“Wow, that’s a LOT!” Increasing Engagement and Understanding in Sustainability Using Tangible Learning Methods

Abstract

Facilitating active engagement of students, prospective students, and teachers in addressing societal challenges is of paramount importance for society. One such challenge is sustainable development, an issue that many acknowledge at a foundational level but find challenging to personally connect with. In this paper, we share our initial findings on the use of "physicalization" of environmental data as an educational tool. We have created tangible objects that represent environmental data, providing prospective university students, current students, and teachers with a hands-on, tangible learning experience, ultimately aiming to generate interest and active engagement in these subjects. We hope that this, in turn, increases the likelihood that students will continue to pursue these topics throughout their educational journeys and future careers.