Status and Thematic Evolution of Place-Based Learning

Place-based learning (PlBL) fosters awareness of local environments, cultures, and settings, as well as builds emotional and intellectual connections to local contexts. Although most studies focus on theory and local applications, limited scientometric analysis of its knowledge structure and evolution has been conducted. The study aimed to analyze the current state of research on PlBL, global relationships between researchers and countries, and the dynamics of key research themes and topics. This study employs a combined scientometric and thematic approach to analyze peer-reviewed documents from the Scopus database (2007–2024), examining the current state of PlBL research, global research relationships, and key thematic trends. Analysis revealed a significant expansion of PlBL research as it gains international traction. Thematic analysis revealed that PlBL, environmental education, experiential learning, higher education, virtual reality, outdoor education, and sustainability highlight their importance in the context of PlBL. PlBL was also found to have a critical role in socio-environmental initiatives. Lastly, PlBL has evolved significantly with the introduction of advanced technologies. The study highlights the growing nature of PlBL, specifically with the advent of technologies, which could significantly promote socio-environmental actions.