Place-Based Education ― Research and Practice

Place-based education is growing rapidly in popularity, as more and more educators recognise the benefits and opportunities it offers to students. This book focuses on the research and practice of place-based education, or PBE, presenting ideas and strategies for enhancing learning through community participation and real world experiences.

The book defines a philosophical framework for PBE, present research paradigms and methodologies adopted by the field and critique a range of pedagogical approaches. Drawing on a series of international and interdisciplinary case studies, chapters build on a theoretical framework with solid practice examples and strategies to locate learning in real-world communities and places. Written in an accessible style, each chapter is framed by reflective questions, present current thinking, include case studies and tasks for practitioners and end with questions for discussion and suggest further reading.

Situating PBE for the first time in a UK context, this book will be of interest to school-based educators are the opportunities for curriculum enhancement in science, environmental education, outdoor education, the humanities, technology and the cultural arts.

Robert Barratt is Professor of Education, Assistant Dean and Head of Initial Teacher Education at Bath Spa University. Robert has been involved in educational research for over 15 years. He is the founder of the Children Environment Research Centre, Bath Spa University, and a member of the Centre for Research in Education and the Environment, University of Bath. He has published widely in the field of children's environmental education and participation.

Elisabeth Barratt Hacking is Lecturer in Education at the University of Bath. Her research interests lie in geographical education, environmental education, children's environmental experience and teachers' professional development, and she teaches on the PGCE and Education MA programmes.