DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT-ORIENTED PICTURE BOOK SELECTION SYSTEM THROUGH EMPLOYING THE MODIFIED DELPHI METHOD

Abstract

The concept of "sustainable development" was proposed to re-examine the human development model. Initiated by the United Nations, education for sustainable development (ESD) has become an important tool for educators to achieve sustainable development. Although "Early Childhood Education" (ECE) is often taken as a starting point of ESD, the concept of sustainable development is difficult to integrate into ECE because of its unfamiliarity among teachers. Therefore, picture books can be used to bolster ESD in ECE. This research aims to construct an appropriate book selection guide system that can assist them in selecting picture books independently, objectively, and efficiently through a focus group and modified Delphi method. The guide system is based on three major aspects, covering 8 main guidelines and 21 sub-guidelines. A sustainable development-oriented picture book is defined as “a book that includes the core, values, and concept of sustainable development which can make readers aware of the balance between the environment, society and economy and that attempts to systematically explore problems, generate actions, and solve problems in relation to these three dimensions from a critical and global viewpoint." in this study. Keywords: education for sustainable development, early childhood education, Delphi Method, picture book