Abstract
In this paper, we suggest a didactic approach to outdoor-teaching on sustainable urban devel- opment both in a conceptual and practical way. Due to best-practice examples sustainable urban development is presented in its real manifestations as contribution to a transition proc- ess of a city. These best-practice examples are selected according to an actor- and action- oriented approach. Actors of sustainable urban development are private companies, public administration, NGOs or neighborhood associations. Their projects provide a wide range of alternative sustainable urban products, activities or services such as car-sharing, a sustainably managed hotel or revitalized urban creeks. By using different methods students will try to define and assess the sustainability of these places. Finally, the students will present their evaluation of sustainable places to their colleagues during an excursion. With this approach, students will get a better understanding of the practical implications of sustainable urban development as well as an insight into how local projects are embedded within global processes. This approach exceeds the normative discourse of sustainable devel- opment due to the actor- and action-oriented framework within the concept of transdiscipli- narity. The approach encourages students to engage in the societal project of sustainable development by presenting best-practices of services, products or activities aiming at a sus- tainable urban lifestyle.