Abstract:
Learning landscapes such as teaching arboretums and demonstration gardens are effective learning sites for teaching and extension activities. Landscape design students in environmental horticulture recently participated in the planning and design of a demonstration landscape on the University of Florida campus. The class assignment, which is grounded in experiential learning theory, helped students understand the basics of experiential learning and the application of it to the design of learning landscapes. This article presents the framework for developing and designing learning landscapes by linking the experiential learning process to the landscape design process and to key design features of learning landscapes. Key questions are also provided for instructors and program directors that are considering designing and implementing a learning landscape as a class project or for their program. In this case study students worked with campus administration, faculty committees, facilities and planning and campus extension programs to gather information and ideas to create a design that reflected the university needs and the educational goals of extension. The students demonstrated their understanding of experiential learning and the experiential learning/design process link by applying the concept and creating a practical, effective and visually pleasing demonstration landscape.
Key Words:
Learning landscapes, landscape design, experiential learning
 5 Hansen NACTA Journal Dec 2012.pdf | [ ] | 349 kB |
