The feasibility of integrating insights from character education and sustainability education – a Delphi study

Abstract

Although fostering values is promoted within sustainability education (SE), many educators appear concerned or conflicted about how, or whether, to approach values education. An interdisciplinary research project sought to draw on insights from character education (CE) in order to explore the problem. Using the Delphi technique, 12 CE and SE experts were gathered, via email, to explore their perceptions regarding the feasibility of integrating theoretical/practical insights from the CE and SE fields. Experts rated their agreement and made comments on 41 statements. Fourteen statements reached ‘consensus’. Thematic analysis revealed experts’ agreement on an ethical base of SE providing practical application of CE; a perceived tension between democracy, pluralism and normativity; reservations about the individual nature of CE; the need for CE, and SE, to more actively foster awareness of self as part of nature; a desire for holistic and interdisciplinary education; concern regarding exam-driven education and agreement on the need to re-examine the purpose of education. The findings reveal common ground between the two fields, as well as indicating where differences could be bridged and misunderstandings addressed, suggesting avenues for future collaboration and potential integration – possibilities that it would be fruitful to pursue through further interdisciplinary research.