A collection of academic studies and foundational theory on Place Based Learning, drawn from educators and researchers in Northern New England and beyond. Use these resources to understand the evidence behind PBL or to make the case to administrators and policy makers.
A comprehensive review of the place-based education literature that examines challenges to implementation and explores methods of adoption across diverse educational contexts.
Read the full study →This study examines how PBL advocates in Vermont successfully worked to have Place Based Learning incorporated into Vermont's state education standards in 2000, demonstrating that PBL and standards-based reform can work together.
Read the full study →A foundational text that lays out the core theory and benefits of Place Based Learning, drawing on examples from communities across the United States to argue for education rooted in local place and context.
Read the full article →A foundational text in education theory by John Dewey that argues for the importance of making learning relevant to students' real lives and communities — a cornerstone of the philosophical tradition behind Place Based Learning.
Read the full book →A study of fifth-grade students who learned outdoors every day for a year at a nature preserve in Minnesota, finding strong positive effects — both qualitative and quantitative — on student engagement, learning, and wellbeing.
Read the full study →A wide-ranging review of research on outdoor and nature-based learning that synthesizes both qualitative and quantitative evidence, building a strong case for the positive effects of learning in natural environments.
Read the full review →A study conducted in New York State that found regular outdoor nature journaling had measurable positive effects on middle schoolers' mental health, mood, and sense of connection to the natural world.
Read the full study →An exploratory study conducted in Quebec that suggests outdoor education is positively related to teacher well-being, adding an important perspective on the benefits of PBL for educators themselves — not just students.
Read the full study →A study conducted in New Hampshire that documents the significant improvements Place Based Learning can bring for students with learning disabilities, including gains in self-confidence and academic engagement.
Read the full study →A foundational book by New Hampshire educator and author David Sobel that lays out the theory and benefits of Place Based Learning and provides practical guidance for connecting schools to the communities around them.
Learn more →A comprehensive report from the Place-Based Education Evaluation Collaborative (PEEC) that documents the benefits of PBL through case studies drawn from schools and programs across the United States, including the Northeast.
Read the full report →The latest annual report from Teton Science Schools, a leading global PBL nonprofit, featuring current case studies and data on Place Based Learning programs from schools and communities around the world.
Read the full report →