Sustainable Food: An Innovative Approach Based on the Assessment for Learning Method in Secondary Schools

Abstract

In 2005 the United Nations promoted the "decade of education for sustainable development" (2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012)(2013)(2014) and the UNESCO Italian Committee instituted the annual "week of education for sustainable development" to raise awareness about the necessity of a fairer and more respectful future for both human beings and environment. Nevertheless, the Italian Guidelines for the Curriculum in Secondary School -Key Stage 3 (2012 Edition) do not include the topic "sustainable food".Whereas, as proved by the scientific research, human activities concerning food, its production, its transportation, its consumption, and waste discharge are one of the most important causes of environmental pollution. Therefore, it is important to raise awareness and to understand which teaching methods might be the most effective for increasing debate, interest, and willingness in order to promote environmental safety. It is fundamental to build an ecological conscience, especially in tomorrow's citizens: today's children.The purpose of this study is to verify the opportunity to introduce this topic to the students, by transmitting knowledge through the Assessment for Learning method, innovative in Italy, and by comparing it with other methods, already commonly used. This method allows students to be protagonists of their own learning; it leads them to self-assessment and to autonomous reflection; it motivates them by creating curiosity, interest, and willingness to learn, in order to achieve more efficiency in learning and more probabilities of lifelong knowledge. methodology in science teaching, in order to consider, in perspective, a wider application field.