A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the State University of New York College at Oneonta at its Cooperstown Graduate Program in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts,
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Abstract: The Ecomuseum is a museum model largely unknown in the United States museum field. It is a model that utilizes place as a key part of its formation and interpretation. Likewise the educational models of Environmental and Place-based Education also utilize place as a defining concept. This thesis is a unified body of work exploring the concept of place through these three models in order to create a guide for museum educators interested in exploring the uses and history of place centered learning. While research on the effectiveness and proliferation of Environmental and Place-based education as well as Ecomuseums, exists in abundance my focus was on the evolution and definitons of these terms. The ultimate goal was the creation of a guide for any educator interested in study of place centered learning.The availability of sources varied. Enviromental education provided a wealth of information on its development and definition. Place-based education was more of a challenge with information often providing muddled definitions that crossed into the realm of Environmental education. Ecomuseums presented their own challenge. While information exists, the evolution of the Ecomuseum is very quick and at times disparate. Peter Davis presents the only comprehensive English language source on the topic. This thesis is a comprehensive study of the evolution of Ecomuseums, Environmental and Place-based education through the lens of place. It shows that place is more than location; it is community, geography, and environment. It is an individual and group construct and when harnessed by a museum educator through these three models, place becomes relevance.
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