Perspective Chapter: Enabling the Ecological University—An Argument for Developing Transdisciplinary Ethical-Maker-Learning in Higher Education

Abstract

This chapter argues for the importance of ethical-maker-learning as a transdisciplinary learning system in Higher Education. A new potentially transformative pedagogical concept of Critical Material Literacy (CML) is also proposed, with the aim that no student should leave university as a passive consumer of new technologies and products. Broad pedagogical opportunities are suggested across Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM), and Humanities learning systems. The foundation of this argument is based on in depth maker-learning research, a critique of mainstream maker learning culture, and a move towards more ecological and humanistic concerns in maker processes. Thus, CML-based learning is proposed to teach an awareness of the importance of material matters in our often-passive consumer-led society. An initial transdisciplinary learning model for ethical-maker-learning is presented to provide ideas within this new HE-learning framework for critically and civically engaged experiential learning opportunities across all disciplines.