What Does CBL, ESD and SAP Spell? Actively Engaged Students Who Learn. (The Benefits of Using a Challenge Based Learning (CBL), an Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and a Student As Partners (SAP) Approach in Education)

Abstract

This paper looks at the integration of Challenge Based Learning (CBL), Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Student Partnership into a module underpinned by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for computing students.  It provides a brief overview of Challenge Based Learning and outlines the three phases of the approach (Engage, Investigate and Act).  It explains the approach to integrating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) as a core element of the module, rather than an add-on element.  It describes how the Students as Partners (SaP) approach was a key component of the module, whereby students were given the opportunity to choose the challenges they wished to address as well as submission formats.  It shows how digital technologies underpinned the module to provide a coherent and beneficial learning experience for students.  This paper highlights the feedback from students on this innovative approach to learning and some suggestions for others considering adopting this approach.