Citizenship and Place-Based Learning in an Integrated Environmental Studies Program

• In Event: Advances in Learning Environment Studies

Abstract

This paper discusses the use of a learning environment instrument, the Place-Based Learning and Constructivist Environment Survey in an environmental studies program. In order to access information about students’ perceptions, the instrument was implemented in an Integrated Environmental Studies program as part of a range of evaluation methods. This study linked aspects of the learning environment to citizenship outcomes and is unique in that the instrument was again used 5 years later as part of a longitudinal study. Findings demonstrate that the learning environment and citizenship outcomes were linked. Another key finding was that students’ perceptions as measured by the PLACES instrument (past and present) were remarkably stable across all dimensions and this has positive implications for future research.

Authors

• David B. Zandvliet, Simon Fraser University

• Gordon Sturrock, Douglas College