Facilitating learnscape development, maintenance and use: teachers’ perceptions and self-reported practice

Learnscapes are a recent initiative of the New South Wales Department of Education and Training (NSW DET). They are generally school ground features, e.g., an edible garden, a poetry corner or a wildlife corridor, where a learning program has been designed to permit users to interact with the environment. The learning programs are to meet syllabi learning outcomes including environmental education. Learnscape design, development, and use are to involve students, teachers and the community. Teachers' perceptions of the value and impact of learnscapes in two NSW DET pilot schools are reported, as well as their self-reported involvement and use. These varied considerably, despite the majority of teachers extolling the value of learnscapes. Several 'barriers' to the effective use of learnscapes surfaced. The relationship of learnscapes to environmental education was not uppermost in most teachers' minds. Explanations are suggested and pedagogical implications discussed.