Collaborative Research: Engaged Interdisciplinary Learning in Sustainability (EILS): Enhancing STEM Education through Social and Technological Literacy

跨学科（99）可持续发展跨学科学习（EILS）项目旨在将新的教学方法、分析技能和应用技术整合到对高等教育背景下的可持续发展至关重要的日常活动和实践中。该项目涉及工程和社会科学学院之间的密切跨学科合作，通过创建和交付一系列可持续发展工程和生态设计方面的课程、实验室、教学方法和材料。EILS旨在发展“可持续发展科学和可持续发展研究”（S4）领域，并将其正式确立为一个新的跨学科领域。S4对于成功过渡到一个有效和公平地保护地球环境和生态的国家和世界至关重要。该项目对S4的研究方法基于技术科学和社会科学领域的跨学科整合，重点研究和教授当前和未来政策与实践的工程、科学和社会科学要素。该项目在课程、实验练习、实习、研讨会以及对教师和学生成绩的仔细评估中采用了新的教学方法。该项目包括STEM教育、网络学习以及技术和社会素养元素，旨在培养熟练的专业人员。本课程包括可再生能源系统、水资源、生态足迹、可持续农业、城市设计和生命周期分析等方面的互动实验，面向不同背景的学生。大多数课程将包括一个服务学习项目，让不同学科的学生一起工作。这为学习工程设计和现实生活中的社会实施问题提供了机会。课程和课外材料由详细的教师手册补充，强调以学习者为中心的教学法，辅以形成性和同行评估策略，以及可持续工程和生态设计手册。

Interdisciplinary (99)The Engaged Interdisciplinary Learning in Sustainability (EILS) project is designed to integrate new pedagogies, analytical skills and applied techniques to daily activities and practices critical to sustainability in the context of higher education. The project involves close interdisciplinary collaboration between faculty from engineering and social sciences, through creation and delivery of a series of courses, labs, teaching methods and materials in sustainability engineering and ecological design. EILS seeks to develop the field of "Sustainability Science and Sustainability Studies" (S4) and formalize it as a new intedisciplinary field. S4 is critical to a successful transition to a Nation and world that effectively and equitably protects the planet's environment and ecology. The project's approach to S4 rests on the interdisciplinary integration of technical-scientific and social science fields of inquiry, taking as its focus research into and teaching about the engineering, scientific and social science elements of current and future policy and practice. The project applies new pedagogical approaches in courses, laboratory exercises, internships, workshops and careful assessment of instructor and student achievements. The project includes elements of STEM education, cyberlearning, and technological and social literacy elements, directed toward education of skilled professionals. This curriculum includes interactive laboratories in renewable energy systems, water resources, ecological footprint, sustainable agriculture, urban design, and life-cycle analysis which are accessible to students with diverse backgrounds. Most courses will include a service learning project for students with different disciplines to work together. This provides the opportunity to learn about engineering design and real life social implementation issues. Course and co-curricular materials are supplemented by detailed instructor manuals with emphasis on learner-centered pedagogy supported by formative and peer assessment strategies and a Handbook for Sustainability Engineering and Ecological Design.