After coming back from New Zealand, I feel like I have a lot more ideas about real-world implications of the use of place-based education. I’m also more aware of using people and professors as resources, for example I keep seeing Prof. Greg Smith’s name come up in discussions of the origins of place-based education, and the fact that he works just across the street from us in the graduate campus seems like an opportunity I can’t pass up. Additionally, I met Prof. Bronwyn Hayward, a professor at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, who does research on the political implications of children in urban environments and how their perceptions about place might change over time with exposure to certain ideas. I would like to figure out how to utilize these important figures moving forward.
Although place-based education is a relatively new field (coined by Smith and Gruenewald in 2002-2003), it almost seems too broad to be a concentration now. I’m interested in looking into more resources related to indigenous/First World perceptions of place, and how those perceptions might guide our understanding of place. Additionally, I want to make sure I pay attention to research methodologies so my work doesn’t get too qualitative. Many of the articles I’ve read haven’t detailed methodologies, as they are more theoretical pieces. I want to make sure my assumptions are rooted in something, so if they are ever questioned I can back them up.
In terms of the scope of my concentration, after talking to Jessica, I realized the scope is probably fine for my concentration but I can begin to look for more focused applications to prepare for my thesis. I’m wondering if I should reconnect with resources in Christchurch or try to gain new connections with First World people in Portland. This semester I’m working at NAYA, a Native American Alternative High School, which might give me some leads to follow throughout the semester.