Teaching Pedagogy

The Royal Botanic Gardens Education Service utilises the rich natural and cultural resources of the Melbourne and Cranbourne site to provide opportunities to enliven and enhance the learning of students from kindergarten to tertiary. The service provides on-site school programs, curriculum material and teacher professional development.

Programs are 1 hour 45 minutes in duration and guided by a qualified teacher who provides face to face contact and engages students with stories and the sensory environment of the Gardens. Children construct meaning not only from concrete experiences but also from social interactions with others. The learning is immersive and hands on, with many learning outcomes becoming more relevant and meaningful in the Gardens' context. Students physically experience plants, landscapes, artifacts and foods.

The learner-centred programs use discovery learning styles, are purposive, and work with the learner's curiosity and intrinsic motivation. Teachers work with students and the programs are based on interaction with student's prior experience, needs interest and concerns. Students have opportunities to be self-directed and engage in 'Discovery Learning' which allows them to learn and problem solve from their direct experiences and explorations.

The outdoor environment encourages learning in a variety of ways. There is the opportunity to engage students through 'Multiple Intelligences' - as outlined by Howard Gardner's theory. Allowing students to move, sense, explore, discuss and artistically relate to a stimulating environment can provide opportunities for learning not available indoors.

Education programs take an integrated, holistic approach to learning. They may, for example, examine artistic and literary responses to landscape, plants and the environment, providing for different forms of expression, interaction and learning styles.

Programs incorporate 'Authentic pedagogy'. This means using real environments, learning through real problem solving, inquiry and participation and the development of life-long, life-wide skills. Royal Botanic Gardens Education programs also address the Critical Curriculum, which means "educational processes which create a more just and wise social world" (McNaughton and Williams 1998). Ethically aware students are empowered to take action and make changes to ensure a sustainable and just world for future generations.

If you would like to contact us to make a booking please call:
9252 2358 for Melbourne
5990 2207 for Cranbourne.
Email edserv@rbg.vic.gov.au