Effective teaching: Linking outcomes of active citizenship to learning environments

Abstract

This chapter discusses the use of a learning environment instrument, the Place-Based Learning and Constructivist Environment Survey (PLACES) in an environmental studies program that operated out of British Columbia, Canada. In order to access information about students' perceptions, the instrument was implemented in an Integrated Environmental Studies program called Experiential Studies 10 (ES 10) as part of a range of evaluation methods. The study was retrospective in nature utilizing a mixed method approach to determine the long-term effects of the program on participants' citizenship activities. Our findings demonstrate that learning environment and citizenship outcomes were linked, and key learning environment features were identified as being important for long term outcomes of active citizenship. This chapter will provide a brief overview of the study and shed light on how paying close attention to the learning environment created within environmental education programming can contribute to long-term outcomes of active citizenship.