{"id":1886,"date":"2024-10-06T15:14:02","date_gmt":"2024-10-06T15:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rcecrete.gr\/sdgstools\/?page_id=1886"},"modified":"2024-12-28T13:13:34","modified_gmt":"2024-12-28T13:13:34","slug":"decore","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.rcecrete.gr\/sdgstools\/tools\/decore\/","title":{"rendered":"DeCoRE+"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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DeCoRe+<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"DeCoRE+\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\nWhat is DeCoRe+?\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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DeCoRe+ is an abbreviation of Deconstruction, Construction, and Reconstruction, three processes that can help educators reorient courses to address sustainability issues and SDGs. The theoretical underpinning of the DeCoRe plus methodological approach derives from critical social theory and critical pedagogy.<\/p>

The philosophical paradigm and movement of reconstructionism highly influence both theories. Reconstructionism seeks to turn education into an agent of social change and, in doing so, to address and rectify social injustices and inequalities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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DeCoRe+ encourages educators and students to analyze their social context and personal theories critically, question existing norms, and engage in dialogue about sustainability issues that can be elicited from the 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). It also advocates for the development of the whole person, including the emotional, social, and civic dimensions of teaching and learning. In particular, reconstructionism aims at fostering responsible and active citizenship, primarily through community-based or service learning. Although the six DeCoRe+ processes follow a linear order (Table 1), each process is closely interconnected, forming a whole (Figure 1). The DeCoRe+ model has been applied in hundreds of courses worldwide on curriculum, sustainability justice, and ICTs to enable sustainability education.<\/p>

It is particularly important to download the DeCoRe+ template<\/a><\/strong> and familiarize yourself with its processes and key questions. The DeCoRe+ template functions as an organizer for reorienting university curricula to address SDGs.<\/p>

Table 1. The DeCoRe Plus processes<\/strong><\/p>

DeCoRe+ Processes<\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Key concepts in each process<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Diagnostic Evaluation<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Reflecting on a) who we are, b) what we have (existing knowledge), c) where we want to go, and d) why we want to go there.<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Deconstruction<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Analyze the functioning of personal perspectives\/habits of mind critically and chosen curriculum units\/modules.<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Construction<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Gather resources, create ideas, and construct new meanings (perspectives).<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Reconstruction<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Integrate newly constructed knowledge in line with the reconstructed frame of reference.<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Implementation<\/em><\/strong><\/p><\/td>

Carrying out the reconstructed curriculum unit\/module supplemented by service learning.<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

Summative Evaluation<\/em><\/strong><\/p>

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Reflect and evaluate what has been learned and changed.<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"DeCoRe+\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
Figure 2. The DeCoRe+ interactive processes<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Why Use DeCoRE+?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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It is widely known that university courses often lack real-life contexts, focusing merely on theoretical knowledge, an edge decontextualized from social reality. This disconnect can hurt students’ engagement, learning outcomes, and access to the workforce.\u00a0 Using DeCoRe+ to deconstruct, construct, and reconstruct course curricula in higher education to address real-life issues like climate change (SDG13) can significantly enhance the effectiveness of educational study programs in preparing students for the complexities of the modern world.<\/p>

Contextualizing course content infused with SDGs can give students a sense of meaning, relevance, and agency. Thus, DeCoRe+ necessitates the involvement of community organizations, policymakers, and industry leaders in course curriculum development. This synergistic relationship makes university study programs relevant to societal needs while creating a robust framework for educators aiming to prepare students to address complex environmental, social, economic, and cultural realities.<\/p>

In the process of self-transformation, users of DeCoRe+ seek collaboration with colleagues, engage in discussions, and share experiences to enhance their understanding of sustainability injustices. This collaborative partnership, addressed in SDG17, is critical in utilizing the DeCoRE+ methodology effectively and meaningfully for course curriculum development. Developing a critical conscious awareness of sustainability justice issues can prompt academic teaching staff and other educators to reflect on what they teach, why they teach in one way or another, how they teach, and their role as change-makers.<\/p>

This awareness informs the deconstruction of curriculum content to identify biases and gaps, paving the way for reconstruction that is more inclusive, equitable, and relevant to students’ diverse backgrounds. Deconstructing and reconstructing course curricula by applying DeCoRe+ to focus on real-life challenges like climate change fosters a more engaged, skilled, and socially conscious student body. It turns education into a tool for academic teaching staff and students to gain agency, challenge unsustainable norms, and take action to build a more sustainable and just society<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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To Whom does DeCoRe+ aim?<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The DeCoRe+ approach to course curriculum development targets educators at all levels. It aims to empower educators and students to become agents of change, enabling them to confront and challenge sustainability issues. As pointed out earlier, it seeks to instill in educators a sense of seeing the content of learning as a process and praxis rather than a prescribed set of knowledge disconnected from real life. It also aspires to give students a sense of ownership, advocacy, and responsibility to contribute positively to society.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Applying DeCoRe+ <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSTEP 1: Guidelines for Self-Reflection<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As pointed out earlier, self-reflection is essential for teachers across all education levels who want to improve their teaching and bring about real change in their classrooms and societies. The following guidelines provide a straightforward method for academic staff to start self-reflection, connecting their practices to their values and education for sustainability goals, especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).<\/p>

At the start:<\/strong><\/p>