Editorial

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">How can student-teachers learn efficient ways to encourage sustainability thinking in their pupils and fulfil the competence aims on sustainability outlined in national subject curriculums as a response to UNESCO’s programme on Education for Sustainable Development, ESD? The core hypothesis of this project was that tailored literature circles, focused on the ecocritical aspects of literary texts, would make student-teachers aware of how they can use literature as a process to reflect on sustainability. This would enable them to incorporate sustainability thinking into their own teaching practices.The project’s tailoring of the standard literature circle roles (Daniels 1994, 2002, 2006) involved the design of reading roles that highlighted ecocritical and generic aspects of the studied texts and the application of an analytical matrix developed by literary scholars researching the representation of nature in children’s and young adult literature. This article presents the results of a small-scale study testing the ecocritical literature circles approach and its impact on student-teachers’ conception of their own ability to meet the competence aims on sustainability in their teaching. The intervention included lectures on ecocriticism and on the posthuman debate prior to the literature circles and student feedback through pre- and post-circle questionnaires. It was implemented in the teacher-training classroom, working with dystopian science fiction texts for young adults. These texts present the reader with visions of the future. The study showed that the ecocritical literature circles, and in particular the ecocritical reading roles, were considered useful by the participating student-teachers. The participants also reported a significant increase in confidence relative to their own ability to discuss sustainability issues with their pupils.</abstract>

Education for Sustainability: Developing Ecocritical Literature Circles in the Student Teacher Classroom

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Book reviews are important in offering guidance to prospective readers. What is expected from them is to be not only informative and evaluative but also unbiased and balanced. Therefore, the use of correct discourse is necessary to prevent asymmetrical domination of the reviewer, and to create a healthy setting to sustain credibility of book reviews in terms of prospective readers. In that sense, this study investigated two discourse devices, namely euphemism and dysphemism. Euphemism can be defined as polite and agreeable words or expressions that are used in place of harsh or offensive ones; however this research investigated if these expressions might lead to undue praise for a book. On the other hand dysphemism is a kind of language that uses disparaging and derogatory terms instead of complimentary or neutral ones. Reviewers may consciously or unconsciously use these linguistic devices in their critiques of books, however; the balance between them is of great importance because any unbalanced negative or positive critical act may bring about unfair judgements in would-be readers regarding the quality of the mentioned book. The present study investigated a hundred book reviews and picked up euphemistic and dysphemistic expressions. The result is of importance in helping the book reviewers to choose the true word of expression without being unnecessarily soft or offensive. Any possible biases against a book because of book reviewers’ inattentive word selection may be prevented in view of the present study. Finally, this study is important for instructors of academic writing to increase their awareness for the importance of discourse devices in book reviews, which is necessary for sustainable development of education; in other words, instructors of academic writing at universities may rearrange their instruction curriculums through saving a slot for euphemism and dysphemism for prospective students.</abstract>

The Need for a Sustainable and Balanced Critical Approach in Book Reviews

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of faculty culture perceptions of students on their academic achievement. Within the scope of the study, academic achievement was measured only with the Grade Point Average (GPA). Cultural perceptions were measured through organizational structure, commitment, symbols, power distance, and communication/relationship dimensions. The data was gathered from senior students in a business school operating in a public university in Turkey. Participants consist of the students who study in 2011–2012, 2012–2013 (questionnaires were completed before graduation), and 2018–2019 periods. A total of 359 valid questionnaire forms were obtained. 42 of the questionnaire forms were eliminated by the control questions included in the questionnaire. Within this scope, 111 questionnaire forms from 2011/2012, 163 from 2012/2013, and 85 from the 2018/2019 period were obtained as valid questionnaire forms. The data was collected by the random sampling method using convenience sampling. According to research findings, only the commitment dimension of the organizational culture positively predicted students’ academic achievement. Conversely, it was found that other dimensions of organizational culture didn’t predict students’ academic achievement. Findings were discussed and suggestions were presented for practitioners and future research.</abstract>

Examining the Effects of Sustainable Organizational Culture on Academic Achievement

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Plastic, plastic waste and marine litter indisputably is one of the key environmental issues of the 21st century. The already existing amount of accumulated marine litter, the high quantity of plastic waste escaping from waste management streams every year in combination with the low recycling rates for plastic and the missing awareness of the consumer for sustainable consumption pose a permanent threat to the ecosystem, biodiversity and human health. What is more, as economic and ecological interests strongly deviate from each other, the transformation of this status quo towards a more sustainable future will take place very slowly. Against this background, this paper will shortly outline the multitude of problems connected to plastic products throughout a productís lifecycle and introduce the idea of a circular economy. On this basis, the paper will critically analyze the strategy papers and the ongoing legislation of the EU introduced to solve these problems and to realize the transformation process of the EU-economy towards a circular economy from a sustainable development point of view. On the one hand, awareness raising is one main strategy of the EU to achieve this transformation, on the other hand, educational institutions are not specifically mentioned by the EU. In order to address this shortcoming, the paper will constitute the teaching principle <italic>global development politics / education for sustainable development</italic> as one measure to increase consumersí awareness and sustainable consumption. In general, this paper will proof that the topical area plastics can fruitfully be implemented at German schools for primary and secondary education in order to strengthen the education for sustainable development.</abstract>

Towards a Sustainable Future? The EU Policies Concerning Plastics and Their Didactical Potential for Primary and Secondary Teaching

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The aim of this study was to determine sustainable learning levels of students. The study also attempted to determine sustainable learning levels of students based on gender and grade. The participants of the study consisted of 742 high school students (354 females and 388 males) in various high schools in Babaeski district of Kırklareli, Turkey during the 2017–2018 academic year. In order to collect data, a scale with two subscales – behavioural and cognitive – was developed. The data were analysed through SPSS 17, and arithmetic mean, standard deviation, t-test and one-way analysis of variance (One Way Anova) were used. According to the results of the study, it is concluded that sustainable learning level of the high school students is moderate. The study also found a significant variation in favour of the female students in “learning for development” subdimension on the cognitive subscale of the scale.</abstract>

Sustainable Learning Levels of High School Students

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">E-leadership has not been thoroughly explored, especially in Thai higher educational institutions. This study was conducted in a scenario planning workshop with 20 participants who were administrators, lecturers, staff members, and stakeholders of both Thai public and private higher educational institutions. The aim of this research was to develop the scenarios for Thai higher educational institution leaders to use E-leadership in 2027. The three scenarios for educational leaders to use E-leadership were developed for future Thai higher educational institutions and were e-leaders and international collaborations; e-leaders, innovation and sustainable environment; and e-leaders and the current situation. The scenarios were developed using STEEP analysis. The social aspect includes the phenomenon of youth called “digital natives”, increased individual learning and society of learning, generation gap, well-educated employees, and an aging society. The technological aspect is acclimatizing to the need of users, advancing technology and innovation, technology being everywhere, and competition within technology development. The economic aspect considers increase in oil prices, investment in university, increasing numbers of cross-institutions, and rapid economic growth in ASEAN. The environmental aspect considers global warming, climate change, and redesigns learning space. Lastly, the political aspect considers government policies in education and improved environmental governance. It does not only benefit higher education, but also schools or any organization that could apply this sustainable education research to develop human resources for the future.</abstract>

Scenarios of a Sustainable E-leadership for Thai Higher Educational Institution Leaders in 2027

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The topic of this study is the issue of Czech primary minority schools (ISCED 1) in the period of interwar Czechoslovakia. The specific objective is to describe the development of these type of schools as an example of the sustainability process of Czech education and erudition in general in the border areas of the interwar Czechoslovak state; in other words in the areas, which were inhabited predominantly by the German-speaking population. The research is based on the study of archival sources kept mainly in the Archive of the City of Ústí nad Labem and National Archives in Prague as well as on the study of contemporary legislation. The study brings, among other things, a unique view on the process of disseminating and maintaining Czech education through establishing Czech minority schools in the linguistically heterogeneous areas of the Czechoslovak state. It also indicates the importance of this process in the context of the development of Czechoslovak education system after the year 1945.</abstract>

Sustainable Education on the Example of Establishment of Czech Primary Minority Schools in Interwar Czechoslovakia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">As interactive whiteboards have been used recently in secondary schools for sustainability, this study on use of interactive whiteboards is considered to be very important in terms of knowing the effects of interactive whiteboards on mathematics lessons, determining the perspectives of teachers as users of the system and increasing the efficiency of the attempts related to the use of interactive whiteboards. In this respect, the purpose of the study was to investigate the use of interactive whiteboard in teaching mathematics for sustainability and to examine its effects on the role of teachers. The qualitative research approach was adopted in the study as it tried to conduct a deep analysis of a situation. The study was conducted with eight secondary school mathematics teachers working in the province of Adiyaman in Turkey. The research data were collected using a semi-structured interview form developed by the researchers. Each interview lasted in a period of time ranging from 8 to 14 minutes. The data collected in the study were analyzed using descriptive analysis with a qualitative approach. In the study, the data were interpreted considering the following themes: “The changes created by interactive whiteboards in the process of teaching mathematics”, “The facilities provided by the system for mathematics teachers”, “The effects of using interactive whiteboards in teaching mathematics on the role of teachers”, “The preparations for using interactive whiteboards in teaching mathematics” and “Use of computer software with interactive whiteboards in teaching mathematics”. The results obtained in the study revealed that the teachers were not sufficiently informed or directed regarding the use of whiteboards in teaching mathematics or provided with in-service training support which they needed in relation to the use of interactive whiteboards especially in teaching mathematics. Current role of teachers existing in accordance with the constructivist educational approach has not changed with the use of interactive whiteboards in teaching mathematics, but this role has only become stronger. Furthermore, it was found that interactive whiteboards in mathematics classes are generally used for mathematical exercises.</abstract>

Use of Interactive Whiteboard in Teaching Mathematics for Sustainability and its Effect on the Role of Teacher

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article deals with systematization of the categories of emotional intelligence, emotional potential and a relationship between emotions and feelings, and emphasizes the importance of a sustainably developed personality in the context of sustainable education (Jovaiša, 2007, 2011). The inward consistency is perceived as an internal human orientation, showing itself in positive relationship with the exterior world and the individual (Pileckaitė-Markovienė, 2002). A person with a strong sense of internal consistency has a stronger motivation and appears to be more resistant to stress. Educating children to become emotionally sustainable individuals, means helping them to solve their emotional issues, in order to learn important behaviour strategies and to experience positive interactions with their environment. Children who receive emotional education remain more composed and stable in critical situations. They are able to deal with their feelings, even the negative ones, more easily. Such children are less vulnerable to various illnesses and diseases; they experience less anger and aggression.This article analyzes a system of means and methods for development of intelligence in childhood in the context of sustainable education. It also presents and analyzes the results of recently accomplished research. The aim of the research is to evaluate possibilities and opportunities for development of emotional intelligence in pre-school education institutions and family environment. The article analyses the system of means and measures that aim to develop emotional sustainability in young, preschool children, as it presents and analyses results of the conducted research. The purpose of this research is to assess the emotional potential in children, and the possibilities of educating for emotional sustainability at preschool institutions and within the family environment. The research has targeted preschool pedagogues and parents, who are raising preschool children. The results have shown that respondents do perceive the existence of difference between concepts of emotions and feelings. Childrenís emotions are constantly changing, i.e., they equally display both negative and positive emotions, and, as a result, these emotions may have a fortifying or weakening effect on childrenís emotional sustainability. Emotional intelligence is one of components of inward consistency, and its development in sustainable education is a long, consecutive and continuous activity. Accordingly, the respondents attempt to improve every day and in every possible way. Development of emotional intelligence is a long and consistent work that needs to be practised daily through a variety of activities. In contrast to parents, pedagogues tend to believe that children are the best at assessing and understanding the feelings of other people. The respondents agree that the greatest effect on a childís emotional sustainability comes from family, education and environment. Respondents agree that family, upbringing and environment make the supreme impact on intelligence.</abstract>

Possibilities for Development of Emotional Intelligence in Childhood in the Context of Sustainable Education

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This article is part of broader research on “The Interrelationship of Theology and Praxis in the Context of Sustainable Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue”1 in which we explore two essential concepts: sustainability and interreligious dialogue. We have narrowed this broader topic to study how facilitation of students’ spirituality in theology study programmes develops an environment for sustainability of interdenominational/interreligious dialogue. We provide a theoretical glimpse into research from theology, pedagogy, and spirituality. Our future research process will be based on our findings. One of the current challenges is globalization, which coincides with diversification of cultural norms and moral values. The sustainability provision for our home – Earth – suggests new ways to achieve common solutions, not only economically (prosperity) and politically (peace and stability), but also religiously (justice and solidarity) in terms of current changes. But, looking deeper, theology is searching for new definitions for traditional concepts such as “my neighbour”, “creation”, and “community of believers”. <italic>Bert Roebben states that</italic> the Christian community (and the global community as a whole) needs to find means to “grow in a common humanity” (Roebben, 2018). In this article, we reflect on how a spiritual approach can be methodologically integrated into theology studies to promote spiritual growth and establish sustainable interreligious dialogue: What type of theology should create the foundation of theology study programmes to promote students’ spirituality as a prerequisite for sustainability? How does spirituality promote sustainability of interdenominational/interreligious dialogue? Research methodology combines hermeneutic insights on conditions for sustainability of interdenominational/interreligious dialogue, its theological foundations, spiritual practice as a pedagogical basis, and the possibility for implementing sustainable dialogue support mechanisms in theology study programmes. Theology study programmes that promote student spirituality develop an environment for sustainable interdenominational/interreligious dialogue.</abstract>

Spirituality and Sustainability of Interreligious/Interdenominational Dialogue in Theological Study Programs

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Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education

 Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education is an international, double blind peer-reviewed journal that provides a forum for the examination of policies, theories and practices related to discourse and communication for sustainable education. Since contemporary discourse study has extended its field to the study of multifaceted contexts of discourse, it is able to be integrated in the broader study of the phenomena of communication in relation to sustainable education. The journal Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education publishes research articles and reviews. Its diversity is apparent in the variety of its theories, methods and approaches, thus avoiding the frequent limitation to one school, approach, academic branch. The only criteria will be the quality and the originality of its articles. The journal Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education welcomes articles which explore inspirational ideas in sustainable education, are written in innovative ways or are presented in experimental ways. It does not have article processing charges (APCs) nor article submission charges.  Discourse and Communication for Sustainable Education is a double-blind peer-reviewed journal.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 