Outdoor Education in Science

The overall aim of the course is that participants will develop their pedagogical awareness and practical skills in outdoor science education.

On completion of this course participants should be able to

• show a developed ability to describe and explain how pedagogical activity outdoors can stimulate learning and physical, psychological and social development in young students,
• exemplify appropriate topics and how practical teaching methods can be designed in outdoor education,
• show knowledge of outdoor education in relation to science education,
• show competence and capability to use scientific methods,
• describe how human activity has influenced and influences the natural environment, society and cultural landscapes historically and today,
• describe how outdoor education can contribute to children´s understanding of sustainable development,
• show ability to reflect over outdoor education in an international perspective.

The educational value of hands-on outdoor learning in science is in focus throughout this course. Through laborative, experimental, experiential and field-based forms of work, scientific theory, phenomena and processes are studied in natural settings.

In the field-based elements of the course are health aspects of outdoor educationas well as different styles of learning and the importance of a varied outdoor environment for concentration, learning, health and motorical development treated.

The course is assessed continuously through active participation, written and oral reflective presentations at seminars, laborations and excursions.

Education takes place mainly in outdoor environments with the authentic environment as a point of departure. Forms of study are varied and comprise besides laborative field studies and field analyses, excursions as well as lectures, seminars, study visits, literature study and individual written work.

The Swedish grades A–F.

The course is given in English.