Starting Place Based Learning in Schools

Place based learning refers to an educational strategy which takes Students outside their classrooms and into the communities. They learn different subject matter and grow as a human. Teachers should view their surrounding community as a great resource for learning. Learning about the local culture, history, literature, and livelihood mix learning more relevant to the students. This results in higher rate of engagement and social awareness.

Starting place based learning in your school

Find Opportunities

Find ideas for projects and lessons by stepping outside of the classroom and start analyzing your surroundings. Always be open for new ideas which can translate into a lesson. Start doing something for the community such as planting a garden for a family having little income. Some lesson ideas can stem from your school surroundings is carefully observed. When kids use a place to do something, it becomes relevant to them.

Ask the kid to lead you

Searching through local surroundings to find lessons can become tiresome. Teachers must ask the Students or their parents to provide some input. Kids are already aware of what is happening in the community; ask them, and they themselves will lead you.

Stay on the road

The potential possibilities of place based learning can become huge after a period of time. Make use of the time at hand by Teaching Students to achieve as many objectives as they can. Choose lessons that are relevant to the Students.

Using the resources

Just because a rural school has more resourceful surroundings like agricultural land and water stream, it doesn't make place based learning’s of urban schools useless. Using the schools location do not require the above-mentioned things. Urban schools can also use their surroundings for useful place based learning.

It doesn't matter if there are Woods or crops or if it is in the middle of the town. Learning new things is the goal. Urban schools can use resources such as any monument or building and ask the Students to find the history behind those structures.

Look for a local expert

Lots of times, when tutors go outside their classrooms to a place which is unknown to them, they experience embarrassing and uncomfortable situations. Students ask them questions and inquire about things which may be unknown for the teacher. You can avoid such embarrassment from happening by taking a local expert along with you.

Teaching is a learning experience for a teacher too. Some people are more knowledgeable on the subject then the educators, tapping on such individual’s knowledge and spreading it towards every student is a great thing to do.

Paying attention to local events

Always be on the lookout for any local events happening around your area. There can anniversaries of historical places and museums; there could be educational campaigns and many more. Also, choose those places which will have an impact on your student’s thinking.

Discovering new possibilities

Place based learning can be utilized by the teacher's if they remain more flexible. The interest of one student may differ from another, providing new, relevant and fun experience in a timely manner will help in keeping the student's engagement intact.

Types of Place Based Learnings

• Experiential Learning – It refers to "hands on" learning where an actual activity takes place. It can be any real world activities which require students to be physically engaged.

• Problem Based Learning – It refers to theory-based activities which require students to solve a situation or problem in the real or virtual world.

• Collaborative Learning – It refers to learning which is conducted in groups. It may involve experiential learning or problem-based learning but in a cooperative state.

 

Teachers should use the resources available around their surroundings to improve a child’s knowledge beyond the fixed curriculum syllabus. Schools should start utilizing this educational strategy with the help of the above steps to reap benefits from it.