As the importance of sustainable development for the harmonious coexistence of humans, society, and nature continues to grow, there is an increasing need for educational approaches that enable learners to internalize the values and practices of sustai...
As the importance of sustainable development for the harmonious coexistence of humans, society, and nature continues to grow, there is an increasing need for educational approaches that enable learners to internalize the values and practices of sustainability in their daily lives. Accordingly, this study aimed to develop a culture and arts education program for the practice of sustainable development, implement it in an educational setting, and explore its educational significance and potential.
The research questions were as follows: First, what are the theoretical and practical foundations for developing a culture and arts education program for the practice of sustainable development? Second, how is a culture and arts education program for the practice of sustainable development designed based on Maxine Greene's educational philosophy and the Lincoln Center Education (LCE) teaching approach? Third, what educational meanings emerge from implementing the developed program?
To address these questions, literature on sustainable development, culture and arts education, Maxine Greene's aesthetic education, and the LCE teaching approach was reviewed. In addition, the researcher analyzed the Green Green Green Island program (2020–2021), which had been previously implemented, to develop a preliminary program. The preliminary program was pilot implemented over 13 sessions with 14 students in Grades 3–5 in 2025. Based on expert interviews conducted after the pilot implementation, the program was revised and finalized.
The developed program was organized around the central theme of the relationship between humans and nature and consisted of six content areas: plant sensory exploration, place-based artistic experiences, aesthetic inquiry, relational awareness, empathy and collaboration, and social participation. The instructional process was designed based on the LCE aesthetic inquiry approach, integrating artwork-based inquiry, question-centered teaching and learning, interaction, and reflection.
The findings of the study are as follows. First, an analysis of the literature on sustainable development, culture and arts education, and the LCE teaching approach identified four theoretical foundations for program development: sustainability competency-based learning, participatory and experience-based learning, aesthetic reflection-centered learning, and practice-oriented learning. Second, an analysis of the previously implemented program identified practical foundations for program design, which served as the basis for developing the ‘Green Green Green Island’culture and arts education program for the practice of sustainable development. Third, the implementation of the program showed that participants developed integrated learning experiences by deepening their understanding of the relationships among humans, nature, and society, reflecting on the values of sustainability, and fostering a willingness to put sustainable practices into action. Fourth, interviews with policy and theory experts, international arts education experts, and program development and field practice experts confirmed the program's design validity and educational design principles. The findings underscored the importance of process-oriented inquiry and practice-based learning grounded in artistic experience.
The findings demonstrate that culture and arts education for the practice of sustainable development can provide an integrated learning framework that connects the values and practices of sustainability through sensory experiences and aesthetic inquiry. Furthermore, this study is significant in that it presents a theoretical framework for integrating sustainable development, culture and arts education, and the LCE teaching approach, while proposing a practical model for a culture and arts education program for the practice of sustainable development.