Active classrooms: an educational innovation strategy for training in environmental risk management and sustainability

Abstract

Educational innovation responds to the need to address the gap between traditional theoretical teaching and the practical skills demanded by the productive sector and the Colombian legal framework, such as Law 2427 of 2024 and Decree 1330 of 2019.

Objective: reflect on the implementation of active learning classrooms in undergraduate professional training in environmental management at the Politecnico Grancolombiano University. Therefore, this document presents a reflection focused on an active learning pedagogical model situated within the "Learn by Doing" approach, or "active classrooms." This student-centered pedagogical model enhances practical experience, generating greater learning compared to traditional constructivist university training practices. The teaching strategy was based on the integration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), with particular emphasis on company visits and fieldwork. This facilitated a direct and personal connection between students and companies. The data obtained from these field visits demonstrate that working with real-world experiences and engaging the senses are effective learning mechanisms, showing evidence of processes that go beyond rote memorization (3). Through a systematic review in 2024, Bosch-Farre and colleagues analyzed and validated the positive impact of the active flipped classroom methodology on university learning. Furthermore, Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 indicates that quality education should focus on innovation and the development of learning environments that effectively impact the business sector. In this way, the active approach promotes the development of human capital with applied knowledge.

Conclusions: the “active classroom”model is a robust and necessary strategy for achieving meaningful learning and essential practical skills in the training of professionals in the field of sustainability and corporate environmental management.