Where to for Place-Based Learning?

Abstract

School at the Center, a US initiative that falls into the category of place-based education', has demonstrated significant improvements in educational outcomes while, at the same time, contributing to rural community development. To explore the transferability ofthe program to Australian conditions. The Rural Education Research and Development Centre at James Cook University, assisted with Federal funds, undertook to trial the School at the Center ideas in North Queensland. The trial showed that the ideas were transferable and had significant impacts on educational outcomes and student engagement; generated a deal of public interest in the media and in local communities; and promoted closer relations between teachers, students, their schools and their communities. Following comments from some teachers Involved In the trial about the lack of introduction of beginning teachers to such effective educational strategies, consideration turned to making the results of the trial available to institutions involved in pre-service training of teachers. But teacher training programs do not have much room for new content to be added and, for new material to be really considered, there must be a strong academic and theoretical base for the initiative as well as the evidence that 'it works'. School at the Center (SatC) is an example ofplace-based education. Therefore there should be a strong academic and theoretical understanding ofwhat 'place' means to education. However, while place is considered in other  disciplinary areas, its meaning for education appears to be largely unexplored.