DEFINITION OF THE COMPETENCE
The RELATIONSHIP WITH A PLACE area develops stances and skills of pupils that lead to a deeper understanding of a specific close place and community and its connection to the world. If there is a place on Earth with which a person has a strong relationship, everything can be judged relative to it. Other places also gain relevance for the person as relative connection and respective dependence is discovered. Through this, one gradually builds a relationship to the whole world. A developed relationship with a place is also a prerequisite for developing an active approach to solving environmental and social problems connected to a specific place, and for readiness to act in favour of the place’s community and environment. The term "place" is not specified so that teachers can choose how wide an area the word covers. Whether it is the place where pupils live or attend school, or even the whole world. An important fact is that place includes the community and interpersonal relationships.
HOW TO DEVELOP THE COMPETENCE
REATIONSHIP WITH A PLACE is supported through frequent and regular direct experience of pupils with the place and reflection on the experience. Emphasis can be put on discovering various connections to the place (field trips, projects connected with the place), or building experiences (senses activities, experiential learning activities and events linked with the place and its maintenance). Both approaches interconnect some long-term methodical approaches (e.g., outdoor learning, speeches by local elders) or topic-oriented learning focused on the region. Developing relationship with a place at school is addressed by the method of place-based learning. In the Czech Republic, this method is realized through the programme of School for Sustainable Living. Local Natural and Cultural Heritage Interpretation is a standalone method used for example in building museum displays, nature trails in nature preserves, etc. Its principles can be utilized at schools, too, for creating various games (questing, geocaching). The width of means of involvement and topics connected to a place show that this area can be implemented in every education area and subject.
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THE STUDENT DEVELOPS A RELATIONSHIP TO A PLACE |
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Initial level |
Advanced level |
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CONNECTION WITH |
He/She notices the feelings evoked by various places in themself and in other people. He/She is aware of their relationship to a certain place and expresses the feelings and experience connected to the place or to events connected with it. |
He/She expresses their personal relationship to a place and considers influences and consequences of positive/negative relationship to the place. He/She establishes an attitude toward the values of a place and its problems. He/She appreciates the importance of having their personal place in life. |
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SIGNIFICANCE |
He/She notices that places have their meaning and that people may perceive it differently. |
He/She expresses why places are important to them or to other people. He/She notices the differences in perceptions of the significance of a place (in the past/present, among people of different ages, genders, religions,…, but also due to the distance). |
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RESPONSIBILITY |
He/She notices how they treat the place themself and how others treat it. He/She expresses what in their opinion is beneficial for the place and what makes it valuable. |
He/She considers it important to preserve the values of a place and looks for opportunities for its sustainable development. He/She adapts their actions to the needs of a place and preserves its values. |
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THE STUDENT DEVELOPS HIS/HER UNDERSTANDING OF A PLACE |
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Initial level |
Advanced level |
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EXPLORING |
He/She discovers, recognizes and explores natural and social features of a place. He/She is aware of the influence of the character of the place on people’s lives. |
He/She assesses natural and social conditions of a place. He/She is aware of the connection between the life of local community/society and a place and the interconnection of the place with other places in the area. |
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UNIQUENESS OF |
He/She notices what makes a place different from other places. |
He/She assesses and expresses what makes a place |
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INTERPRETATION |
He/She notices the way of interpretation of different places. |
Based on personal experience and information found, he/she formulates what makes the place unique (specific interpretative message). |
Lipka – školské zařízení pro environmentální vzdělávání Brno, příspěvková organizace, pracoviště Kamenná 20, Brno, telefon: 543 420 823, email: kamenna@lipka.cz, www.lipka.cz
