Making Places for Outdoor Learning

Program Overview

This short course, "Making Places for Outdoor Learning," equips educators with the knowledge and skills to develop outdoor learning spaces. Through a blended format of workshops and online activities, participants learn about educational theory, planning and implementation, stakeholder engagement, and assessment. The program aims to enhance participants' leadership and management skills and foster sustainable learning practices.

Program Outline

Degree Overview

This short course, titled "Making Places for Outdoor Learning," aims to equip participants working in the educational field from various organizations with the knowledge and skillset to develop outdoor learning spaces.

The program's objectives:

• Expanding participants' understanding and application of educational theory and research, particularly in the context of local, national, and international priorities for sustainable learning.
• Providing participants with the ability to plan and implement the development of new outdoor learning spaces, including identifying potential locations, overseeing design, managing tender and construction processes (if applicable), leading people, and budgeting effectively.
• Enabling participants to utilize participatory methods to engage diverse stakeholders in planning outdoor learning space development.
• Equipping participants to identify relevant stakeholders whose input is crucial for the development of outdoor learning spaces.
• Providing participants with the ability to assess existing sites for potential adaptation and utilization for outdoor learning.

Key features:

• Research-based curriculum, grounding practical work in current QMU theories and inquiries.
• Leadership and management skills development.
• Pedagogical considerations for outdoor learning and learning for sustainability.
• Essential elements of outdoor learning and facilitating it within the local context.

Outline

Program Content:

• The development of a new outdoor learning environment.
• Utilizing participatory approaches to involve diverse groups in planning outdoor learning spaces.

Structure:

• Blended format: face-to-face on-campus workshops and online activities (seminars, discussions, readings).
• 15 hours of on-site workshops.
• 15 hours of online seminars.

Course Schedule:

• Online Twilights:
• 6 sessions, 2.5 hours each.
• Tuesdays, February - March.
• In-Person Workshops:
• Two Saturdays, 7.5 hours each.

Independent Study

• Recommended 7-8 hours per week.
• Activities include:
• Required readings.
• Guided learning activities.
• Assignment preparation.

Assessment

Assessments:

• Proposal:
• 10-minute in-class presentation for the development of an outdoor learning space.
• Reflection:
• Reflective commentary analyzing the proposed outdoor space development in relation to policy and pedagogy.

Teaching

Faculty:

• Education team with expertise in outdoor learning and sustainable pedagogies.
• Includes:
• Patrick Boxall
• Cara Blaisdell