Learning in Place: The Teaching Archivist and Place-Based Education

Place-Based Education (PBE) uses students’ local environments, communities, resources, and people to provide immersive learning opportunities. This educational approach advantages students’ interest with the familiar to engage in more meaningful learning, develop stronger connections to their communities, and heighten their appreciation for their surroundings (both physical and cultural). Instructional archivists at higher education institutions often encounter the power of place commonly referred to in PBE literature. By explaining the foundation of this teaching method, its strengths and potential weaknesses, and PBE case studies featuring the university archivist and house museum director at Indiana University, this article explores PBE in the context of using campus archival collections for instructional purposes.