Place-based Learning research
Place-based learning is learning about place, in place, through place.
The Burrenbeo Trust value research and the role it can play in improving the work which is carried out by the Trust. The following provides details on some current and past research projects which are focused on Place-based Learning.
Ongoing Research:
In October 2018, an Irish Research council funded employment based PhD study on the topic of ‘Exploring Community Stewardship through Place-based Learning: evaluating impact and potential for knowledge transfer’ was commenced by Burrenbeo employee Áine Bird. The first phase of the study assesses the impact which Burrenbeo Trust programmes have had from a place-based learning and community stewardship perspective. This is achieved through archive creation and analysis of participant feedback received from 2008-2018 from place-based learning programmes delivered by Burrenbeo Trust coupled with analysis of data received through an online survey of past participants on Burrenbeo Trust programmes.
Report on the results of this phase can be viewed below.
Evaluating the Impact of Burrenbeo Trust : A Report
The second phase of the research, beginning January 2021, involved working with new communities to investigate the potential for replication and roll out of the Burrenbeo model to new settings.
Feedback Report on Exploring Place workshops
Past Research:
The Burrenbeo Trust partially supported its then Education and Communications officer, Áine Bird to undertake a Masters in Education investigating Place-based Education from 2015-2017.
Áine’s MA Education programme at NUI Galway dealt with education theory, practice, psychology and sociology and included a minor research thesis in year 2. The course enabled Áine to draw on current scholarship and an extensive range of methodologies within the discipline of education, with a view to developing and building upon previous experience and skills in Burrenbeo Trust’s specialist area of place-based learning. The course highlighted the methods required to optimally design and deliver educational programmes within a place-based educational context.
Áine’s dissertation focused on Place-based education from the Teachers’ perspective in the Irish Primary school context.
View Dissertation Executive Summary View full Dissertation
For more information contact aine@burrenbeo.com
Research elsewhere
The Promise of Place web site is a project of the ‘Center for Place-based Learning and Community Engagement’ in America. This is a unique public private partnership that works to advance place-based education by facilitating collaborative efforts in research, programme design, technical assistance, resource development and dissemination. The projects website has information, resources and research data on the situation of place-based education in America. See www.promiseofplace.org.
See here other research projects we are part of:
Community Wellbeing Learning Landscape Feasibility Study Burren Community Charter