Exploring Our Place

Place-Based Education (PBE) is related to Project-Based Learning. PBE projects begin with students' real questions about where they live. For example:

• Why do invasive species grow in the highlands? How do they spread, and what can we do about it?

• Endemic animals live outside protected areas. How can we make sure that these animals and their habitat are protected from damage by humans?

In PBE, students actively learn about where they live through project-based learning in place. Students exit the classroom and enter the environment. Students learn from community members and prepare interdisciplinary projects to benefit the community.

In PBE, teachers must use the four essential practices of project-based learning:

1. developing disciplinary knowledge,

2. addressing authentic contexts,

3. promoting an iterative process, and

4. supporting peer collaboration.

• The videos from the January 2021 Virtual Institute help us to think about studying place in Galápagos.

  • Local Voices, Part 1 & Local Voices, Part 2 were created by Galapagueño students in a photography club. To prepare the video, students interviewed local experts about sustainability topics important to the eco-community of Galápagos.

  • Learning Outside the Classroom was prepared at the Dallas, Texas (USA) Arboretum. It shows many activities that students can use to study place and to record observations. English teachers can adapt the activities in lessons focused on environmental sustainability.