Outdoor education- student-friendly way of teaching beyond the walls of the classroom

Many theoreticians and practitioners of pedagogics are looking for ways to make education more effective, attractive and student-friendly than the one that comes to the school desks inside the classroom.

One of the ideas for changing the way of teaching is outdoor education, which literally takes the teaching and learning process beyond the walls of the classroom.

Assumptions of outdoor education

The outdoor education approach, also known as adventure pedagogy, comes from assumptions of John Dewey, a follower of teaching by encouraging students to be active, to learn by doing.
Soft skills development helps students work in group and to build a strong team.

Attractive classes outside the classroom have a positive impact in students relationship with nature. Authentic experience, the time to explore the nature and taking advantage of all senses is the way to rebuilt the bond the human and nature. It prevents from civilization illnesses as well. Active classes are the chance to enjoy the fresh air the chance to talk each other and to build the trust.

After the course the participant will know that:

1. we learn, but we are not taught- the activity of students outweighs the teaching course (the principle of learning by doing),
The teacher does not provide the knowledge but becomes an impeller, mentor, guide in the process of acquiring information and skills,
2. we learn from each other- we learn more effectively, more nicely and safely in a group, because one person never knows or can more than a group of people
3. participants of the learning process have a choice of how they want to achieve the learning goal, i.e. achieve specific knowledge and skills (the challenge by choice principle),
4. we learn how the knowledge or created situations can be used in real life (how to transfer the knowledge into real life),
5. emotions are important- apart from what and how we have learned, we talk about what we feel,
6. the aim of the actions taken is not only to acquire specific knowledge and practice specific skills, but also to develop the so-called soft skills- the ability to cooperate, negotiate, and manage group resources. It is these skills, in addition to the qualifications necessary to occupy specific positions, are the most desirable on the market,
7. we avoid assessments expressed directly by single notes in favor of more comprehensive feedback, and we consider errors (realistically, not decoratively) as a natural element of learning.

Methods and tools:

Lectures and presentations, exercises, discussions, teamwork, group work, role-playing, study visits , interactive activities

It includes:

20/40 hours of classes spread over 5/10 course days,
Learning Materials,
Optional Cultural Activities and Visits,
Participants’ Evaluation Feedback,
Certificate of Attendance and Europass mobility