Faculty development program about the food–energy–water nexus: supporting faculty’s adoption of a curricular module and program evaluation
International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education
ISSN: 1467-6370
Article publication date: 1 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
A faculty development program (FDP) introduced postsecondary instructors to a module focused on the food–energy–water (FEW) nexus, a socio-hydrologic issue (SHI) and a sustainability challenge. This study aims to examine factors influencing faculty interest in adopting the instructional resources and faculty experience with the FDP, including the gains made during the FDP on their knowledge about SHIs and their self-efficacy to teach about SHIs, and highlighted characteristics of the FDP.
Design/methodology/approach
Data from n = 54 participants via pre- and post-surveys and n = 15 interviews were analyzed using mixed methods.
Findings
Findings indicate that over three quarters of participants would use the curricular resources to make connections between complex SHIs, enhance place-based learning, data analysis and interpretation and engage in evidence-based decision-making. In addition, participants’ experience with the workshop was positive; their knowledge about SHIs remained relatively constant and their self-efficacy to teach about SHIs improved by the end of the workshop. The results provide evidence of the importance of institutional support to improve instruction about the FEW nexus.
Originality/value
The module, purposefully designed, aids undergraduates in engaging with Hydroviz, a data visualization tool, to understand both human and natural dimensions of the FEW nexus. It facilitates incorporating this understanding into systematic decision-making around an authentic SHI.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors extend the gratitude to Dr Emad Habib and Jennifer Byrd from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette; the National Association of Geoscience Teachers; the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI), with special acknowledgement to Dr Deanna McCay and Julia Masterman; and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at The University of Texas at Arlington. Most importantly, the earnest thanks go to the participants of the FDP. All have partnered to enhance understanding about education in socio-hydrologic systems.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation (DUE-IUSE #1609598 and DUE-IUSE #1726965) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA-NIFA Award Number # 2020–70003-35995, Proposal Number #: 2021–11563, Accession #: 1027670). Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of these funding agencies.
Citation
Mostacedo-Marasovic, S.-J. and Forbes, C.T. (2024), "Faculty development program about the food–energy–water nexus: supporting faculty’s adoption of a curricular module and program evaluation", International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-06-2023-0262
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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