Section outline


    • Students must
      Mark as done

      SECTION 1: Connecting to Your Outdoor Learning Experiences

      Each of us has had both formal and informal outdoor learning experiences.  In this task, you will reflect on the most meaningful and memorable experiences you have had learning outdoors. 

      TASK:  Close your eyes and think about a time that was meaningful and/or memorable for you as a learner in an outdoor setting.  Describe the setting, use all your senses, and then reflect on your learning, what has stuck with you, and why do you think that is?  This could be a formal experience with an educator or a non-formal experience with a caregiver, friend, or adult leader.

      SECTION 1, ASSIGNMENT A:  How could your outdoor learning experience influence your teaching today?  Record your reflection in your course journal.  


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      SECTION 1, ASSIGNMENT B:  In your course journal, list 3-5 questions you have about teaching outdoors that you would like to explore throughout this course.


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      SECTION 2:  Benefits of Outdoor Learning

      You may already recognize that outdoor learning can be meaningful and memorable, but what does the research say about the benefits of outdoor learning?  

      TASK: To get you thinking more about the benefits of outdoor learning, watch this short video from Sir Ken Robinson. 

       

      Robinson is a renowned thinker on innovation in education, who garnered international attention for his 2006 TED Talk.  Feel Free to watch this video if you'd like to learn more about him. 


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      TASK: Now dive into the research to identify the benefits of outdoor learning.  Begin with this eeGuidance document which was developed initially by the North American Association for Environmental Education to encourage the use of federal funding to support outdoor learning in schools and which highlights some of the many benefits of outdoor learning for students and educators.  Now explore this Research Digest from the Children and Nature Network.  Additionally, if you would like, you can do your own search in the Children and Nature Network’s Research Library and conduct your own search of the literature.  

      SECTION 2, ASSIGNMENT: In your course journal, identify five benefits that you find especially powerful to your own teaching and learning.  Be sure to cite your source for each benefit you identify. 


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      SECTION 3:  Making Your Own Case for Learning Outdoors

      Sometimes teaching and learning outdoors is viewed as something fun to do--occasionally, but not a part of regular practice. This can sometimes result in pushback from administrators, other teachers, or parents/guardians about taking your learning outdoors.  In this task, you’ll make the case for teaching and learning outdoors.  

      TASK:  Read this article from Education Week which explores some of these challenges.  

      TASK: Thinking about your audience, develop your case for learning outdoors.  This may be in a written form, PowerPoint presentation, infographic(s), video, or whatever medium you feel will be best to make your case. If you need help getting started, see this article and pay particular attention to the section on creating your passion presentation.

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      Mark as done

      SECTION 3, ASSIGNMENT: Share your case in your course journal. 

    • Students must
      Mark as done

      Submit Course Journal: 

      • Upload your COURSE JOURNAL with MODULE 1 Assignments completed. You may either upload it as a Word document or share a link to your Course Journal Google Document (Be sure that you set the Sharing Setting to “Anyone with the link” and the role of “Commenter” 


    • MODULE 1 FINAL TASK Assignment
      Opened: Wednesday, 15 November 2023, 1:00 AM
      Students must
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