The elementary education major is completing two surveys involving progressive education and garden-based education, hoping to shed light on the connections between the two.
Grace Rasmussen ’26 says her undergraduate research is a combination of all of her interests coming together – her love of working with children, the outdoors, her elementary education major and a minor in environmental education.
The Elon Teaching Fellow and Lumen Scholar is working with Associate Professor of Education Scott Morrison to study both school gardens and progressive education. Rasmussen initially connected with Morrison as a student in the PACE Program, working at the Office of Environmental and Place-Based Education in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education.
“I can’t imagine doing research with anyone else,” said Rasmussen, who is from Nazareth, Pennsylvania. “I feel like I’ve learned so much from him, and he’s constantly giving me these opportunities. I had never worked with school gardens, so it was learning as I went and as I got to know Dr. Morrison, I was like ‘This is really cool.’”
Rasmussen’s research is two-fold: a survey to better define “progressive education” and another survey on the work of garden-based educators and the barriers they face in their work. John Dewey, a 19th-century scholar, is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of progressive education, emphasizing inquiry-based and project-based learning.
“Part of the connection with progressive education was taking students outside,” said Rasmussen. “So the two studies are linked. Progressive education has this historical background, but it kind of faded out and now it’s popping back up today.”
The survey will be sent out through the Progressive Education Network, which notes that “progressive education supports children as both learners and citizens, and promotes diversity, equity, and justice in our schools and society.” Rasmussen is focusing on what she calls the “non-negotiables” of progressive education to look at what educators are doing today.
This is Rasmussen’s first time doing undergraduate research, one of the five Elon Experiences, and she will be one of the nearly 60 students to present at the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE) presentations on July 24 in the Snow Atrium of Schar Hall.
“It’s been nice because I’ve been able to focus all of my attention on my project,” said Rasmussen about preparing for SURE. “During the school year, I get wrapped up in my placement for teaching, classes and all of the other things I’m involved with.”
And Rasmussen says as she’s delved into her research, particularly around garden-based education, it’s helped her look back at her own experience.
“This is the education I’ve always dreamed of and I didn’t know existed,” she said, “meeting students where they are and allowing kids to be curious about the world.”