Strengthening “ Place-Based Education” on the Sunshine Coast A “Grassroots” Model

What is “Place-Based” Education?

Place-based education (PBE) is the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum.

What is “Place-Based” Education? Place-based education (PBE) is the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum.

What is “Place-Based” Education? Place-based education (PBE) is the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum. Emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, this approach to education increases academic achievement, helps students develop stronger ties to their community, enhances students’ appreciation for the natural world, and creates a heightened commitment to serving as active, contributing citizens.

What is “Place-Based” Education? Place-based education (PBE) is the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum. Emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, this approach to education increases academic achievement, helps students develop stronger ties to their community, enhances students’ appreciation for the natural world, and creates a heightened commitment to serving as active, contributing citizens.

What is “Place-Based” Education? Place-based education (PBE) is the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science and other subjects across the curriculum. Emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, this approach to education increases academic achievement, helps students develop stronger ties to their community, enhances students’ appreciation for the natural world, and creates a heightened commitment to serving as active, contributing citizens. Community vitality and environmental quality are improved through the active engagement of local citizens, community organizations, and environmental resources.

Learning takes place on-site in the school, the local community and environment. Learning takes place on-site in the school, the local community and environment. Learning focuses on local themes, systems, and content. Learning focuses on local themes, systems, and content. Learning is personally relevant to the learner. Learning is personally relevant to the learner. Learning experiences contribute to the community’s vitality and environmental quality and support the community’s role in fostering global environmental quality. Learning experiences contribute to the community’s vitality and environmental quality and support the community’s role in fostering global environmental quality. Learning is supported by strong and varied partnerships with local organizations, agencies, businesses, and government. Learning is supported by strong and varied partnerships with local organizations, agencies, businesses, and government.

Learning takes place on-site in the school, the local community and environment. Learning takes place on-site in the school, the local community and environment. Learning focuses on local themes, systems, and content. Learning focuses on local themes, systems, and content. Learning is personally relevant to the learner. Learning is personally relevant to the learner. Learning experiences contribute to the community’s vitality and environmental quality and support the community’s role in fostering global environmental quality. Learning experiences contribute to the community’s vitality and environmental quality and support the community’s role in fostering global environmental quality. Learning is supported by strong and varied partnerships with local organizations, agencies, businesses, and government. Learning is supported by strong and varied partnerships with local organizations, agencies, businesses, and government. Learning is interdisciplinary. Learning is interdisciplinary. Learning experiences are tailored to the local audience. Learning experiences are tailored to the local audience. Learning is grounded in and supports the development of a love for one’s place. Learning is grounded in and supports the development of a love for one’s place. Local learning serves as the foundation for understanding and participating appropriately in regional and global issues. Local learning serves as the foundation for understanding and participating appropriately in regional and global issues. Place-based education programs are integral to achieving other institutional goals. Place-based education programs are integral to achieving other institutional goals.

Hey, that sounds a bit like… Environmental Education Environmental Education Field Trips Field Trips Service Learning Service Learning Sustainability Education Sustainability Education Project-based Learning Project-based Learning Collaborative Instruction Collaborative Instruction Cooperative Learning Cooperative Learning Outdoor Education Outdoor Education Community-based investigations Community-based investigations Experiential Ed Experiential Ed

Why Place-Based Education? “The findings are clear: place-based education fosters students’ connection to place and creates vibrant partnerships between schools and communities. It boosts student achievement and improves environmental, social and economic vitality.” The Benefits of Place-based Education: A Report from the PBE Evaluation Collaborative (Second Edition)

But why here, on the Sunshine Coast? The Sunshine Coast has numerous attributes that lend themselves to supporting a local PBE Initiative, including :

But why here, on the Sunshine Coast? The Sunshine Coast has numerous attributes that lend themselves to supporting a local PBE Initiative, including : A relatively small, connected community

But why here, on the Sunshine Coast? The Sunshine Coast has numerous attributes that lend themselves to supporting a local PBE Initiative, including : A relatively small, connected community A variety of superb, accessible learning sites around the coast

But why here, on the Sunshine Coast? The Sunshine Coast has numerous attributes that lend themselves to supporting a local PBE Initiative, including : A relatively small, connected community A variety of superb, accessible learning sites around the coast A multigenerational demographic with practical skills and a culture of volunteerism

But why here, on the Sunshine Coast? The Sunshine Coast has numerous attributes that lend themselves to supporting a local PBE Initiative, including : A relatively small, connected community A variety of superb, accessible learning sites around the coast A multigenerational demographic with practical skills and a culture of volunteerism Local leading-edge professional educational expertise in the field

But why here, on the Sunshine Coast? The Sunshine Coast has numerous attributes that lend themselves to supporting a local PBE Initiative, including : A relatively small, connected community A variety of superb, accessible learning sites around the coast A multigenerational demographic with practical skills and a culture of volunteerism Local leading-edge professional educational expertise in the PBE field A growing community awareness of the need for sustainable change

The grassroots community will is there: On April 1, 2010, over 100 community members with an interest in “environmental education” came together to give new SCRD EE coordinator Julie Clark their collective vision of what her role might include. This, and other mind-maps resulted.

Is it relevant? What current Educational and Social Challenges would a PBE initiative help address? Provincial underfunding of education Provincial underfunding of education Meeting different learning style needs Meeting different learning style needs Fostering active citizenship/engaged community Fostering active citizenship/engaged community Cultural age demographic stratification Cultural age demographic stratification Connecting a digital generation to their home place Connecting a digital generation to their home place The challenge of living Sustainably The challenge of living Sustainably

Sounds interesting…where do we sit?

Learn more… …background information, examples, research, approaches…

In the Long Term, our group’s our group’s goal is to develop a sustainable program that supports both classroom teachers and site staff in increasing the frequency and quality of Place-based Education on the Sunshine Coast goal is to develop a sustainable program that supports both classroom teachers and site staff in increasing the frequency and quality of Place-based Education on the Sunshine Coast

Short and Medium Term goals include: Build on impetus from last year’s “Langdale Summit” of non-formal educators Build on impetus from last year’s “Langdale Summit” of non-formal educators Survey classroom teachers as to bridges and barriers to quality PBE experiences Survey classroom teachers as to bridges and barriers to quality PBE experiences Develop Sunshine Coast Local Resource Guide, linking to curriculum PLO’s Develop Sunshine Coast Local Resource Guide, linking to curriculum PLO’s Further local awareness of PBE initiative Further local awareness of PBE initiative In the Long Term, our group’s our group’s goal is to develop a sustainable program that supports both classroom teachers and site staff in increasing the frequency and quality of Place- based Education on the Sunshine Coast goal is to develop a sustainable program that supports both classroom teachers and site staff in increasing the frequency and quality of Place- based Education on the Sunshine Coast

Short and Medium Term goals include: Build on impetus from last year’s “Langdale Summit” of non-formal educators Build on impetus from last year’s “Langdale Summit” of non-formal educators Survey classroom teachers as to bridges and barriers to quality PBE experiences (Done) Survey classroom teachers as to bridges and barriers to quality PBE experiences (Done) Develop Sunshine Coast Local Resource Guide, linking to curriculum PLO’s Develop Sunshine Coast Local Resource Guide, linking to curriculum PLO’s Further local awareness of PBE initiative Further local awareness of PBE initiative In the Long Term, our group’s our group’s goal is to develop a sustainable program that supports both classroom teachers and site staff in increasing the frequency and quality of Place- based Education on the Sunshine Coast goal is to develop a sustainable program that supports both classroom teachers and site staff in increasing the frequency and quality of Place- based Education on the Sunshine Coast

Feb Pro-D Day Chatelech School 10 Self-Selected Teachers 2hrs 1 brief presentation (this one) 1 sorting activity

Feb Pro-D Day Chatelech School 10 Self-Selected Teachers 2hrs 1 brief presentation (this one!) 1 sorting activity 1 questionnaire

For every child… …a banana slug