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Learning in Context: How Place-Based Learning Fosters Deeper Connections

A stylized illustration of diverse-looking students sitting cross-legged in front of a world map.
What if the key to deeper, more meaningful learning lies right in front of us—in the places we live, work, and play? In Learning in Context: How Place-Based Learning Fosters Deeper Connections explores how connecting students to their local environments and communities can transform the learning experience. Drawing on both research and my own teaching experience, this article offers practical strategies for integrating place-based learning into your courses, whether you teach in person or online. From local data collection to virtual tours, place-based learning taps into students’ lived experiences, making course content more relevant, engaging, and impactful. Ready to explore how this approach can be incorporated into your teaching? Dive in to discover the profound effects of learning in context.

Leveraging campus partnerships to reinforce help-seeking behaviors

Lauren Divine, right, a tutor with UAF's Student Support Services, works with Sante Lee-Sonkoh during a session in the SSS study lounge in the Gruening Building.
Faculty are a key conduit in a student’s academic path—connecting them to vital resources in the virtual and physical campus environment. Educators have an opportunity to model help-seeking behaviors that aid students from all backgrounds but significantly benefit students from traditionally underrepresented and under-resourced backgrounds.