Education

LEARNING OUTDOORS

Moving learning outdoors has traditionally been an important strategy during pandemics. There are two great reasons for educational institutions to ‘take it outside’:

1) Reducing infection rates amongst students and educators, and helping to keep educational institutions open; and

2) Supporting the mental health of students (and educators) as they return to learning environments.  Levels of anxiety and depression amongst youth have increased significantly during the pandemic, and this decline in mental wellbeing acts as barrier to both attendance and engagement with learning.

Studies show that moving learning outdoors is a great way to improve concentration and behaviour, increase engagement with learning, and reduce levels of stress amongst students. Outdoor learning can also boost job satisfaction amongst educators.

MOVING OUTSIDE

Lots of educators have written great guides to learning outside and creating ‘outdoor classrooms’ during the pandemic. You can see a short clip of Portland educators ‘taking it outside’ here.  If you are an educator at the pre-school, primary, secondary, or tertiary level, then there are a number of key strategies you can use to teach outdoors:

1. Inventory your outdoor spaces and assess them for different learning uses.  If you do not have access to a lot of outdoor space, then it is worth considering how you can make maximum use of the space you have.  Repurposing carparking areas, organising regular ‘play streets’ in areas around educational institutions, as well as using local parks, have all been important ways that educators around the world have increased the amount of outdoor space available to them for teaching during the pandemic.
2. Identify how learning outdoors can be incorporated into the curriculum.
3. Consult with or partner with environmental and outdoor educators who are experienced at teaching outdoors, to understand all the practical and health and safety issues associated with teaching outdoors.  You can find a list of some New Zealand outdoor educators and activities on the resources page.
4. Involve students and the community in designing projects like more formal, semi-permanent ‘outdoor classroom‘ spaces and play streets.  Here’s an account from a group of Auckland parents about how they organised a ‘play street‘ event at their local school in Pt Chevalier, in pre-Covid times.
    

Image credits: 1. Girls painting mural, Places for Good, 2. Boys planting outdoors, Hutt City Council, Innovating Streets project, 3. Girl with chalk, Places for Good, 4. Kids at a regional park, Places for Good, 5. Girl hula hooping, Places for Good.