The experiences gained throughout my education journey both in my undergrad and in the environmental and quantitative course has helped provide me with different types of lenses on how to apply environmental education into my own practice.  During my undergrad one of the courses that I took was outdoor education.  Although the focus of the course was for students who want to become physical health and education teacher to find alternative ways to teach beyond the gym or alternative activities, I could connect some of the activities across curricular and all types of subject areas other than physical education.  Along with just experiential learning each student was also assigned to teach a concept related to the activity we were doing. 

 

        One of our very first activities I did during my outdoor education class were ice hockey and broom ball.  One of the lessons that a student taught was Newton’s laws, friction, and angles.  These concepts were demonstrated using the tools and setting that we were in.  For example, the ice rink played a role on teaching us what friction was and how the surface allowed the puck to glide and go a further distance vs. an alternative surface.  We also talked about how the puck will continue its path unless another object encounters the puck and lastly if you needed to go around an object or a player you could use the back board with the right angle to maneuver the puck around the obstacle.  This opened the conversation to what type of angles are required to get the object to the target, it could have led to trigonometry, triangles, and even with skating itself we can talk about circular rotation, torque etc.  What I really liked about this day was there was a second lesson taught and incorporated art into the activity.  The lesson revolved around drawing something that was memorable to you about today, or other experiences that was important to us that was reminded of us because of the setting we were in.  Many students talked about precious family moments of playing hockey together, being outside, and skating in a frozen pond.  I look back now and I see how important it is for students to reflect on their own experiences.  I now see that it is when we reflect on our experiences is when we achieve learning.  With the art activity, we could make a connection with the activity to an emotion or important events that triggered an emotion in us and that were unique to us which made the experience that much more memorable.  In addition, if we were to talk about hockey indoors I don’t believe it would’ve made the same impact.  I don’t believe it would’ve allowed us to make the connection of past experiences during our reflection due to the gap in the setting and being physically involved in the activity. 

 

        In article, Learning in the Outdoor Education: A Missed Opportunity? the authors state that they found no difference in learning with it comes to being indoors vs. being outdoors.  This made me question, how was reflection embedded in both circumstances?  I remember going to fieldtrips during high school where we would go to science world, or the aquarium.  I would be super excited at the fact that we were able to go somewhere and be out of the classroom and see new things.  However, I look back now and ask myself did I learn anything from my experience?  In fact, I don’t believe I learned much at all and all I remember was going and being there.  Therefore, experiential learning and taking the class beyond the classroom setting is simply just an experience.  Learning in experiential learning will not occur unless we are taught or given the opportunity to reflect on the experience. 

 

        This is how I would embed environment education, whether I am teaching students about water waste indoors, or taking them to a hike to learn about succession I will take the time to ask students to reflect.  It is then when they reflect that I believe they achieve the learning and enhance their experiences. 

 

Reference

Maynard, T., & Waters, J. (2007). Learning in the Outdoor Environment: A Missed Opportunity?  Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jane_Waters2/publication/249028351_Learning_in_the_outdoor_environment_A_missed_opportunity/links/56af17bf08ae19a38517108a.pdf