Insights into Sustainable Development: Secondary School Students' Conversations about Product Life Cycles

Abstract

In this study, we provide insights about secondary school students’ conversation about products’ life cycles in relation to three dimensions of sustainable development: economic, social, and ecological sustainable development but also what traces of view that appear in these conversations. Production and consumption are part of complex technological systems that affect nature and life on earth, and knowledge about these systems are required to achieve sustainable development. In technology education, students can have the opportunity to talk about products and their life cycles. Hence, this study aims to explore what emerges in students’ conversations about products’ life cycles in relation to sustainable development. Data collection was conducted in Sweden through seven semi-structured interviews, with in total 21 students participating in groups. All student responses have been analysed using thematic analysis to explore dimensions and views of sustainability. Results show that the students discuss with regard to all three dimensions of sustainable development. However, the phases of a product’s life cycle occur to varying extent within the different sustainability dimensions. Additionally, the students also connect dimensions with both harmonious and contrasting perspectives but also talk about the dimensions isolated. When participating students discuss, traces of mainly anthropocentric and technocentric view emerge. This has implications for technology education, where for example deliberative conversations can be used for engaging students in sustainable development.