A student’s impact on the world begins with their connection to and participation in the local community.
The aim of place-based education is to increase local learning in the natural, built, and cultural environment. Place-based education increases motivation, improves student achievement, and empowers students and teachers to care for their surroundings. You can transform schools into centers of learning and action that utilize the local community as a context for developing essential skills and understandings. Regardless of where or who you teach, the principles of place-based education can be an integrating theme of your teaching and learning. Our program gives educators the tools to guide students to better understand and positively influence their world.
This degree is offered by AU New England.
Program Overview
Through a mix of classroom, field-based, and online experiences, you have a chance to collaborate with educators from around the country and the globe who are making place-based education the focal point of their teaching and professional practice.
This MEd concentration focuses on the process of using the local community and environment as starting points to integrate language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, art, music, and technology. The MEd is built on David Sobel’s pioneering program development and writing that sparked a nation-wide and international movement to design and implement place-based learning. As educators, we have the opportunity to inspire students to develop strong ties to their community, increase appreciation for the natural world, and participate as active, contributing citizens. Community vitality and environmental quality are improved through the active engagement of local citizens, community organizations, and environmental resources in the life of the school.
Make place an integrating context inside and outside of your classroom. Whether you teach 1st grade or middle school math, work in public or independent school, this program guides you to develop the skills and understandings to be a place-based teacher and leader.
Degree Requirements
Core Online Courses:
- Developing Mind or Childhood and Nature
- Philosophy of Education and Change or Principles of Sustainability
Practicum Courses:
- Child Study
- Curriculum
- Equity and Change
Concentration Courses:
- Place-based Teaching and Learning
- Real World Sustainability
- Critical Skills Classroom Immersion
9 elective credits (choices may include):
- Compassionate Action in the World
- Principles and Practices of Mindful Leadership
- Building Inclusive Learning Communities
- Instructional Design and Assessment
For course descriptions, please see the current course catalog.
Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Place-based Education concentration have the capacity to:
- Understand citizenship and meaningful student participation in communities.
- Incorporate place-based themes into teaching and classroom practice.
- Implement place-based learning for educational equity.
- Develop place-based integrated curricula designed to increase student achievement.
- Integrate place-based curricula with existing state and national curriculum standards.
- Help develop place-based teaching and learning in their schools.
- Foster application of place-based principles with partnering organizations.
- Help others understand place-based learning across a variety of contexts.
- Connect professionally to national and international place-based educators.