The Case for Place-Based Education
Taking learning out the classroom and into the real world...
Taking learning out the classroom and into the real world...
National Parks are often referred to as the "gems" of our country, offering historical, cultural and natural treasures. National parks can provide tangible resources and illustrate complex issues, serving as a "meaning-making" extension of the classroom.
National Parks are often referred to as the "gems" of our country, offering historical, cultural and natural treasures. National parks can provide tangible resources and illustrate complex issues, serving as a "meaning-making" extension of the classroom.
However, there are challenges that keep students from partaking in these experiences. First, park rangers often have the content expertise, but not necessarily the pedagogy or familiarity with a particular class. On the other hand, teachers often do not feel comfortable with their depth of knowledge concerning a particular national park 's content area. In short, teachers and park staff need each other to provide both relevant curricular connections and content to engage students.
However, there are challenges that keep students from partaking in these experiences. First, park rangers often have the content expertise, but not necessarily the pedagogy or familiarity with a particular class. On the other hand, teachers often do not feel comfortable with their depth of knowledge concerning a particular national park 's content area. In short, teachers and park staff need each other to provide both relevant curricular connections and content to engage students.
If students are to become engaged in their learning, we need to re-think our traditional notions of education and allow them to create, problem-solve, collaborate, fail-and-try-again, and take ownership over their own learning.
If students are to become engaged in their learning, we need to re-think our traditional notions of education and allow them to create, problem-solve, collaborate, fail-and-try-again, and take ownership over their own learning.
To learn more about place-based education visit Promise of Place.
To learn more about place-based education visit Promise of Place.
Schools, parks and community organizations need to come together to figure out how we can best serve our local youth using researched-based methodologies, which focus on student-led and directed service-learning projects.
Schools, parks and community organizations need to come together to figure out how we can best serve our local youth using researched-based methodologies, which focus on student-led and directed service-learning projects.
Teachers, park staff, and community educators don't always have the opportunity to learn from one another, learn about innovations in education, or to plan together. Park for Every Classroom is designed to serve this need for a more engaging learning environment and greater opportunities for making a direct impact in their communities.
Teachers, park staff, and community educators don't always have the opportunity to learn from one another, learn about innovations in education, or to plan together. Park for Every Classroom is designed to serve this need for a more engaging learning environment and greater opportunities for making a direct impact in their communities.