Feedback and Tips

Basic Level

Description

At this level, you are beginning to understand that sustainability issues are complex and connected to many different factors. You understand that problems can have more than one cause and more than one possible solution.You appreciate guidance, offered knowledge, and examples that help you understand these connections. You are learning to look at situations from different angles and to ask simple questions. With support, you can start to recognise links between social, environmental, and economic aspects.

TIPS to raise your level

Advanced Level

Description

At this level, you are more confident in working with sustainability as a complex system. You understand that sustainability challenges are complex and involve different perspectives and interests. You explore causes and effects and recognise connections between systems. You analyse information more independently, combine knowledge from different subjects, and look for additional information when needed. You ask critical questions and reflect on possible consequences. Complexity shapes how you think about problems and solutions.

TIPS to raise your level

Expert Level

Description

At this level, you show strong confidence in engaging with complex sustainability challenges. You confidently engage with complex sustainability challenges and reflect on systems and interconnections. You consider uncertainty, trade-offs, and different perspectives when analysing issues. You independently identify, seek out, and critically use relevant knowledge to deepen your understanding. You adapt your thinking when new insights emerge and help others understand complexity.

TIPS to raise your level

Tips to raise your level

level basic TIPS

At this level, you are beginning to understand that sustainability issues are complex and connected to many aspects of everyday life.

To develop further, try this:

Explore how daily actions link to bigger systems

Try this: Observe something common in your school (e.g. water use, electricity, or food waste). Ask: How does this affect people, nature, and the economy?

Talk about problems that have no easy answer

Try this: Choose a topic like climate change or plastic waste and ask: Why is this problem difficult to solve? Who is involved? What would be a fair solution?

Use real-life examples to see different views

Try this: Pick a local issue (e.g. public transport, green spaces) and describe how it affects three different people (student, parent, shop owner). What are their needs?

Ask questions, even if you’re unsure

Try this: During a discussion or project, ask at least one question like: What causes this? Who is responsible? What if we do nothing?

Connect what you learn across subjects

Try this: Link ideas from Science, Geography, and Art to build a full picture of one topic (like sustainable food or clean energy). What patterns do you notice?

Advanced basic TIPS

At this level, you are more confident in working with sustainability as a complex system.

To develop further, try this:

Work on projects that combine subjects and views

Try this: In a team, choose a real sustainability challenge. Identify how it affects the environment, people, and money. Plan a small project or campaign.

Use data to understand complex issues

Try this: Collect data from your school (e.g. energy use, water waste, transport). Analyse patterns and present 2–3 realistic actions based on your findings.

Help others see links between topics

Try this: During group work or class discussions, connect different ideas. For example: “This reminds me of something we learned in Science about ecosystems.”

Apply what you learn in real contexts

Try this: Use what you learned in class to make a change in your school (e.g. reduce food waste, improve recycling, or share knowledge with younger students).

Reflect on how complexity connects to other areas

Try this: After a project, ask yourself: How did this involve values (Area 1), imagination (Area 3), or collaboration (Area 4)?

Expert basic TIPS

At this level, you show strong confidence in engaging with complex sustainability challenges. To continue developing, try this:

Lead or co-lead projects that involve your whole school

Try this: Identify a real issue in your school and form a team including students and teachers. Facilitate meetings, make a plan, and follow up with reflection.

Create space for respectful discussion

Try this: Organise a roundtable where students share different views on a complex issue (e.g. fast fashion, school transport, local biodiversity). Make sure everyone is heard.

Help others reflect on sustainability challenges

Try this: After a project or event, lead a feedback session. Ask others: What did we learn? What worked? What was more complex than we thought?

Work on long-term actions that link learning to your community

Try this: Start or join a project that continues across terms or school years (e.g. improving water systems, composting, or sustainable transport). Track your impact over time.

Model curiosity and reflection

Try this: Share moments where your view changed or you didn’t have an easy answer. Encourage others to embrace complexity, not avoid it.