Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempted to present a nuanced perspective on the sense of place of learners and the extent to which teachers practice a pedagogy of place. In the study, the researcher investigated the sense of place of twelve Grade 6 and 8 learners at a school, situated in an eco-village in the Stellenbosch vicinity. The assumption is being made that the eco-village is a more conducive context for cultivating a sense of place amongst learners. The group consisted of six learners that did not live in the eco-village and six learners that did live there. Furthermore, an attempt was made to determine what the two Social Sciences teachers' understanding of the concept "place" was, the extent to which they practiced a pedagogy of place and the influence that the eco-village had on their teaching approach. The research report comprises two components, namely (a) a theoretical-philosophical component, and (b) an empirical component. The aim of the theoretical component was to explore the idea of a "sense of place" critically. This was done firstly, by emphasising the nexus between place and space, secondly, to present more clarity on the concept "place" by discussing the multiple meanings underpinning the concept, and lastly, to investigate a sense of place as a multi-dimensional concept. Against the background of a sense of place and pedagogy of place, I critically analysed the South African curriculum statements of the Social Sciences learning area for Grades R to nine, in order to determine how these policy statements address the concept place. Teachers are confronted with these statements on a regular basis and the assumption is that the emphasis being placed on this concept in the statements might have an impact on their pedagogy. This assumption was further explored in the interviews that were conducted with teachers, in an attempt not only to determine their understanding of the concept "place" but also to determine the extent to which they practice a pedagogy of place. Before interviews were conducted with teachers, it firstly determined what learners' sense of place is regarding where they live and attend school. The aim was to establish the differences, similarities, overlappings (if any) between these two groups. This study serves as a confirmation of the complexity regarding educational discourses and practices that explicitly examine the place-specific nexus between the environment, culture and education. It challenges teachers and educators in environmental education to expand the scope of their theory, investigation and practice in order to include the social and ecological contexts of our own inhabitation and those of others. In other words the challenge for teachers and educators lies in reflecting on the relationship between the type of education that they strive for and the type of place that we inhabit and leave behind for future generations. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie het dit ten doel gehad om 'n genuanseerde perspektief te bied op leerders se sin van plek asook die mate waartoe onderwysers 'n pedagogie van plek toepas. Tydens die studie is die sin van plek onder twaalf graad 6- en 8-leerders aan 'n skool, geleë in 'n eko-dorpie in die Stellenbosch-omgewing ondersoek. Die aanname is gemaak dat die eko-dorpie meer bevorderlik is vir die kweek van 'n sin van plek by leerders. Die groep het bestaan uit ses leerders wat nie in die eko-dorpie woon nie en ses leerders wat wel daar woon. Verder is daar gepoog om te bepaal wat die twee Sosiale Wetenskappe-onderwysers se opvatting van die konsep "plek" is, tot watter mate hulle 'n pedagogie van plek toepas en die invloed wat die eko-dorpie op hulle onderrigbenadering het. Die navorsingsverslag bestaan dus uit twee komponente, naamlik (a) 'n teoreties-filosofiese komponent en (b) 'n empiriese komponent. Met betrekking tot die teoretiese komponent is daar beoog om die gedagte van 'n sin van plek te verken deur dit krities te ondersoek. Dit is gedoen deur eerstens die verband tussen plek en ruimte te bespreek, tweedens meer duidelikheid omtrent die konsep "plek" te verkry deur die veelvuldige betekenisse aan die lig te bring en laastens om "sin van plek" as 'n multidimensionele begrip te ondersoek. Wat betref sin van plek en 'n pedagogie van plek, is daar verder beoog om die Suid-Afrikaanse kurrikulumverklarings ten opsigte van die leerarea Sosiale Wetenskappe vir grade R tot nege krities te analiseer om te bepaal tot watter mate die beleidsdokumente die konsep "plek" behandel. Onderwysers word op 'n daaglikse basis met hierdie verklarings gekonfronteer en die aanname is dat die klem wat op die konsep "plek" gelê word, 'n invloed op hulle pedagogie as sodanig sal hê. Hierdie aanname is verder verken in die onderhoude wat met onderwysers gevoer is waar daar nie net gepoog is om hulle opvatting van die konsep "plek" te bepaal nie, maar ook om vas te stel tot watter mate hulle 'n pedagogie van plek beoefen. Alvorens daar met onderwysers onderhoude gevoer is, is daar eerstens bepaal wat leerders se sin van plek is met betrekking tot waar hulle woon en skoolgaan. Daar is beoog om die verskille, ooreenkomste en oorvleuelings (indien enige) tussen die twee groepe leerders se sin van plek vas te stel. Die studie dien as 'n bevestiging van die kompleksiteit aangaande opvoedkundige diskoerse en praktyke wat eksplisiet die plek-spesifieke neksus tussen die omgewing, kultuur en onderwys bestudeer. Dit stel onderwysers en opvoedkundiges in omgewingsopvoeding voor die uitdaging om die omvang van hulle teorie, ondersoek en praktyk uit te brei om sodoende die sosiale en ekologiese agtergrond van ons eie en ander se bewoning in te sluit. Met ander woorde, die uitdaging vir onderwysers en opvoedkundiges lê dus daarin om te reflekteer oor die verhouding tussen die tipe opvoeding wat hulle nastreef en die tipe plekke wat ons bewoon en nalaat vir toekomstige generasies. / Andrew Mellon Foundation

La déstabilisation qu'introduit la marche des territoires vers l'économie de la connaissance a fait évoluer les enjeux de l'aménagement. Passé le temps des stratégies fondées sur la construction d'autoroutes et de zones d'activités, le politique se penche sur le rôle des personnes et de leur capacité à innover, c'est-à-dire à imaginer la nouveauté.La thèse questionne ces évolutions à l'aune des villes intermédiaires, pour qui, dans ce contexte, il semble difficile d'exister autrement que comme périphérie des métropoles. En effet, elles doivent opérer de profondes mutations, tout en composant avec l'absence de certaines fonctions, avec la concurrence des villes de tous types, etc. Elles seraient aussi particulièrement sensibles aux enjeux du capital humain, dont la mobilisation stratégique pourrait leur permettre d'entamer à leur tour une trajectoire métropolitaine. Pour discuter ces hypothèses, la thèse propose des outils d'analyse novateurs : un cadre conceptuel autour du capital humain territorial¸ une analyse de projets par la cartographie ou encore une méthode pour caractériser de la gouvernance territoriale de l'innovation.Elle montre que davantage que l'effet-taille ou d'autres critères habituellement identifiés, c'est l'organisation territoriale du capital humain qui détermine les capacités d'innovation des villes intermédiaires. Angers et Reims offrent deux exemples de la variété des situations et des réponses apportées par l'action publique territoriale. Les différents résultats obtenus pourraient s'avérer utile tant pour contribuer à renouveler les réflexions du développement territorial que pour élaborer des outils d'aide à la décision pour l'aménagement. / The shift towards a knowledge-based economy seems to call for rethinking urban and territorial development. Strategies based on highways and business parks planning are not adequate anymore to cope with contemporary challenges. Policy-makers have to deal with people and their ability to innovate.This PhD research examines these challenges focusing on intermediate cities which, in this context, face difficulties to exist apart from being periphery of the core metropolises. Indeed, they have to operate profound transformations, while dealing with the absence of certain urban functions, with the interurban competition, etc. They are also particularly sensitive to the issues of human capital, whose strategic mobilization could allow them to begin to turn a metropolitan trajectory. Discussing these assumptions, the research uses innovative analytical tools: setting a theoretical framework for a territorial human capital approach, analyzing place-based projects by mapping, and modeling the regional governance of innovation.Findings show that territorial organization human capital is an important factor to explain innovative capacities of intermediate cities. In France, Angers and Reims provide two examples of the variegated situations and responses of local policies. The different results could help to stimulate progress in constructing a theoretical approach for conceptualizing challenges of intermediate cities and for developing decision-making tools.

Research shows that being in nature is important for children's health and psychosocial and physical development. Outdoor education can significantly improve the quality and meaningfulness of learning, contribute to the teachers' and pupils' well-being and help to build a positive attitude towards nature. However, learning outside the school building is rather an exception in the Czech Republic and has not yet received much attention here. On the contrary, Norway is specific in its attitude to outdoor recreation and outdoor education. The purpose of this paper is to present Norwegian approach to outdoor education in primary schools. The theoretical chapters describe the issue of outdoor education in general with a specific focus on the Czech tradition and discourse, the Norwegian education system and the local situation of outdoor education. This part is followed by a qualitative research carried out in the Bodø district in northern Norway. The main method of data acquisition were interviews with teachers from seven local primary schools. The research describes the teachers' concept of outdoor education and answers the question of where the sources of support for outdoor education in Norway are.

Sammanfattning Syfte och frågeställningar Syftet med denna studie är att genomföra och undersö̈ka modellbaserad undervisning inom friluftsliv med fokus på platspedagogiken och få svar på frågeställningarna: ●  Vilka upplevelser har eleverna av den platspedagogiska undervisningsmodellen? ●  Vad för lärandeerfarenheter skaffar sig eleverna av den platspedagogiska undervisningsmodellen? Metod I studien har en kvalitativ ansats tillämpats för att söka svar på frågeställningarna. Mer specifikt har en pilotinterventionsstudie på två lektioner med efterföljande kvalitativa intervjuer genomförts med 22 stycken elever i en skolklass i årskurs 6 belägen i södra Norrland. I de kvalitativa intervjuerna har semistrukturerade fokusgruppsintervjuer implementerats där varje fokusgrupp bestod utav 5-6 elever. Respondenterna i studien valdes ut via ett bekvämlighetsurval. I studien används den platsbaserade pedagogiken som teoretiskt ramverk. Resultat Den platspedagogiska undervisningsmodellen har i denna studie visat sig medföra en större meningsfullhet för elevernas friluftsundervisning. Dessutom har modellen bidragit till ökad platskännedom bland studiens deltagare utifrån ett historiskt- och nutida perspektiv. Samtidigt har de fått möjlighet att utveckla sitt lärande inom delar av kunskapskraven i friluftsliv och utevistelse. En intressant aspekt i resultatet var att eleverna upplevde ett större intresse att återkomma till den plats de hade kännedom kring. Däremot upplevde eleverna att friluftsliv är något som måste utövas ute i naturen och därför hade de inte kopplat lektionsserien till friluftsliv om den hade genomförts i en stadsmiljö eller på skolgården. Slutsats Den platspedagogiska undervisningsmodellen är en möjlig metod för att bemöta den problematik som forskning visat finnas i den svenska skolans friluftsundervisning, och kan skapa nya möjligheter för elevers lärande i friluftsliv i skolan. / Abstract Aim The aim of this study is to implement and investigate instructional model teaching in outdoor education within the knowledge requirements in the Swedish physical education with extra focus on place pedagogy, and get answers to these questions: ●  What experiences do the students have of the place pedagogy model? ●  What learning do the students get from the place pedagogy model? Method In this study a qualitative method was used to answer the research questions. More specifically an intervention study was made with two lessons, including a following interview, with 22 students in class 6 in southern north of Sweden. The interviews had a semi- structured form, and the students were divided into groups of 5 to 6 persons for each focus group. The students were selected by a convenience sample. In this study, the place pedagogy model will be used as theoretical framework. Results The findings in the study shows that a place pedagogy model entails meaningfulness in the student’s outdoor education. The model has also resulted in increased knowledge about the place, both in a historical and contemporary perspective. The students have been given the opportunity to work and develop their skills and knowledge requirements in the Swedish physical education steering documents. An interesting finding in the study was that students felt strong interest to return to a place they had learned new knowledge about. Still the students have an experience that outdoor education is something you do in the nature. Therefore, they wouldn ́t have seen the two lessons as outdoor education if we would have chosen another environment such as an urban area or a schoolyard. Conclusion The place pedagogy model is a possible method to treat the problems that earlier research has found in outdoor education within Swedish schools. Place pedagogy can therefore create new opportunities for students learning.

In a large urban district in Ohio, 29.2% of Grade 5, 28.7% of Grade 8, and 45.7% of Grade 10 students passed the state test in science. School district administrators formed a community partnership with local science institutions in order to provide students with hands-on place-based learning experiences intended to improve science academic achievement in PK-Grade 5. The purpose of this qualitative program evaluation was to determine the level of implementation of that place-based program by examining the efficacy of the teachers' embedded professional development and their experiences with the training components. Bruner's theory of cognitive development was used to examine teachers' needs in facilitating the program. A stratified random sample of 659 PK-Grade 5 teachers from 73 district elementary schools was selected, and 57 teachers responded to an anonymous online survey of 5 open-ended questions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis to identity factors that enhanced or impeded the implementation of place-based education programming based on their professional development. The key findings indicated that over half of the participants viewed resources as lacking, training as limited, and planning that is too time consuming, and complicated. Participants expressed the need for clarity regarding resources and more training on how to plan for and integrate the placed-based approach. The resulting project was an executive summary and interactive workshop for program stakeholders, such as administrators, teachers, and ultimately students, who would benefit from this project by improving the place-based program.

This thesis examines how traditional medicine workshops offered by an Aboriginal health centre contribute to capacity re-building through self-care in two local communities in Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Health disparities that exist between Aboriginal people and the rest of the population have prompted a need to better understand health determinants that are of relevance in these communities including the importance of culture, tradition, and self-determination. A variety of qualitative methods were employed in this work including in-depth interviews, focus groups and “art voice.” The use of art voice on Manitoulin Island advances decolonizing methodologies by emphasizing how the incorporation of locally and culturally relevant methods or “methods-in-place,” is an effective way to engage communities in the research process. Results show the need to approach traditional teachings, health programs, and research from an Aboriginal worldview and indicate that more frequent workshops are required to empower youth and adults to practice and share traditional knowledge. Furthermore, a continuum exists in which the interest in language, culture, and tradition increases with age. Capacity can therefore be re-built over time within communities promoting autonomy and self-determination through self-care. Findings can be expected to further inform the traditional programming in participating communities, enhance existing Aboriginal determinants of health models by including traditional medicine as an element of self-care, and can act as a springboard for the inclusion of unique place-based methods into community-based research projects in the future.

This international research set out to exemplify the pedagogical practices of 11 teachers from Christchurch/Ōtautahi, New Zealand (Aotearoa) and Saskatoon, Canada. It explores their resistance to the various colonial and neocolonizing constructs central to contemporary mainstream schooling in both cities (due to forces such as neoliberalism). These acts of resistance were the result of contesting ideologies of time, space, curriculum and assessment. The research, therefore, describes some of the pedagogical practises of these teachers. It also considers their narratives about their usage of place-based education (PBE) approaches and their commitment to the adoption of critical pedagogies of place (CPP) to meet the real needs of their students (both Indigenous and non-Indigenous). An interpretive paradigm was employed within a qualitative framework to underpin this research. A case study approach was also adopted and informed by a bricolage methodological framework. Primary and secondary data were collected from a number of storage sites (libraries) in both countries and through a questionnaire, interview and observation of each teacher’s classroom space. The data was analysed by coding key information while drawing out any recurring themes and points of difference. The findings reveal that certain aspects of PBE and CPP are accessible to teachers despite their feelings of being confined in terms of their ability to use time, space, curriculum and assessment within their traditional school institutions. Although their abilities to engage with PBE and CPP were limited, those teachers that had more control over time, space, curriculum and assessment were able to dive deeper into PBE and especially CPP. A key finding of this research was the extent of awareness and engagement that the teachers had in transforming controlled, static, spaces found in the classrooms, communities and natural environments into meaningful places with students. This finding also suggests that teachers with more control over time, space, curriculum and assessment have an easier time in creating this change. The findings also indicate that these teachers first needed to have the courage to challenge traditional systems of schooling, because teachers can become marginalized by other teachers and administrators when seen to be attempting to transform entrenched institutional (schooling) cultures. Flexibility and trust were two of the other recurring themes that emerged from the data collected. Teachers possessing more flexibility (with regards to time, space, curriculum and assessment design procedures) were most able to enact PBE and CPP. They were also the best-positioned participants to create meaningful professional relationships with their students and local community members. Issues of trust were clearly evident in recurring discussions around the increased amount of trust teachers needed to have with students for the students to be able to engage with space and place. There was also an increased amount of trust that school administrators (principals) needed to have in their teachers who were engaging with PBE and CPP. The research participants in this study demonstrated that, in different ways, they were striving to resist the ideologies underpinning traditional mainstream schooling, and that they were able to enact change regardless of the challenges they experienced. Their perseverance to ground their teaching in PBE and CPP approaches testifies to their love of education and their acceptance of it as a legitimate process for change and growth.

Cities are defined as the ecological phenomenon of the 21st century since urban form is becoming dominant geographical context for human settlement on Earth. Due to that one of the major tasks of contemporary urban planning policy is adaptation of urban areas to the changing realms. In connection to the adaptation strategies, concept of resilience is gaining much more attention in the current planning discourse as an approach which perceives problem of climate change as the opportunity for better development. New aspect that concept of resilience brings to the planning is a view that social and ecological dimensions are interlinked. According to that, main aim of the thesis is to find an answer for the research question “What is the connection between culture and nature and its role in sustainable adaptation of urban areas to the climate change?” and through the research and analysis develop a theoretical foundation for the strategy of adaptation to the climate change which offers an opportunity for more effective urban growth based on three main pillars of sustainability: Environmental responsibility, Economic viability and Social justice as well as currently distinguished new dimension i.e. Cultural vitality.

This thesis examines how traditional medicine workshops offered by an Aboriginal health centre contribute to capacity re-building through self-care in two local communities in Manitoulin Island, Ontario. Health disparities that exist between Aboriginal people and the rest of the population have prompted a need to better understand health determinants that are of relevance in these communities including the importance of culture, tradition, and self-determination. A variety of qualitative methods were employed in this work including in-depth interviews, focus groups and “art voice.” The use of art voice on Manitoulin Island advances decolonizing methodologies by emphasizing how the incorporation of locally and culturally relevant methods or “methods-in-place,” is an effective way to engage communities in the research process. Results show the need to approach traditional teachings, health programs, and research from an Aboriginal worldview and indicate that more frequent workshops are required to empower youth and adults to practice and share traditional knowledge. Furthermore, a continuum exists in which the interest in language, culture, and tradition increases with age. Capacity can therefore be re-built over time within communities promoting autonomy and self-determination through self-care. Findings can be expected to further inform the traditional programming in participating communities, enhance existing Aboriginal determinants of health models by including traditional medicine as an element of self-care, and can act as a springboard for the inclusion of unique place-based methods into community-based research projects in the future.

Integrated coastal management (ICM) has been the basis for coastal planning and management since the 1970s. The theory and practice of ICM is based on the premise that increased integration of planning and management in the coastal zone will lead to improved environmental and social outcomes for the coast. In the context of global and national trends, this thesis examines the application of ICM in three place-based coastal case studies in Victoria: the Gippsland Lakes, Point Nepean and the Geelong region. The particular focus is on the twin challenges of coastal urbanisation and the impacts of climate change. Through a wide range of applied research techniques including focus groups, the research explores the pressures, issues, impacts and implications for ICM and beyond. The case studies point to a number of important implications for ICM and identify opportunities for a more sustainable approach to coastal planning. In reviewing the research findings, a set of five steps and six principles are proposed to respond to policy failures and provide for a transition to more sustainable coastal planning in Victoria. The five steps involve expanding the theory of ICM to be outcome based and regional in its approach to coastal planning and management. In the context of climate change, a more adaptive and systems approach has been incorporated along with recognising the even greater importance of community engagement in coastal planning processes during a period of increased uncertainty and change. The principal instrument for change is a tripartite intergovernmental agreement on sustainable coastal planning underpinned by a set of six principles. These include: agreed and shared outcomes for the coastal environment to facilitate horizontal and vertical integration; an adaptive and systems approach integrating science and urban planning drawing on experience and knowledge in both disciplines; incorporation of the shared outcomes and an adaptive approach into urban and regio nal planning systems for local implementation; regional governance arrangements for integration of policy outcomes and community involvement; capacity building for sustainable coastal planning including interdisciplinary research and community education and long term monitoring and evaluation. The transition from ICM to sustainable coastal planning does not discard ICM but rather incorporates its strengths and adapts the concept to meet the twin challenges of coastal urbanisation and climate change. Further research questions are posed to indicate how the research findings could be further developed as part of a future coastal research agenda. The research findings seek to make a contribution to the theory and practice of ICM to build a pathway to coastal planning for the benefit of our coast and future generations.