Researching By Design: Methodologies to Explore Design-Based Instruction for Youth Resilience to Environmental Challenges

Abstract Environmental education is not aligning with the sustainability and educational needs of the 21st century. Design-based learning emerges as a viable solution, fostering problem-solving and experiential learning in the environment. With its constructivist approach, it has the potential to improve environmental literacy across diverse social contexts. This research explores the use of research by design and design-based learning to develop extracurricular programs in schools in Brazil and Hungary. The analytical framework is developed through a literature review and systematic case analysis. The program’s objective is to engage the school community in redesigning their environment, following the design-based instruction framework, and incorporating the community’s context and landscape architecture and design principles. Program efficacy will be assessed through participant production, outcome analysis, observation, surveys, and performance on the design activities. The findings will contribute to understanding and evaluating program effectiveness in improving environmental education.