MA537 Pedagogical perspectives in outdoor learning (5 ECTS) 

Course facts

Introduction

This course gives students the tools to design and facilitate engaging, place-responsive lessons outside the classroom, in nearby environments.  The course’s central focus is on developing friluftsliv lessons that are rooted in the cultural, historical, and ecological phenomena of the places in which they are located. Risk management is also a strong theme.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to

• understand the principles of place-responsive teaching and learning
• design a theory-based friluftsliv lesson in nearby surroundings
• undertake a pre-activity risk assessment

Learning styles and activities

Lectures, workshops, outdoor teaching sessions, self-directed study. 

Mandatory assignment

A minimum of 80 % attendance is required for all classes. Active engagement in all aspects of the course is expected.
Must be apporved before final assessment.

Assessment

Course assessment comprises one essay in which students outline the theoretical underpinnings of a place-responsive friluftsliv lesson.

Included in this is a one-page lesson plan/risk assessment. Assignment graded A-F.

Core material

CORE LITERATURE:
1 DIGITAL COMPENDIUM - available through Canvas:
Beames, S. (Ed.). (2023). MA537: Pedagogical perspectives in outdoor learning: Fall 2023 [Digital compendium].
* This PDF is in Canvas

The reference list for the compendium, alphabetical in APA-style 7th ed.:
Beames, S., Christie, B., & Blackwell, I. (2017). Developing whole school approaches to integrated indoor/outdoor teaching. In S. Waite & S. Rogers, Children learning outside the classroom: From birth to eleven (pp. 82-93). Sage.

Beames, S., Higgins, P., Nicol, R., & Smith, H. (2023). Outdoor learning across the curriculum: Theory and guidelines for practice (2nd ed.). Routledge.
Pages 59-70 and 119-133.

Jordet, A. N. (2010). Klasserommet utenfor: Tilpasset opplæring i et utvidet læringsrom. Cappelen Damm.
Pages 31-61.

Østrem, K. (2021). Sentrale pedagogiske perspektiver i nærmiljøfriluftsliv. I K. Østrem (Red.), Nærmiljøfriluftsliv i skolen (pp. 22-43). Cappelen Damm.