First Year Seminar: Place Based Education
PLACE BASED EDUCATION FYS: WHAT IS THIS?
Fostering sense of place further explained:
Where will your favorite places in the Salem be when you leave Salem State with degree in hand? What experiences will shape your time here at Salem State University? Who will become your lifelong friends? During this class we will explore what developing a sense of place means and what contributes to feeling a sense of belonging? Through experiencing Salem through this lens, we aim to foster your initial sense of place and belonging in the Salem town and Salem State communities. To this end, we will explore the people, places and processes that shape Salem and Salem State. We will explore the social and ecological issues that the people of Salem face. Research suggests that when people have a greater sense of place in a community, they are more empowered to get involved locally. Through local civic engagement comes an even greater sense of purpose and empowerment, circling back to an even greater sense of belonging. Required assignments will require town of Salem trips. Throughout the semester we will take several field trips into town to various places significant to Salem.
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
place on Thanksgiving-HOME
We live in Concord, NH
Committed to stay in this town until Ellie graduates, which is 9 years away.
We don't live on a street I would have dreamed of, but we live on a street with friends. My college best friend lives across the street. We have community.
Wednesday night we went to our neighbors' yearly Thanksgiving party- laughed with neighbors and friends.
The morning was filled with cooking and baking as Ellie played with her friend who slept over, they played imaginary office where they wrote letters, and then did a morning long art project.
She has tons of friends and their parents are our friends and it is awesome.
Before that, even, I hiked one of the trails in town.
This is where I want to land when I talk about
one of my favorite places in our hometown.
The place is the town's woods. And more specifically, the town's woods' trails.
There are all these trail systems!
Saint Paul's trails, West farm trails, Winant trail- water tower, The Curtisville road trails, the oak hill trails.
Seriously, you can always go for at least an hour, and upwards of a three hour hike right here in town!
Our dog benefits greatly...she has all these pals who are dogs...and they go for hikes with us. She shines with other dogs.
I shine walking with the dog owners who are my friends. We can talk schoolyard politics, and real politics. We can laugh, complain about the current state of affairs...we can share our kids' accomplishments, and also our fears.
the woods...I read this thing about nature bathing...and hiking with the dog on a daily basis, I am able to nature bath...among trees, the light coming through, the leaves covering the trail, rivers, ponds, just beauty. Nature. Deer, rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, turkeys, pheasant...and tons of birds and ducks...
Monday, November 14, 2016
the park on the bike path
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Sense of PLace in Madison, WI
Thursday, October 6, 2016
PLace and Space: Our library
Place based education considers the topic of sense of place.
Sense of place is based on the concept of PLACE.
Place is such a subjective term, but one thing we know is that people, over the course of their lifetime create a genetic place code, meaning, they identify some places as comfortable and others as not comfortable.
For example, when I look to a town to move to, I need specific things. I need a food coop. I need a yoga studio. I need some coffee shops. I need a place to hike nearby.
These are places I find comfortable.
I also have places in buildings that are comfortable. I like wood, light, and airy room.
The library matches me aesthetically.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Hobbs Popcorn
I felt like being out there connected me more with Salem, understanding how it is bound by water. There are all these necks and islands into the water, but the water shapes this place, it is what made it what it is.
Even the Willows, clearly ended up there because of the amazing site!
The Willows! I had no idea what that would be like. I did feel like I was walking back in time. Just like Jim said it was. THE USED REAL BUTTER!!! Not gross syrupy crap, but REAL BUTTER.
I was so grateful that Jenny linked me up with her uncle, Charlie, who was willing to speak to us about their family, their role in town...and their history a bit.
I thought it was interesting how he spoke of the generations ahead of him and behind him, and how they all are so proud of being part of something so awesome.
I also thought that while it is important to preserve the old, his idea of spiffing up the place with that amazing view and the history could be such a great business endeavor!
I also liked how he told us about the people, their customers...some of whom we got to see when we were waiting to get our popcorn.
What an amazing place and it has been in business since 1897!
Also they came from Coney Island, where I first went to amusement parks!
National Park Service
Most interesting from the whole trip was this idea she alluded to several times, telling the history that was not intentionally preserved. She pointed out that the wealthy and the fancy people's stories tend to be preserved in history, but often times we do not hear everyone's story.
She alluded to African Americans and their contribution to the Salem story, as well as the Polish. I would have loved to hear a ton more about these various perspectives of Salem and the history. SO MY QUESTION IS: What are all the different ethnic and racial groups that contribute to the Salem story? How can we preserve everyone's part of the story?
It makes me think of all of us, and how are we contributing. Salem students and faculty? What is our role in Salem?
Thursday, September 22, 2016
farmer's market!
After hearing Kylie talk about farmer's market and how Salem is working to create places that help facilitate a sense of place, I could see it. I also thought about how Kylie talked about how the farmer's market is for the community members.
It is right in the middle of town. And town is so cute, it is the kind of place I really like. I t has funky stores, and organic food and local food restaurants, etc. The farmer's market was smal as people still set up, but I could see how it fills up. The farmers I wanted to see had not arrived yet. It was awesome seeing people set up.
Some of the markets setting up in the square, which has a lot of history...it has been a place of market for centuries!
Awesome space!
The stands extend up the walking mall, and here were some cool art things and I stood behind a temporary stage!
There is live music at the farmer's market!