Making Space for Place

Abstract

Research conducted in the last 15 years suggests that Place-Based Education (PBE) has the potential to address many problems found within America's schools including student disengagement, teacher disempowerment in an era of standardized curriculum and testing, and the isolation felt in many communities. This chapter examines challenges in PBE and practices associated with successful K-12 efforts. Barriers to adopting PBE include administrator, teacher, and community resistance, difficulties in identifying and sustaining collaborative efforts, lack of sustained professional development opportunities, and challenges presented by an increased emphasis on educational standards and standardized testing to assess student progress. Strategies to facilitate efforts include effective communication, institutionalizing school and community supports, improving access to high quality professional development opportunities, and aligning PBE curriculum with standards. PBE efforts also require teachers, students, classrooms, schools, and communities to share responsibility for learning.