Uncertainty is a central feature of challenges in transdisciplinary learning for sustainability, encompassing both emotional and cognitive dimensions¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · review r2 · q2
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q2 i? The review identifies uncertainty as central to experienced challenges, stemming from issue complexity and unfamiliarity with the transdisciplinary learning process. → Weiwei Liu 2025

Evidence¶

Weiwei Liu 2025¶

Weiwei Liu, Valentina C. Tassone, Pascal Frank, Renate Wesselink, Harm J.A. Biemans. (2025). The role of human agency in dealing with challenges in transdisciplinary learning for sustainability in higher education: A scoping literature review. Educational Research Review 49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.edurev.2025.100747

q2 · i? · review · r2

The review's synthesis across 36 studies characterizes the challenge landscape. It states challenges encompass both emotional and cognitive dimensions, with uncertainty emerging as a central feature stemming from complexity of sustainability issues and unfamiliarity of the learning process.

"These challenges encompass both emotional and cognitive dimensions, with uncertainty emerging as a central feature stemming from the complexity of sustainability issues and the unfamiliarity of the transdisciplinary learning process."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Students experience challenges across all four aspects of transdisciplinary learning for sustainability, including unsettling reflection on sustainability issues, tensions with non-academic partners, disciplinary communication difficulties, and struggles with multiple perspectives — related
• Three general challenges recur in transdisciplinary learning environments: navigating uneven relationships, managing high time demands, and adapting to unfamiliarity with transdisciplinarity — related
• Research on transdisciplinary sustainability learning disproportionately examines students, with educational staff and societal partners underrepresented — related
• Students enact agency toward the self by maintaining motivation through embracing uncertainty and learning from mistakes, and by taking time for reflection and serendipity — related
• Reflexivity, perspective taking, analogical reasoning, and tolerance of ambiguity and uncertainty each positively relate to knowledge integration in inter- and transdisciplinary work — related