Title: Beyond small ecological acts: How can digital practices activate second order learning?

Authors: Cédric Gossart

Addresses: Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, IMT-BS, LITEM, 91025, Évry-Courcouronnes, France

Abstract: How can associations use digital technologies to address grand challenges? This paper analyses the digital practices of French associations specialised in Environmental and Sustainable Development Education (ESDE) and the types of learning processes they activate. Based on a case study of 13 ESDE associations through semi-structured interviews, we explore the learning processes these practices activate. To identify ESDE digital practices, we use social practice theory, according to which a practice emerges when performed through the combination of three elements: Material, Competence, and Meaning. Our study identifies 131 ESDE digital practices and concludes that only 17 practices could activate second order learning, which is crucial to deep sustainability transformation. It also underlines the benefits of interdisciplinary research, in our case of using the sociological concept of social practices to analyse organisational practices tackling grand challenges.

Keywords: digital practices; second order learning; associations; sustainability education; grand challenges; interdisciplinarity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2025.144829

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2025 Vol.19 No.2, pp.150 - 171

Received: 17 Sep 2022
Accepted: 04 May 2023
Published online: 04 Mar 2025 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article