Chapter 1a: Discussion Questions & Activities
Discussion Questions for Chapter 1a
- Review the statement by Lyft’s co-founders about industry and the environment not being at odds from the beginning of this chapter. Provide another example of a business that has successfully integrated sustainability into their operations.
- How did the Brundtland Commission’s report “Our Common Future” shape the modern understanding and discourse surrounding sustainability?
- Discuss the economic, environmental, and socio-political dimensions of sustainability. How do these dimensions interact, and why are they crucial for achieving sustainable development?
- Reflect on Peter Mahaffy’s assertion about the slow pace of educational change in relation to climate literacy. Do you agree or disagree? What is one suggestion on how educational institutions can address environmental challenges?
- Why is effective communication essential in advancing a business’s sustainability goals?
- What kinds of skills overlap in effective business communication and environmental sustainability in business?
- Evaluate the diverse career paths available in the field of sustainability across various industries. Which roles align with your interests and skills, and how can you prepare for a career in this rapidly progressing sector?
- What is the difference between a primary and secondary audience? Describe at least one example of each for one message such as an email or social media post.
- How would you describe your own ability to write and proofread? Do you use writing generators? Why or why not?
- After reading this chapter, what are you looking forward to most in this course and why? What are you most nervous about and why?
Activity 1: Analyze Two Companies’ Approaches to Environmental Sustainability
Objective: Investigate the role of businesses in promoting environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Instructions:
- Select two companies known for their sustainability initiatives. Look them up online.
- Analyze each company’s approach to integrating sustainability into its business model, operations, and communication strategies. Where did you find their sustainability statement, goals, or values?
- Evaluate the effectiveness of their word choices, user-friendliness in design, and tone of language. Evaluate how they explained environmental conservation and responsibility.
- Prepare a short report (1 page) highlighting the website’s strengths and potential areas for improvement.
Activity 2: Interview a Professional Who Communicates about Environmental Sustainability for a Living
Objective: Interview and gain insight on a real business’s environmental sustainability.
Instructions:
- Identify a specific industry (e.g., restaurant, retail,), business, or business leader you would like to learn more about.
- Write a one-page or shorter email to someone in a company asking about its top three sustainability challenges.
- Prepare a short (1-3) minute presentation on the result and lessons learned.
Activity 3: Present about a Sustainable Development Goal
Objective: explore the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), research one specific goal in depth, gain insight into the importance of sustainable development and its global impact through researching and presenting on a chosen SDG.
Instructions:
- Choose a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) related to the planet (unless your instructor allows any of the goals):
- Visit the UN Sustainable Development Goals website https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
- Watch the introductory video provided on the website to gain a basic understanding of the goals.
- Select your Goal:
- Explore the 17 SDGs listed on the website.
- Choose one goal that interests you the most or one that you feel particularly passionate about.
- Research your Chosen Goal:
- Read the detailed information provided on the website about your chosen SDG.
- Identify the key aspects of the goal, including its targets and indicators.
- Prepare a Short Presentation:
- Create a presentation summarizing your chosen SDG. Include the two or more of the following points in your presentation so that it fills 2-4 minutes total:
- Background: What is the goal about? Why is it important? Why did you choose this one?
- Targets: What specific objectives does the goal aim to achieve and how?
- Culture: What specific areas of the world struggle with achieving this goal the most and why do you think so?
- Communication: What made this website effectively or ineffectively convey the message about this goal (font, color, word choice, brevity, locations of text/images, choice of images/icons, etc.)?
- Actions: What can individuals or communities do to contribute to achieving this goal?
- Create a presentation summarizing your chosen SDG. Include the two or more of the following points in your presentation so that it fills 2-4 minutes total:
- Be prepared to answer questions from your classmates and the instructor about your chosen SDG.
- After each presentation, provide constructive feedback to your peers based on their content, delivery, and understanding of the SDG.
- Reflective Summary:
- Write a brief reflective summary (100-200 words) on what you learned from researching and presenting on your chosen SDG.
- Reflect on how you presented your topic. What went well? What could have gone better? What will you do in the future to prepare for other presentations?
- Write a summary of at least one other SDG that another student presented.
- Reflect on how that student or group presented his/her/their topic. What went well? What could have gone better? What did you learn, either about the SDG or about presenting?
- Include any insights gained and how this assignment has influenced your understanding of global sustainability goals.