Transformational climate change education: A case study on using personalized assessment methods to support enduring engagement

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Abstract

Environmental sustainability has emerged as a global priority, requiring both individual and collective action to foster meaningful change. This case study describes a partnership between an academic and sustainability practitioners to advance climate education through an online course that integrates principles of change leadership, personalized learning, and versatile assessment. The course design and implementation aimed to support learners in critically examining their positionality within the climate space while navigating intersections of policy, community, and daily life. Lessons learned underscore how educational programming can link community engagement, assessment practices, and public outreach to encourage socially conscious, active citizens. The findings offer practical insights for practitioners seeking to design and implement learning and assessment approaches that cultivate collective action.

Author Biographies

  • Dr. Nadia Delanoy, University of Calgary

    Dr. Nadia Delanoy is an Assistant Professor and Director of Student Experience in the Werklund School of Education at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include evidence-based practice in assessment, leadership, and innovative pedagogies in technology and AI-enhanced environments as well as big data and social media analytics to support innovative leadership practices. Professionally, Dr. Delanoy also supports sustainability education across climate change, housing sustainability, and food insecurity. 

  • Rachelle Haddock, University of Calgary

    Rachelle Haddock is the Manager, Partnerships and Engagement in the Office of Signature Learning Experiences at the University of Calgary. Rachelle has spent her career working in both the environmental non-governmental organization and post-secondary education sectors. Her research interests include experiential learning for sustainability and climate action, the role of public engagement in natural resource management, and the potential for scaling change through engagement programming. 

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Published

2026-08-05

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Articles