Why should we learn out of the classroom? James Hindson & Aleksandra Zaparucha

Learning out of the classroom is important. But why?

Expensive Expensive Difficult Difficult Special skills Special skills Safety Safety Time Time Children Children Environment Environment So why do we do it?

Reasons: There are some things young people need to learn that can only be learnt out of the classroom. There are some things young people need to learn that can only be learnt out of the classroom. There are some things that young people need to learn that are better learnt out of the classroom in terms of knowledge/understanding, skills, values. There are some things that young people need to learn that are better learnt out of the classroom in terms of knowledge/understanding, skills, values. But is this TRUE ?

What does the research say? Changing Minds: The Lasting Impact of School Trips (UK) A study of the long-term impact of sustained relationships between schools and the National Trust Alan Peacock, Honorary Research Fellow, University of Exeter, February School childrens learning about the local environment influences: School childrens learning about the local environment influences: the way they treat environment, the way they treat environment, how they behave, how they behave, the lifestyle choices they make. the lifestyle choices they make. It shows potential for schools trips to change individual lives and the lives of whole communities.

A Review of Research on Outdoor Learning by Mark Rickinson et al. National Foundation for Education Research, Kings College London and Field Studies Council, 2004 Fieldwork can develop: knowledge and skills, knowledge and skills, everyday experience in the classroom, everyday experience in the classroom, long-term memory, long-term memory, individual growth. individual growth.

Fieldwork can improve and influence: higher order learning, higher order learning, attitudes, beliefs and self-perception: independence, attitudes, beliefs and self-perception: independence,confidence,self-esteem, self-control, personal effectiveness, coping strategies, interpersonal and social skills: interpersonal and social skills: social effectiveness, communication skills, group cohesion, teamwork.

Out of classroom learning is mentioned in the national curriculum for Geography

Why should we learn out of the classroom? So – out of classroom learning Can be better Can be better Provides a unique context for learning Provides a unique context for learning Is happening Is happening Is supported Is supported Has a policy Has a policy

But there is one big challenge

Providing high quality learning

When you take young people outside the classroom it does not automatically mean they learn anything. A high quality lesson about a tree inside the classroom is better than a poor quality lesson standing by a tree outside.

We hope this workshop will look at ways of improving both the We hope this workshop will look at ways of improving both the quantity and quality