Place-based Learning

Place-Based Landscape Analysis and Sustainability Education:
UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources

Much of the content from the Focal Places section of this website comes directly from research carried out by graduate students in the UVM course NR 378: Place-Based Landscape Analysis and Sustainability Education. This semester-long course brought together students from varying backgrounds to do an integrative analysis of particular places within the Burlington landscape. As future courses unfold, the work of the students will likely be incorporated into Burlington Geographic.

The Place-based Landscape Analysis course grew out of the Field Naturalist and Ecological Planning programs, and is now a course for any graduate students (both masters and doctoral) in the Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources. All courses labeled NR 378 take an integrative approach to landscape analysis by incorporating cultural, social, and/or economic issues into their understanding of ecology. At the end each semester, students present out to the public in an open forum help in the Burlington City hall. The first group of graduate students in this course conducted the initial analysis of the focal areas presented on this website. Subsequent groups have explored other areas just outside of Burlington, including the H. Laurence Achilles Natural Area at Shelburne Pond.