民間企業が実施する短期ESDプログラムの第三者評価

抄録

  To sustain the involvement of private business in education for sustainable development (ESD), an objective and concrete evaluation is needed. This paper attempted to conduct an independent evaluation of a short-term ESD program provided by a private company as a corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity for primary school students aged between 10 and 12, and discussed proper evaluation methods of learning effects and effective designs for such short-term ESD programs. Evaluation items were selected in consideration of the skills that the program intended to develop as well as those that should be developed in ESD or environmental education defined by the North American Association of Environmental Education, National Institute for Educational Policy Research (Japan) and others. The evaluation consisted of pre- and post-questionnaire surveys with program participants (students) and their parents. Our results showed that the responses and feedback from not only participants, but also their parents were valuable for proper evaluation and continuity of the program. Our evaluation was utilized for making a “go” or “no-go” decision about the next year’s challenges of the private company that organized this program. We also found the collaboration between organizers, planners, and evaluators from an earlier stage improved the quality of the program and the evaluation applied. Short-term ESD programs can provide a good opportunity for participants to develop their interests in a new field or to find new ideas and perspectives, especially by utilizing the unique aspect of non-formal education programs that can create situations different from ordinary learning environments and with different members that stimulate the participants.