Topic outline

  • Summary

    With the interactive online tool „KonsuManiac“ (German language) consumers can prove their daily shopping and their buying behaviour in a playful way. It is about a virtual shopping tour in diverse shops as grocery, fashion store, health and beauty retailer and a do-it-yourself store. But be careful, to have the choice is not an easy thing! Soon you will recognise how “environmentally sustainable” your shopping behaviour is. Supportive didactic material can be downloaded and comprises diverse modules for project-based learning activities, using numerous didactic methods.

    • PageSTEVEN HOLL ARCHITECTS Page
      chaotic unity and water chaotic unity and water mace:external:a54b8986c8022caf4f79feb00bf702bb View resource Educational Object MACE
      That's awesome

  • Aims

    The aim of the case is to sensitize students and all interested consumers to think about their own decisions concerning the daily shopping behaviour. The interactive online tool is easy to play with and the available didactic material supports teachers to plan their lessons dealing with topics that are relevant for the use of this interactive tool.

    • PageUsing water cleverly. Hotel Page
      oai:oaicat.iconda.org:2009021000021 hotel water saving cost saving use water recycling gray water View resource Educational Object MACE Yes text
      hello there!

  • Main activities

    *        Learn about relevant aspects of an environmentally sustainable lifestyle by using online information tools

    *        Playful learning about own shopping behaviour and lifestyle by using an interactive online tool

    *        learn about alternatives and sustainable consuming in diverse learning activities in groups.

  • Involved actors

    Teachers, the public.

  • Connection with the curriculum

    The case can be used for project-based and cross curricular learning arrangements, but also is in coherence with the Austrian curriculum in Biology for secondary II level.

  • Where to find the application or case

    Web based, supportive didactic material for teachers: http://www.umweltbildung.at/fileadmin/umweltbildung/dokumente/Interaktives/Konsumaniac.pdf

    Interactive online tool: http://www.umweltbildung.at/konsumaniac/index2.html

  • Content

    All of us know how it feels to be in the middle of a buying spree. On the one hand you feel happy about having bought something new and on the other hand there is bad conscience, to be a consuming fetishist, to be a ConsuManiac! We remember the latest reports about child labour and the sins of diverse trademarks and ask ourselves: do I really need this product? Is there an environmentally sustainable alternative? And must there always be consume to feel better? Is there another – more sustainable - lifestyle that makes me feel good? What is a sustainable lifestyle?

    The interactive online tool ConsuManiac focusses on sustainable and conscious decisions for daily shopping. But further the online tool presents ideas and examples about how to combine lust for life and activity with sustainable development in a playful way. Actual trends like Upcycling, DIY, sharing and trade-off give first insight in a movement that is in contrast to common daily consuming behaviour. The online tool ConsuManiac aims to present a sustainable way of living that will be required in the future and is also able to bring enjoyment to individuals.

    The accompanying booklet provides didactic material for students aged between 15 to 19 years. It is supporting the work with the online tool and enables teachers to intensively work out the topics lifestyle, sustainability and alternatives to consume. The material is build up in modules and can be adapted to the needs of the respective group in a very flexible way. It can be used in project-based learning arrangements and facilitates self-reliant learning of students.

  • Relation to a green topic and curriculum

    Relation is given to the topics environmental education and economy that are extensively outlined in the curriculum of Biology (Austria, secondary II).

  • Being interdisciplinary: Drawing upon many academic disciplines and teaching methods

    The online tool and the accompanying didactic material embrace topics that address diverse subjects, e.g. biology, psychology, geography and economy, history and civic education.

  • Relevance to the daily life of students

    Daily shopping behaviour and lifestyle has strong relevance to the daily life of all students!

  • Based on accurate and factual professional expertise

    The online tool and the supportive didactical material are created by an institution experienced in performing environmental education projects. The content is updated continuously to reflect actual findings and trends.