Abstract:

The integration of sustainable development initiatives into higher education curricula is a way of addressing global challenges. The United Nations has outlined 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to be achieved by 2030, underscoring for educational institutions to contribute to these objectives. Concerns about environmental preservation and sustainability-related topics have gained attention in the academic community. Many strategies have been discussed and applied to social and environmental demands.

In this context, the incorporation of extensionist practices into the curriculum of information technology (IT) courses can be a promising approach to promoting sustainable development. This paper presents an experience report of an application of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) technique in an Information Systems higher education course to address sustainability challenges.

PBL is a pedagogical approach where students learn by solving real-world problems. When coupled with the objectives of sustainable development within the curriculum, PBL becomes a potent tool for fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and interdisciplinary collaboration among students. It emphasizes active student participation in the learning process, requiring students to reflect on the problem and consider potential techniques, processes, and tools to find a solution.

This study reports the experience of the students from an Information Systems Course. The students have developed a prototype application to educate and raise awareness about the proper disposal of electronic waste, as well as provide information about suitable and responsible disposal of these materials.

Learning objectives and assessment strategies are discussed, including tests to evaluate student learning related to the topic. Through this experience, insights are provided into the effective integration of extensionist practices and PBL methodologies in higher education to advance sustainable development initiatives. In future work, the prototype will be submitted to a heuristic evaluation to assess the usability of the developed interface.

Evaluation of student learning outcomes reveals significant improvements in awareness and understanding of sustainability issues. Furthermore, the integration of soft skills, such as teamwork and communication, alongside technical skills enhances students' ability to contribute effectively to sustainable development initiatives.

Keywords:

Sustainable Development, Higher Education, Extensionist Practices, information technology, Problem-Based Learning (PBL).