Evaluating Development Indicators

Introduction
This page provides a concise look at the role of development indicators in the measurement of development. It begins with a student activity based on defining sustainable development, focused on the SDGs and the Brundtland definition. It uses a simple drag and drop quiz to look at indicator definitions before students develop a criteria on which to evaluate different indicators. The lesson looks at the HDI and GII indicators in more detail before evaluating the wholistic goals of indicators through a thought provoking video by Linda Vanasupa.
Enquiry Question
Lesson Time: 1 Hour
Lesson Objectives:
- To describe the Sustainable Development Goals
- To describe different indicators of development including the Human Development Index (HDI) and the Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- To evaluate the effectiveness of these development indicators
Teacher Notes:
Starter Activity - Sustainable Development Goals Recap - Processes and Power
Development Indicators Worksheet
Watch the short introduction to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and write down ideas that will help you define sustainable development.
Student Activity - Defining Sustainable Development - Processes
The UNDP (UN development programme) describes development as: ‘the ability to lead a long and healthy life, to acquire knowledge, and to have a decent standard of life’.
Some people also believe that the political health of a country is an important factor in its development, which includes freedom of speech and demonstration
Read the following definition of sustainable development as referred to by the UN
Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
Brundtland
Study the following diagram which shows how the SDGs can be classified
Now write your own more detailed definition of sustainable development

Source: Stockholm Resilience Center