Outdoor/Environmental learning
There is a general trend towards the use of outdoor for learning purposes. In short, more schools are looking for ways to get students and teachers outside to enrich and enhance the overall educational experience. We are in an era of experiential learning, where looking, feeling, and hearing as part of the educational process adds value to the lesson at hand. Lessons in this field teach children an appreciation of the earth and of its resources that the human population is quickly depleting – allowing students to get a better understanding of their surroundings. A better, hands-on understanding of nature also helps with science comprehension and gives students practical learning experiences.
Research has also found that holding classes in an outside environment, even for short periods of time improves attention span, student attitudes and overall health. In many schools teachers have always had the freedom to take students outside if they deemed it lesson-appropriate.
