Emotional Value Coding as an Innovative Approach to Assess Sense of Place in Classroom Instruction

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Abstract

This study investigates how immersive experiences and place-based instruction can enhance learners' sense of place for locations they have never visited, focusing on Greenland. Undergraduate students (n=63) engaged in a curriculum involving immersive experiences, geospatial exploration and multimedia content to explore Greenland's geography and climate. Using a pre-posttest design, students' sense of place was measured through descriptive language analysis, assessing emotional values and thematic categorization of words used to describe Greenland and artificial intelligence-generated images. Results showed an increase in vocabulary and emotional values post-instruction, indicating a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Greenland. The study suggests that immersive, geospatial, and multimedia experiences can significantly enhance the sense of place, suggesting valuable implications for educational practices.

Authors

• Anne Gold, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Emily Ward, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Casey Marsh, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Twila Moon, University of Colorado - Boulder

• Spruce Schoeneman, University of Montana - Western

• Alia Khan, Western Washington University