Faculty development program about the food–energy–water nexus

Supporting faculty’s adoption of a curricular module and program evaluation

Bibliographic Data

ID21720955
AuthorsSilvia-Jessica Mostacedo-Marasovic (0000-0001-6860-719X), Cory T Forbes (0000-0003-2230-4251)
Year2024
Volume25
Issue8
Pages1837-1853
Publication date2024-11-21
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1467-6370 • E-ISSN: 1758-6739
PublisherEmerald (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1108/ijshe-06-2023-0262
OpenAlexW4393327912
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited36

Purpose A faculty development program (FDP) introduced postsecondary instructors to a module focused on the food–energy–water (FEW) nexus, a socio-hydrologic issue (SHI) and a sustainability challenge. This study aims to examine factors influencing faculty interest in adopting the instructional resources and faculty experience with the FDP, including the gains made during the FDP on their knowledge about SHIs and their self-efficacy to teach about SHIs, and highlighted characteristics of the FDP. Design/methodology/approach Data from n = 54 participants via pre- and post-surveys and n = 15 interviews were analyzed using mixed methods. Findings Findings indicate that over three quarters of participants would use the curricular resources to make connections between complex SHIs, enhance place-based learning, data analysis and interpretation and engage in evidence-based decision-making. In addition, participants’ experience with the workshop was positive; their knowledge about SHIs remained relatively constant and their self-efficacy to teach about SHIs improved by the end of the workshop. The results provide evidence of the importance of institutional support to improve instruction about the FEW nexus. Originality/value The module, purposefully designed, aids undergraduates in engaging with Hydroviz, a data visualization tool, to understand both human and natural dimensions of the FEW nexus. It facilitates incorporating this understanding into systematic decision-making around an authentic SHI

Engineering ethics · Environmental education · Faculty Development · Medical education · Pedagogy · Political science · Professional development · Sociology · Sustainability · Sustainable development · Adult and Continuing Education Topics · Diverse Educational Innovations Studies · Engineering · Environmental Education and Sustainability · Medicine · Ecology

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