Beyond The Classroom Dr Robbie Nicol Outdoor and

Beyond The Classroom Dr Robbie Nicol Outdoor and Environmental Education University of Edinburgh www. education@ed. ac. uk/outdoored

Do you recognise this person?

Range and Scope of Outdoor Learning Physical activity Tackling obesity Life-long activity Skill development Adventure sport Outdoor activities Wellbeing ‘Greenspace’ Sustainability Field Studies Biodiversity Awareness of local area Cultural landscape STEM subjects Environmental Education Outdoor Learning Personal & Social Education Self-awareness Self-esteem Social development Communal living

OUTDOOR LEARNING To what Degree are we dealing with: Knowledge Attitudes Feelings

Is learning outdoors different from learning indoors?

What are they learning?

A structure for programme design? Aims Assumptions Content Methods Evaluation Claims

A River walk Aims Assumptions Content Needs to be developed. Linked to other activities, e. g. walking, climbing skills Half-day - Kilmun Gorge. Instructor organised but students often leading Give support when needed. Peer review Ask each to lead at end of stages. Ask them walk/day to consider rest of group Change in selfawareness? Anecdotal Temporary? Issue/problem based discussion over lunch, and at times during trip (content & values) Raise issues again during canoe journey and rock climbing. Level of knowledge & understanding Temporary? Individual input during walk Ask students to consider long term fitness Anecdotal Temporary? PSD (g. selfawareness) Response to dealing with success or failure at times. Awareness of anxieties (slips, heights, water, cold etc). Environment (e. g. sustainability, biodiversity) Water cycle; erosion; sensitivity of ecosystem; photosynthesis CO 2 & climate change Basic knowledge Theory covered at school Questions: Where does water come from & go to? Is weather the same as climate? Impact of groups. Physical skills (e. g. motor control, fitness, water safety) Confident walking, scrambling. Aerobic Capable based on observations on earlier walk Discuss foot placement, pace etc Methods Evaluation Claims

Why Learn Outdoors?

Connection w ‘It is our sensory immersion that most profoundly links us to the land. ’ Professor Anthony Weston w It is the lack of sensory immersion and outdoor experiences that leads people to be unaware of their connection to nature.

Outdoor Learning and Sustainability w Opportunity to experience nature and its physical and biological processes w This helps to understand our dependence (often hidden) on nature

Summary STEM subjects knowledge + sensory immersion in the outdoors = an organising framework for sustainability

Dr Robbie Nicol Outdoor and Environmental Education University of Edinburgh www. education@ed. ac. uk/outdoored