Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet

The central hypothesis of this conceptual commentary is that place-based educational approaches that use local environments as the learning context could not only provide needed educational reforms but also sow the seeds of sustainable behaviors of future generations. Furthermore, natural...

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Main Author: Julie Singleton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia.edu Journals 2024-06-01
Series:Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
Online Access:https://www.academia.edu/121271322/Relationship_with_Place_Transformative_and_Sustainable_Pedagogy_for_the_Planet
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author Julie Singleton
author_facet Julie Singleton
author_sort Julie Singleton
collection DOAJ
description The central hypothesis of this conceptual commentary is that place-based educational approaches that use local environments as the learning context could not only provide needed educational reforms but also sow the seeds of sustainable behaviors of future generations. Furthermore, natural environments are offered as an optimal context for the emotional and sensory-rich needs of learning experiences that transform eco-paradigms and develop land ethics. The supporting literature examines the nexus of environmental education, place-based approaches, benefits of nature experience, and transformational learning. Breaking barriers of current economic, political, and educational institutions requires integrative approaches—head, hand, and heart—to transform eco-paradigms. A conceptual diagram is offered to visualize this holistic approach. The rich context of a natural place enhances the esthetic quality of a learning experience and is dependent on the relationships within the community of learners, sensory interaction with the learning context or place, the emotion that arouses, thoughts derived from reflection on the experience, and the depth of engagement and behavior change that ensues. I support the power of place as a learning context through personal narrative. Although place-based education can be applied in any community and educational setting, I offer my own cultural perspective as an American with a critique of the consumer culture of the place in which I reside and the effect of rigid institutions on eco-values. Place-based educational reforms could develop caring for local environments leading to young people striving to preserve the places in which they have learned and come to care about.
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spelling doaj-art-d6672ebe36f94565942a0f5cbc2c56022025-02-10T23:02:05ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability2997-60062024-06-011110.20935/AcadEnvSci7269Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planetJulie Singleton0Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States. The central hypothesis of this conceptual commentary is that place-based educational approaches that use local environments as the learning context could not only provide needed educational reforms but also sow the seeds of sustainable behaviors of future generations. Furthermore, natural environments are offered as an optimal context for the emotional and sensory-rich needs of learning experiences that transform eco-paradigms and develop land ethics. The supporting literature examines the nexus of environmental education, place-based approaches, benefits of nature experience, and transformational learning. Breaking barriers of current economic, political, and educational institutions requires integrative approaches—head, hand, and heart—to transform eco-paradigms. A conceptual diagram is offered to visualize this holistic approach. The rich context of a natural place enhances the esthetic quality of a learning experience and is dependent on the relationships within the community of learners, sensory interaction with the learning context or place, the emotion that arouses, thoughts derived from reflection on the experience, and the depth of engagement and behavior change that ensues. I support the power of place as a learning context through personal narrative. Although place-based education can be applied in any community and educational setting, I offer my own cultural perspective as an American with a critique of the consumer culture of the place in which I reside and the effect of rigid institutions on eco-values. Place-based educational reforms could develop caring for local environments leading to young people striving to preserve the places in which they have learned and come to care about.https://www.academia.edu/121271322/Relationship_with_Place_Transformative_and_Sustainable_Pedagogy_for_the_Planet
spellingShingle Julie Singleton
Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet
Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
title Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet
title_full Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet
title_fullStr Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet
title_full_unstemmed Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet
title_short Relationship with place: a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet
title_sort relationship with place a transformative and sustainable pedagogy for the planet
url https://www.academia.edu/121271322/Relationship_with_Place_Transformative_and_Sustainable_Pedagogy_for_the_Planet
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