Place-based teaching amidst a global pandemic?

Abstract

How did the COVID-induced switch to online learning impact attitudes and practices toward place-based teaching? To explore this question, a pair of surveys was administered to students and faculty in the University of Hawaii's School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology in Fall 2018 (142 respondents) and Fall 2021 (83 respondents). Survey results indicate that PBT practices are highly valued by students and faculty, even (or perhaps especially) when courses are in online formats. Faculty report wanting to use more place-based teaching practices in online courses, but there are obvious challenges. The paper ends with concrete examples of how place-based teaching can be effectively implemented in online courses.