Design of a socio-ecological index with pedagogical applications in environmental education

Abstract

Based on teaching experience in environmental education, this study proposed the design of the ISE–COL, a socio-ecological index aimed at integrating the assessment of human well-being and environmental impact for educational purposes in Colombia. The starting point was the need for tools that combine quantitative analysis with environmental education processes, promoting critical understanding of the relationship between society and nature in the Colombian context.

The methodological development included reviewing sustainability indices, defining indicator selection criteria, and standardizing them using comparable scales and equitable weighting. Two sub-indices were constructed: Human Well-being and Environmental Impact, and a weighted global index was established. The validation of the ISE–COL was based on internal consistency analysis and its pedagogical application in workshops with 38 high school students, who worked with real data, created graphical representations, and discussed alternatives for environmental improvement in their surroundings.

The results show that the ISE–COL is consistent in its structure and facilitates the analysis of socio-environmental information in the classroom. The experience demonstrated progress in data interpretation and critical reflection on sustainable practices, highlighting its usefulness as a teaching resource for linking sustainability indicators with teaching-learning processes.

It is concluded that ISE–COL is a valid and flexible tool for promoting environmental education through information analysis, strengthening civic education and commitment to sustainable development. The proposal was derived from educational practice and seeks to provide a perspective on how indices can become pedagogical tools.