1. Experiential Education Qualitative Research Study Prospectus LLSS 502 – Naturalistic Inquiry Myra Herrmann Fall 2007

2. Experiential Education

3. “The program is based on the conviction that students can learn in a rugged wilderness environment some of the important values which cannot be learned in the classroom.” Headmaster Ashby Harper, 1975 “All genuine education comes through experience.” John Dewey, 1938

4. Research Question What meaning do students construct from their experiential education outings at the Albuquerque Academy? Phenomenology Study “Describing the meaning for several individuals of the lived experiences of a phenomenon” Creswell, 2007 “Final aim is to distill a consensus construction that is more informed and sophisticated than any of the predecessor constructions.” Guba and Lincoln, 1994 Constructivist

5. Naturalistic Study  Research Design  Participant/Observation 6th Graders3 one-day hikes in Bear Canyon, Bosque, and Mariposa 7 th Graders4 days/3 nights camping in Bear Canyon 8 th Graders4 days/3 nights at Hummingbird Camp 9 th Graders4 days/3 nights remote backcountry camping (Four Corners region)  Informal Interviews  Written Narratives  Process  Data Analysis

6. Implications of Study  To build the knowledge base on exp education  To assess how consistent the meanings students construct from their experience match the program’s stated goals:  To increase intrapersonal skills  To increase interpersonal skills  To increase environmental skills  Reinforce commitment to and integration of experiential education  Alter/refine program based on results

7. Experiential Education