Term
Spring 2023
Capstone
Capstone Project
Degree Name
MAED: NSEE
Facilitator(s)
Maggie Struck
Content Expert
Matthew J. Benus
Abstract
This paper explores the question To what extent do existing nature-based lesson plans for outdoor learning experiences in the Great Lakes region align to a nature-based sense of place framework? Sense of place includes place meaning and place attachment that must be developed through experience. Chapter two explores nature-based experiences with examples from environmental education to help illustrate a sense of place development in action. The literature review further investigates current understandings of sense of place and current best practices for developing outdoor, nature-based, environmental experiences. The Sense of Place framework developed by Mathews et al. (2020) was used to guide the creation of a rubric to rate how closely the lessons align to the construct of sense of place. Chapter Three describes the scope of the project in terms of timeline, audience, and assessment. Twenty nature-based lesson plans from six organizations based in the Great Lakes region were rated using a rubric to identify how closely the actual lessons align to the framework to develop a sense of place. A key outcome of this project is a White Paper that serves as a resource which calls for the use of the rating rubric which is understood to be a practical tool for the Sense of Place theoretical framework. Conclusions included descriptions and analyses. The paper ends with the limitations of this work and the call for completion of a reliability and validity study on the rating rubric.
Project Type
White Paper
Keywords
Environmental Studies, Science, Sense of Place, Place-Based Education, Nature-Based Education
Recommended Citation
Deavours, Courtney, "To what extent do existing nature-based lesson plans for outdoor learning experiences in the Great Lakes area align to a nature-based sense of place framework?" (2023). School of Education and Leadership Student Capstone Projects. 922.
https://digitalcommons.hamline.edu/hse_cp/922
dc_type
text
dc_publisher
DigitalCommons@Hamline
dc_format
application/pdf
dc_source
School of Education Student Capstone Projects