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Author ORCID Identifier

Ashish Saseendran: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3853-1582

Mary Vineetha Thomas: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5365-1644

Abstract

This study presents a conceptual framework that integrates Educational Technology (EdTech) and Design Thinking (DT) to develop sustainability competencies among secondary school science students. Grounded in UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4), the framework promotes systems thinking, strategic action, collaboration, and critical problem-solving. It blends Design-Based Learning (DBL) principles with the iterative stages of the Design Thinking process—Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test—supporting curriculum-aligned, competency-based learning. By incorporating advanced EdTech tools such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), gamification, and learning analytics, the framework enhances student engagement and enables comprehensive assessment practices. Teachers act as facilitators of active, problem-based learning, equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to address sustainability challenges. This structured and scalable framework bridges the gap between theory and practice, offering valuable insights for educators, curriculum designers, and policymakers. By integrating DT and EdTech, the framework empowers students with the essential competencies required for sustainable development, advancing educational innovation and contributing to global sustainability goals.

First Page

91

Last Page

116

Ethics Approval

Not Applicable

Declaration Statement

Data Availability Statement:
All data generated or analyzed during this study are included in this published manuscript. No additional datasets were created or analyzed.

Funding Statement:
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure:
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this manuscript.

Participation Consent Statement:
Not applicable; no human participants, data, or biological materials were involved in this study.

Permission to Reproduce Materials from Other Sources:
N/A; no previously published materials were reproduced in this manuscript.

Clinical Trial Registration:
N/A; this study does not report results of a clinical trial.

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