Innovation and Outdoor Education

 Innovation and Outdoor Education

Beames, Simon

Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, v20 n1 p2-6 Apr 2017

Within our fast-paced, fluid society, it is arguable that outdoor education needs to be innovative to play a useful role in young people's overall educational enterprise. A critical view, however, would suggest that we must beware of accepting technological innovation for its own sake. Innovations (or improvements) in education can take the form of ideas, methods, and products. This paper discusses how outdoor educators need to recognise how some innovations may add unwanted layers of clutter that reduce direct interaction with geophysical, ecological, and sociocultural elements of the landscape, whilst lessening the quality and quantity of interaction between humans--whether with classmates or community members. It may be possible to assess the degree to which an innovative piece of equipment or educational practice is "good" by considering its ability to elicit meaningful engagement between the learner and the ideas, physical objects, and other human beings encountered.

Descriptors: Educational Innovation, Outdoor Education, Technological Advancement, Barriers, Educational Equipment, Educational Practices, Technology Uses in Education, Interaction

Outdoor Council of Australia. 150 Caxton Street, Milton, Queensland 4064, Australia. Tel: +61-7-3369-9455; Fax: +61-7-3369-9355; e-mail: secretariat@outdoorcouncil.asn.au; Web site: http://www.outdoorcouncil.asn.au

Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative

Education Level: N/A

Audience: N/A

Language: English

Sponsor: N/A

Authoring Institution: N/A

simon.B (2017) Innovation and Outdoor Education. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, v20 n1 p2-6 Apr 2017