ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

One great source of information on these issues is David Sobel's book,
"Place-based Education: Connecting Classrooms & Communities" (2004). He's on
faculty Antioch New England Graduate School in Keene, NH and has done quite
a bit of research (included in the book) on the connection between hands-on,
experiential, community/environmental-based learning and student performance
and teacher enthusiasm.

Another oft-quoted source is by Gerald Liebermann and Linda Hoody, "Closing
the Achievement Gap: Using the Environment as an Integrating Context for
Learning" (1998).

We're working as the evaluators for a project of the Four Corners School of
Outdoor Education which is using place-based education as a mode of training
teachers with the goal of increasing teacher retention in the area. They are
two years into the four year project, and although it's too early to tell
whether it's making a difference with retention, the teachers are reporting
a marked increase in their enthusiasm for teaching as a result of learning
how to connect kids to their local environment.

Hope this is helpful. And good luck with the local administration!
Anne
-- 
Anne Gurnee
Senior Associate
David Heil & Associates, Inc.
Portland, Oregon
[log in to unmask]
(503) 245-2102 

> From: Maria Mingalone <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Informal Science Education Network <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 11:36:45 -0400
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Seeking articles, research studies, on experiential learning   ( out
> door , hands-on, etc, etc,)
> 
> ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
> Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
> *****************************************************************************
> 
> HI all, 
>  
> I am preparing a presentation to a brand new administration
> (superintendent and deputy superintendent) at our local school district
> as to why they need (want to develop partnerships with) the Museum's
> professional development program for teachers.  The PD supports a new
> curriculum guide called Living Landscapes: Teaching in Nature, which we
> just revised that links core subjects in the elementary classroom (math,
> science, visual and language arts) through hands-on, out-door
> experiential learning of environmental education. The PD series, called
> the Living Classroom includes field specialists teaching content
> (outside of course!), as well as tips and trick taking kids out doors
> and actual  lesson plans (outdoor) and for links to (indoor) classroom
> (either pre or post) activities. Support for teachers busy lives and the
> need to create fun, experiential ways in face of pressures to increase
> achievement on standardized test. [All linked to frameworks]  (DEEP
> breath, right?)
>  
> So I would like to substantiate, that is, use outside researcher-based
> evidence ( rather than my simply saying it is a really good idea) the
> value of:
> 
> * hands-on, experiential learning
> * using real subject matter (concrete) vs.. abstract in classroom
> not connected to life
> * connecting kids to the out-of-doors (someone mentioned recently
> and NPR report on kids lives (in front of TV's vs.. being outside)
> * cross curriculum links, interdisciplinary (for example, article
> that Amy sent on study done last year on schools in Chicago that use
> arts integration to teach core subject and how standardized test scores
> increase more in these schools than in non-arts integrate schools)
> * getting teachers inspired and excited; the excitement of going
> outside for kids (good time = good results.)
> 
> So without overburdening anyone, if you have at your finger tips, and/or
> remember, or use in your own work, grant proposals, etc. RESEARCH
> STUDIES - ARTICLES<-REPORTS - that substantiate methods that relate to
> any of the above bulleted items,  I would love to learn about them!
>  
> And thanks in advance.
>  
> Maria Mingalone
> Director of Education and Public Programs
> Berkshire Museum
> 39 South Street
> Pittsfield, MA 01201
> (413)443-7171, ext 14
> 
>  
> 
> ***********************************************************************
> More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
> Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
> To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
> message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
> [log in to unmask]
> 

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]