Beyond Classroom Walls: Exploring the Benefits of Outdoor Education in Teaching and Learning

Outdoor education offers a dynamic and engaging approach to learning that goes beyond the traditional classrooms. It holds the key to enhancing cognitive skills, boosting physical health, nurturing emotional well-being, and revolutionising the learning process.
​ELA course aimed to equip teachers with the tools and to discover the potential of outdoor education and its impact on students' lives.
The new edition of the course “Outdoor education: a new way of teaching and learning” took place in Bologna from 15/05/2023 to 19/05/2023. The participants came from all across Europe, with José from Escola Secundaria Jaime Moniz in Madeira, 5 participants from Finland from two different schools: Maritta and Maria  from Keskuskoulu; Katri, Mari and Outi from Hailuodon Koulu. We also have Sigrun and Andrea from Stakkaborg pre-school in Iceland, Aurelina and Ana Sofia from Agrupamento de Escolas de Vilela in Portugal, Lorraine and Rosanne from St. Benedict’s College in Malta. To finish, we have Javier, Jose Carlos and Jose Antonio from CEIP Juan Carlos in Spain. 

​The training course started with an introduction where participants shared their fears, expectations, and unique contributions. Each teacher also presented their school's and commitment to outdoor education.
The week continued with a series of crafted activities designed to show the importance of outdoor education. We made a thrilling treasure hunt around the hotel area followed by  interactive exploration of the ten principles of outdoor education, ideas to plan an outdoor activity and safety issues to keep into consideration. In fact , the group discovered how the natural world serves as a rich canvas for exploration, where students can connect theoretical concepts to real-life experiences, creating deep and lasting understanding.
On Thursday the participants delved into the heart of outdoor education, immersing themselves in a local park and its natural environment. Through a range of quests, games, and warm-up activities, they experienced the power of active learning and witnessed  the effects it had on student motivation and knowledge retention.

To finish the course we embarked on an exciting urban treasure hunt in the center of Bologna, delving deeper into the city's rich heritage. Despite the rain, participants demonstrated remarkable adaptability and embraced the challenge wholeheartedly, reaffirming the vital role of resilience in outdoor education.

This training course was a transformative experience, leaving an indelible mark on each participant. Thanks to their enthusiasm and dedication, they return home with newfound knowledge, tools, and innovative ideas to integrate outdoor education into their teaching practices.

Discover more about this course here