Can digital tools make sustainability learning more human?

When we think about digital learning, reflection isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind but in this RIDE Conference session we presented with Newcastle University that is a key focus.

We share one of our projects, that began as a way to measure the impact of sustainability education, and how it evolved into something much more powerful: a digital space that helps learners move from understanding sustainability to taking meaningful action. Rather than treating technology as the solution, we share what we have learned about it, how it can create the time, structure and confidence needed for learners to explore complex issues, reflect on their own values and develop personalised action plans.

The session also raised important questions for educators and institutions. How do we help students overcome the feeling that sustainability is simply too big or too complicated? How can assessment encourage genuine commitment rather than performative responses? And what might we learn if we looked beyond what students know to understand what they actually do?

Whether you’re interested in Education for Sustainable Development, curriculum innovation or using digital technology to create meaningful engagement, this session offers practical insights and thought-provoking ideas that extend far beyond higher education.

Watch the recording to discover how reflective practice, thoughtful digital design and personalised action planning can help turn sustainability ambition into measurable impact.