Abstract
![CDATA[This paper aims to outline some of the possible advantages of the web-based simulation tool Fierce Planet for the teaching of social theories of sustainability to undergraduates. Its contention is that such a tool can address some of the challenges involved in teaching social theory in general, and theories of sustainability in particular. While social theorists understand their work as eminently practical – as a means of mobilising the sociological imagination to orient our collective action in a complex world – the concrete relevance of social theory has long been recognised as notoriously difficult to communicate in a classroom setting (e.g. Orum 1980; Holtzman 2005). The position of social theory within undergraduate curricula – often segregated out from more advanced “applied” courses, and taught in introductory “general knowledge” courses to mixed-discipline cohorts – exacerbates this problem. Tacitly communicating that theoretical concepts are introductory matters, this alignment implies they are soon to be superseded as students advance to more specialised courses in which they can “get their hands dirty”.]]
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Cities & Successful Societies: Refereed Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Australian Sociological Association Conference (TASA 2016), Australian Catholic University, 28 November - 1 December, 2016, Fitzroy, Melbourne |
Publisher | TASA |
Pages | 233-239 |
Number of pages | 7 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780646964805 |
Publication status | Published - 2016 |
Event | Australian Sociological Association. Conference - Duration: 28 Nov 2016 → … |
Conference
Conference | Australian Sociological Association. Conference |
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Period | 28/11/16 → … |
Open Access - Access Right Statement
© TASA 2016Keywords
- social sciences
- sustainability
- study and teaching (higher)
- educational technology
- Australia