Campus-Based Learning

Created by Suzanne Savanick, Science Education Resource Center, Carleton College
"As commonly practiced, education has little to do with its specific setting or locality. The typical campus is mostly regarded as a place where learning occurs but is, itself, believed to be the source of no useful learning. It is intended, rather, to be convenient, efficient, or aesthetically pleasing, but not instructional. It neither requires nor facilitates competence or mindfulness. By that standard, the same education could happen as well in California or in Kazakhstan, or on Mars, for that matter." (Orr 1993)

Every campus has a context.

Education at most institutions does not link to the local context, yet the actual buildings and grounds can be studied, analyzed and even manipulated for research and education.


What is campus-based learning?

Campus-based learning uses the campus buildings and grounds as teaching tools and can be used in all of the part of the curriculum. Learn more here.

Why use campus-based learning?

Campus-based projects can provide hands-on, real-world projects that link to service-learning and civic engagement programs. Campus-based learning can also be accomplished even without a field trip budget or transportation. Learn more here.

How to use campus-based learning?

For specific tips on how to get started, find resources and people, contribute back to the community and keep campus research records,learn more here.

Examples of campus-based learning

For specific examples of how to incorporate campus-based learning in to geoscience courses, learn more here.

References on campus-based learning

For a list of useful references on campus-based learning, learn more here.

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