research and Industry-Academia Collaborations at Six European Universities: A Qualitative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, July.
    3. Jiying Han & Zhe Zhang & Zhenmei Liu & Chao Gao, 2023. "Towards Sustainability: A Quantitative Inquiry into Chinese University Students’ Perceived Learner Empowerment and Innovative Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-14, September.
    4. Sergio Ochoa-Jiménez & Beatriz Alicia Leyva-Osuna & Carlos Armando Jacobo-Hernández & Alma Rocío García-García, 2021. "Knowledge Management in Relation to Innovation and Its Effect on the Sustainability of Mexican Tourism Companies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Beineán Conway & Keelin Leahy & Muireann McMahon, 2021. "Design Education for Sustainability: Identifying Opportunities in Ireland’s Second Level Education System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    6. Shiyao Ding & Cees J. P. M. de Bont & Stuart Cockbill & Qiaozhuang Zhou, 2023. "A Review of Service Design Pedagogy to Identify Potential Added Value to Product Innovation in Higher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-19, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mirjam Braßler & Sandra Sprenger, 2021. "Fostering Sustainability Knowledge, Attitudes, and Behaviours through a Tutor-Supported Interdisciplinary Course in Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Stanislav Avsec & Vesna Ferk Savec, 2021. "Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions of, and Experiences with, Technology-Enhanced Transformative Learning towards Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-28, September.
    3. Esther García-González & Rocío Jiménez-Fontana & Pilar Azcárate, 2020. "Education for Sustainability and the Sustainable Development Goals: Pre-Service Teachers’ Perceptions and Knowledge," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-19, September.
    4. Eveliina Asikainen & Annukka Tapani, 2021. "Exploring the Connections of Education for Sustainable Development and Entrepreneurial Education—A Case Study of Vocational Teacher Education in Finland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Rocío Valderrama-Hernández & Fermín Sánchez-Carracedo & Lucía Alcántara Rubio & Dolores Limón-Domínguez, 2019. "Methodology to Analyze the Effectiveness of ESD in a Higher Degree in Education. A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-27, December.
    6. Mohammed Abdullatif Almulla & Mahdi Mohammed Alamri, 2021. "Using Conceptual Mapping for Learning to Affect Students’ Motivation and Academic Achievement," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Nijolė Burkšaitienė & Robert Lesčinskij & Jelena Suchanova & Jolita Šliogerienė, 2021. "Self-Directedness for Sustainable Learning in University Studies: Lithuanian Students’ Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    8. Kifah Imara & Fahriye Altinay, 2021. "Integrating Education for Sustainable Development Competencies in Teacher Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    9. M. Teresa Fuertes-Camacho & Mariona Graell-Martín & Mariana Fuentes-Loss & M. Carmen Balaguer-Fàbregas, 2019. "Integrating Sustainability into Higher Education Curricula through the Project Method, a Global Learning Strategy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-25, February.
    10. Gemma Tejedor & Jordi Segalàs & Ángela Barrón & Mónica Fernández-Morilla & M. Teresa Fuertes & Jorge Ruiz-Morales & Ibón Gutiérrez & Esther García-González & Pilar Aramburuzabala & Àngels Hernández, 2019. "Didactic Strategies to Promote Competencies in Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-24, April.
    11. Gisela Cebrián & Mercè Junyent & Ingrid Mulà, 2021. "Current Practices and Future Pathways towards Competencies in Education for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-9, August.
    12. Enrique Carmona-Medeiro & José María Cardeñoso Domingo, 2021. "Social Interaction: A Crucial Means to Promote Sustainability in Initial Teacher Training," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-24, August.
    13. Lukas Scherak & Marco Rieckmann, 2020. "Developing ESD Competences in Higher Education Institutions—Staff Training at the University of Vechta," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(24), pages 1-19, December.
    14. José M. Peiró & Vicente Martínez-Tur & Nanja Nagorny-Koring & Christoph Auch, 2021. "A Framework of Professional Transferable Competences for System Innovation: Enabling Leadership and Agency for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-30, February.
    15. Noor Hamwy & Jennifer Bruder & Abdellatif Sellami & Michael H. Romanowski, 2023. "Challenges to Teachers Implementing Sustainable Development Goals Frameworks in Qatar," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-19, July.
    16. Vasiliki Kioupi & Nikolaos Voulvoulis, 2019. "Education for Sustainable Development: A Systemic Framework for Connecting the SDGs to Educational Outcomes," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-18, November.
    17. Klaudia Zwolińska & Sylwia Lorenc & Radosław Pomykała, 2022. "Sustainable Development in Education from Students’ Perspective—Implementation of Sustainable Development in Curricula," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-27, March.
    18. Qiudi Zhao & Xianwei Liu & Yonghong Ma & Xiaoqi Zheng & Miaomiao Yu & Dongjiao Wu, 2020. "Application of the Modified College Impact Model to Understand Chinese Engineering Undergraduates’ Sustainability Consciousness," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-22, March.
    19. Zhenwen Liu & Hsi-Chi Yang & Yan-Chyuan Shiau, 2020. "Investigation on Evaluation Framework of Elementary School Teaching Materials for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-19, May.
    20. Hugo Valdés & Christian Correa & Felipe Mellado, 2018. "Proposed Model of Sustainable Construction Skills for Engineers in Chile," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-19, August.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:3:p:1322-:d:487985. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.