The Significance of Sense of Place in Environmental Education

장소감의 환경교육적 의의

The aim of this study is to explore the meanings and significance of sense of place in environmental education. Sense of place is related to affective aspect of human, means emotional bonds to place where he live. In general sense, place is referred to a location on the earth but is not confined to physical settings or space. It is a construction reflecting human experiences and meanings and being center of meaningful experiences in everyday life. Recently there are many environmental educators emphasizing lived experience as a way to develop environmental sensitivity or intimacy toward nature. Environmental education should be practiced in the place where the participants live and reflect locality including social and cultural characteristics as well as natural features. In addition, it should provide opportunities for participants to have an lived experience where they can get the sense of bonds to place or connectedness. It is the significance that sense of place has. If you get sense of place, sense of bonds to place, you are likely to feel much more belongingness and attachment to place, which in turn become a basis for a variety of activities to conserve and improve the place and will develop an ecological self.