In the Place of Education: Community-Based Experiences, Third Spaces, and Teacher Education

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 5
  In Poster Session: Division K Section 6 Poster Session

Abstract

In this paper, we present a notable result of the role of “place as teacher,” from a two-year collective self-study of four teacher educators (TEs) facilitating place-based, community field experiences in the United States and Canada. Centered on preservice teacher development, this work is informed by place-based education (Gruenewald, 2003a; Sobel, 2005) and guided by Gutiérrez’s (2008) use of the “third space.” Analysis of focus group interviews exploring our individual community-based field experiences revealed the transformative ways in which place acts as a teacher in community based settings. Findings challenge TEs to rethink notions of schooling with their preservice teachers and provide compelling arguments for community-based field experiences which serve to interrogate traditional forms of education.

Authors

• Alison E Leonard, Clemson University

• Amy Burns, University of Calgary

• Erica R Hamilton, Grand Valley State University

• Linda Taylor, Ball State University