Place Based Education
Place-Based Education (PBE) is anytime, anywhere learning that leverages the power of place, and learning space – not just the power of technology – to personalize learning. We’ve recently released a new book, The Power of Place: Authentic Learning Through Place-Based Education, which focuses on how PBE is an immersive learning experience that “places students in local heritage, cultures, landscapes, opportunities and experiences, using these as a foundation for the study of language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum.” PBE is also a natural complement to Personalized and Project-Based Learning, providing a way to connect these efforts to students’ local environment for engaging learning that leads to more engaged citizens.
What is Place-Based Education and Why Does it Matter?
As part of a three-part series sharing information and experiences we've gathered from dozens of contributors around the power of Place-Based Education (PBE), this first publication provides an overview of PBE including definitions, benefits and examples.
Preparing #LifeReady Students: Creating a Globally-Sourced, Locally-Relevant Curriculum
By: Eric Davis, Aparna Rae and Stephanie Leite. Our organization is working hard to prepare #LifeReady global citizens through place-based (and project-based) learning. In this post, we take a look at how we're doing it.
Students Share Their Perspectives on Place-Based Learning
By: Nate McClennen. Student voice is important to include in the place-based education conversation, so here are responses from a group of middle school students in Wyoming and Idaho who were asked, “What are the benefits of place-based education?”
Resources and Quotes on the Power of Place
By: Jeffrey Partridge. A lot has been written about place-based education. Here, I compile some of my favorite resources and quotes on the subject from a wide range of literature applicable to a broad audience.
Increase Student Motivation through Autonomy, Mastery and Purpose
By: Victoria Rydberg. Students are at their best when they have purpose and are contributing value. Place-based education can give students the autonomy, mastery and purpose to stay motivated and make meaningful community contributions.
Every Place is Special or No Place is Special
By: Anna Luhrmann. "Every Place is Special or No Place is Special" is an easy mantra to believe when you're teaching in a national park, but when I first taught PBE in rural Wyoming it became a lot harder. Here's what I learned.
Transcend the Classroom with Virtual Place-Based Learning
By: Louis Pienaar. Simulation-based learning allows my students to learn in a highly immersive environment that reflects aspects of the real world, encouraging deeper learning of cross-curricular skills and concepts.
Teacher Reflection | The Power of Place-Based Professional Learning
By: Helen Ommen. I'm comfortable teaching inquiry-based lessons, but I have always felt less secure letting students ask and pursue their own questions. That all changed after my place-based professional learning experience.
10 Big Ideas We Are Learning Through Our High School Internships
By: Kemberly Garcia and Iris Ramirez. Beginning in 9th grade, students at Big Picture Learning schools experience place-based education twice a week through internship opportunities. Here, two students share their experiences.
21 Tips for Connecting Learners to Their Community
By: Becs Boyd. Successfully bringing learning out of the classroom requires good relationships between educators, administrators, students and the community. These tips can help in getting started with Place-Based Education.