Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne and Melbourne
Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne
Website: http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au
Contact Person:
rbg@rbg.vic.gov.au
The Royal Botanic Gardens Learning team utilises the rich, natural and cultural resources of the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne and Cranbourne, to provide opportunities to enliven and enhance the learning of students from kindergarten to tertiary. The Education service provides excursions, student education programs, web based teacher resources and teacher professional development.
Programs are 1 hour 45 minutes and guided by experienced facilitators providing face to face engagement through stories, hands-on experience and the rich sensory environment of the Gardens. Learning is immersive and social and leads to the development of life-long, life-wide skills.
A learner-centred approach to teaching that works with the learner’s curiosity and intrinsic motivation; this generates a problem solving approach through direct experiences and explorations. The rich outdoor environment stimulates deep learning in a variety of ways; the ‘Multiple Intelligences Theory’ – as outlined by Howard Gardner acknowledges that students need to move, sense, explore, discuss and relate to a stimulating environment in accordance with their own learning styles.
The RBG is Victoria’s oldest scientific institution with a very long history of documenting and conserving our states and indeed international biodiversity. Today it is one of the states leading organisations in mitigating and adapting to Climate Change. Some of the states most innovative and dramatic water conservation projects are underway at the Melbourne and Cranbourne sites.
Both gardens showcase outstanding living collections of plants and plant communities. Research and management activities conducted by the gardens are leading examples of biodiversity conservation with an international reputation.
Schools participate in water, waste and biodiversity conservation experiences through programs conducted by the Learning team at RBG Melbourne and Cranbourne. These activities are designed to inspire students and provide ideas for application back at schools. Indeed many schools have successfully modelled school ground improvements on ideas showcased in the Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden and Cranbourne’s Australian Garden.
The following principles that define best practice are key to the work of both the Royal Botanic Gardens and ResourceSmart Schools.
Inquiry based learning for the whole school community
Indigenous Learning
Social justice
Student democracy and leadership
Values, civics and faith development
Cultural perspectives
Re-engagement with self, others and nature
Transformative education and learning
If you would like more information on our programs please refer to our website http://www.rbg.vic.gov.au/learn/programs or to contact us, to make a booking please call:
Melbourne (03) 9252 2358
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