Introducing the
GEM™ Course and
Credential
Introducing the GEM™ Credentialing
Course and Cohorts: Green Skills Education Mastery
Welcome to the Beta Version of the Green Skills Education Mastery (GEM) Course, designed for educators who shape today’s
talent base for unprecedented demands and opportunities. Our course equips you with knowledge and tools to inspire students on their journey toward regenerative career pathways.
Finding a New Balance:
While advancements in various fields have revolutionized society, many
developments have overlooked Earth's systems and well-being. The GEM Course helps educators guide students in correcting this balance and
improving their career prospects.
Meeting Employer Demand:
In today's rapidly changing world, employers seek individuals with green skills that promote sustainable well-being. Participating in this course
bridges the skills gap and meets the demand for designing with nature,
reclaiming materials, eliminating pollution and waste, and fostering
healthy communities.
Fostering Career Pathways:
Infusing green skills education across the curriculum enables individuals
from diverse backgrounds to discover sustainable career pathways. With
job demand estimated at millions to billions, there is a real need for green skills. However, only a minority of students gain exposure to sustainability concepts and viable career pathways. Thousands of teachers like you are expressing interest in stepping forward.
Global Call for Change:
Scientists, youth, and the international community unite in advocating for people and Earth-friendly practices. By participating in this course, you
focus on positive and practical solutions, career pathways, and
opportunities for your students.
Enhancing Skills and Career Prospects:
This course provides an understanding of green or sustainability skills in
the context of industry innovations and job demand. You'll explore
pathways integrating green skills into various disciplines, linking to
industry standards and tools.
Equipping Educators:
Across seven modules, you can engage with live cohorts, review
workbooks, and test green skills identification tools. These
tools offer essential context, going beyond standard lesson plans.
Building a Peer Community:
You can enhance your learning with a live course cohort, complementing
the digital on-demand course. As you progress, you can share your
expertise, and empower your peers, by teaching these live sessions.
Qualifying for this role entails earning the GEM Credential and completing the Advanced Professional Development Pathway (GEM+1).
Four-Pillar Framework:
The course follows a four-pillar continuous improvement and learning for green skills framework. The pillars (Grounding, Adapting, Inspiring, and
Advancing) focus on specific aspects of the educational journey.
Completing each pillar earns a certificate while completing all modules
earns the GEM Credential.
GEM™ Module Summaries:
4 Pillars and 7 Steps
Pillar 1: Grounding
Explore the foundational principles of green skills education, simplifying complexity and facilitating choices. Review tools and take steps to implement and track progress.
Module 1: Orienting
Problem: Knowing where to start with green skills education, given diverse concepts, disciplines, and levels, can be overwhelming.
Solution: Establish starting coordinates, determine destination, and chart a route.
Explore orientation and mapping tools: the Curriculum Planning Crosswalk, Green Skills NAV+ and Green Skills Scanner.
Result: Improve clarity and plan your approach to green skills education.
Module 2: Exploring
Problem: Sustainability concepts rarely track to skills. When they do, intended outcomes and solutions can be vague.
Solution: Delve deeper into the context of green skills education.
Explore additional green skills identification tools: Green Skills Education Choice Tree and Regional Asset Mapping (Green RAM).
Result: Connect global imperatives with academic fields and skill demand, strengthening cohesion among previously disparate topics.
Pillar 2: Adapting
Adapt your course or program by infusing green skills into lesson plans and implementing best pedagogical practices.
Module 3: Adapting
Problem: The curriculum and career planning mechanics and the tie to employer demand can feel nebulous. Solution:
1. Utilize curriculum planning tools to explore specific skills, capabilities, and career paths.
2. Delve into industry-sponsored sustainability offerings, such as new performance standards and certifications.
3. Access career mapping templates and workbooks to help students articulate meaningful pathways aligned with their interests and talents.
Result: A sample career path teachers create that students can build out and the beginnings of an upskilled course or program.
Module 4: Educating
Problem: The science of climate change is often better understood than the pedagogical options for addressing solutions for sustainability and in-demand careers.
Solution:
1. Modify your course or program using the curriculum planning crosswalk tool.
2. Explore diverse best practices and standards, including key competencies proposed by various organizations.
3. Review local and national educational standards to ensure alignment.
4. Reflect on effective teaching practices and the essential knowledge, skills, and achievements students need to contribute to the greening world of work.
The module's workbook summarizes best practices and links helpful examples and resources.
Result: Greater clarity on pedagogical options that work that can accomplish multiple learning objectives.
Pillar 3: Inspiring
Inspire others by choosing a path that resonates with you. Explore ways to support peers through professional development sessions, resource advocacy, and delivering talks to large audiences. Utilize green skills identification tools to communicate the value of green skills education effectively.
Module 5: Inspiring
Problem: For every educator who upskills for in-demand sustainability capabilities, many educators need more support.
Solution: Explore various ways to support peers, including professional development sessions, resource advocacy, and delivering talks. Utilize the Education Case Pitch Deck and Influence Blueprint to enhance communication about the value of green skills education.
Result: Decision-makers and peers better understand the value proposition and invest in the time and support they need to follow your lead in upskilling their students.
Pillar 4: Advancing
Focus on assessing and building upon your progress in enhancing green skills education, aligned with programs fostering continuous learning and improvement.
Module 6: Evaluating
Problem: It can be challenging to know whether students have achieved desired learning outcomes for sustainability and alignment with employer demand.
Solution: Determine assessment strategies for student learning within your courses and programs. Utilize the Green Skills Assessment Kit and Education Share Sheet to guide the assessment process. The Assessment Kit provides examples of formative and summative assessments, helping you evaluate student learning and career advancement. The Education Share Sheet provides resources for sharing with others.
Result: Ability to conduct formative and summative assessments and new resources for longitudinal tracking beyond secondary or tertiary education.
Module 7: Evolving
Problem: Ad hoc and one-off courses that teach sustainability skills as electives or occasionally do not help many students interested in lending their skills to the green talent pool.
Solution: Broaden and sustain engagement at your school and beyond to foster students' green capabilities. Utilize the Green Skills Circle Planning Diagram with Examples to plan strategies for expanding green skills education. Use the green skills education survey and benchmarking tool to assess the current state of green skills education and showcase your commitment to fostering modern, in-demand skillsets.
Result: You gain tools for broadening sustainability engagement and continuing learning green skills education.