Blue Pedagogy Framework: A Conceptual Study of Coastal-Based Social Studies for Sustainability
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Despite the growing recognition of Ocean Literacy as an essential foundation for understanding the human–ocean relationship and supporting ocean sustainability, its integration into formal education remains fragmented and is not yet supported by a comprehensive pedagogical framework capable of transforming ocean knowledge into meaningful learning experiences. This study aims to analyze the conceptual evolution of Ocean Literacy in education, identify pedagogical gaps in the integration of ocean-related issues into formal education, particularly in Indonesia, and formulate Blue Pedagogy as a conceptual framework for coastal-based education for sustainability. This qualitative study employed an integrative literature review combined with concept analysis. Academic literature published between 2005 and 2026 was collected from Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and Publish or Perish and analyzed through four stages: literature mapping, critical review, concept synthesis, and framework construction. The findings reveal that Ocean Literacy has evolved from a predominantly knowledge-based concept into a multidimensional framework emphasizing the human–ocean relationship. However, its educational implementation remains constrained by epistemic, curricular, pedagogical, and institutional gaps. In response, this study conceptualizes Blue Pedagogy as a transformative pedagogical approach grounded in Ocean Literacy, Place-Based Education, Experiential Learning, Ecological Pedagogy, and Education for Sustainable Development. The resulting framework comprises four interconnected BLUE dimensions: Blue Experience, Learning through Reflection, Understanding through Engagement, and Empowerment for Action. Blue Pedagogy provides a conceptual foundation for transforming ocean education from learning about the ocean toward learning with, through, and for the ocean, while fostering ocean-literate, engaged, and sustainability-oriented citizens
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