Outdoor Learning Scotland
In Scotland, outdoor learning is now a requirement within the curriculum and appears in numerous areas in the school inspection criteria. Reasons behind this include concerns over obesity, low physical activity, an expanding population requiring us to live more sustainably and a disconnected, community-deprived population. The Scandinavian forest school approach has had a big influence worldwide and we see more and more outdoor nurseries popping up, gaining outstanding inspection reports and being exemplified in government policy documents. We are now also finding an increasing body of research on the benefits of using the outdoors to deliver regular, progressive, curriculum linked lessons in schools. Expectations are that teachers make use of the biggest free resource any educator has. We are told that outdoor learning is good for our health and well-being, increases motivation, improves behaviour and increases attainment. But what does this really mean, on a day to day basis for teachers, pupils and schools?
Outdoor Learning Scotland
What happens when we take learning outdoors?
Experiential learning
People learn better and are more engaged if the learning they are involved in is real – not something they’ve read about or listened to but something they can see, touch and feel.
Why is this?
As soon as we remove the walls of our classrooms, we infinitely increase the number of variables in our environment. Every one of our senses is stimulated in a constantly changing manner and so we begin to experience the moment in much more depth.
When we sit in a classroom day on day, not much changes, we are not maximising use of our senses. Sure, we may learn new facts and skills and we then file these into our brains in yet another classroom day. Same environment, same people, same position, same temperature, same smells.
When we need to re-visit that memory or access that learning, we need to search through the classroom file. It’s when something out of the ordinary happens that an experience stands out in our memories: the classroom was transformed, we had a visitor, etc. because this provides an alternative ‘hook’ which means the memory is easier to access.
No two days outside are the same. There are different smells, colours, noises, weather and all that before we have had any direct or specific learning experience. We automatically have a vastly increased number of ‘hooks’ with which to recall the memory from our brains filing system.
Cross-curricular learning
People learn better when they can see the relevance/real life application of what they are learning.
Outdoor learning, in the real world, allows pupils to see the relevance of what they are learning, through real life application.
Real-life is cross-curricular. We have tried to separate the world into distinct subjects and fields for our own convenience and teach these as discreet subjects in school. When we take learning experiences outside, we are confronted with the inevitable links which occur across these subjects, again, creating more ‘hooks’ with which we can recall learning at a later date.
As educators, we can choose how much to dwell on these links as dictated by interest or a need to cover outcomes, but the important factor is that the link is recognised.
If we are learning in our local place and community, we are not only developing an awareness of place, we are building social capital and building an emotional connection with our surroundings. This emotional connection is essential if we want people to care for their place and community.
Everyone is valued
People learn better when they have to pass on their knowledge/ teach others.
As a result of the inescapable cross-curricular links and sensory experiences, barriers are diminished. There are so many other factors that come into play that the rankings we are familiar with inside the classroom change and fade. We need to use an increased number of skills to complete tasks. With different individuals having different strengths, cooperative learning is increased. This improves social relations and social competencies, acceptance of others and respect for individual differences.
Increased stimulation of our senses and use of our bodies helps us all but you are also likely to find that those children who struggle to sit still, listen, focus or keep quiet inside are more at peace outdoors. The lump of plasticine or fidget toy that you need to use inside is no longer required, nature and the elements take its place and everyone is happier for it.
The link between inside and outside
People learn better when they apply knowledge in new contexts.
Learning in different environments and through different methods allows us to consolidate knowledge. By ensuring classroom walls are permeable we ensure that what is being learned and applied in any one location is also being applied in the other, ensuring deep and thorough understanding of knowledge and skills.
So, the power of outdoor learning?
To enable successful learning with an understanding of how it can be applied in the world. Developing confident individuals, through evolving a sense of self, worth and place. With all this, we are also developing learners who have an emotional connection to their place which with any luck will result in effectively contributing, responsible citizens. And all this, while having fun.
So sure, it might take a bit of work to change and develop our practice but for all that, who wouldn’t?
MY Adventure and Intrepidus Outdoors are adventure tours and outdoor experience providers, both based in Edinburgh, Scotland. We specialise in private and open canyoning, coasteering, mountain biking and hill walking tours, and deliver these adventurous experiences across Scotland. We are also a provider of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions where we run bronze, silver and gold level awards for young people.
If you are looking for additional information about adventures from Edinburgh, we have published a number of blogs:
- 6 steps to being happy like a Scot here
- You’ll never get bored in Edinburgh here
- Best Budget Hotels and Hostels Edinburgh here
- Hen Party Adventures Edinburgh: here
- Stag Party Outdoor Adventures Edinburgh Essentials: here
- SUP, A Buying Guide: here
If you haven’t already seen it, check out the our Trip Advisor, Youtube channel, Visit Scotland page and blog to hear about how others found their outdoor adventures with us! Equally, if there is any gear that you would like us to review, drop us a DM.
