Since you likely ended up here because you are on a search about Place Based Education (PBE), I’ll skip the usual introduction and get to it. If you want to know how I stumbled upon PBE, it’s discussed at the bottom of the post.

Academic definition and explanation

PBE can be defined various ways. I will provide an “academic” definition and example, and then my own.

In 2004, David Sobel defined PBE as,

“Place-based education is the process of using the local community and environment as a starting point to teach concepts in language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, and other subjects across the curriculum. Emphasizing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, this approach to education increases academic achievement, helps students develop stronger ties to their communities, enhances students’ appreciation for the natural world, and creates a heightened commitment to serving as active, contributing citizens.”

Place-based education takes a variety of forms but, in a review of place-based learning practices, Smith (2002) identified five common elements. These include:  

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