A day full of outdoor education
During the Outdoor Education Marathon lecturers from WUR and beyond will demonstrate various ways in which they already apply outdoor learning in their teaching. Many of these teachers learned their approach in the course Onboarding in Nature-Inclusive Education. This course was set up by the WUR Teaching and Learning Centre in collaboration with Nature College Foundation. In this course, teachers learn not only how to move their lessons outdoors, but also how to help students reflect more deeply on personal and professional values and on the relationship between humans and nature.
Why outdoor education?
‘Although the weather in the Netherlands is sometimes changeable, education in the open air offers many benefits. Teaching outdoors can stimulate curiosity, reduce stress, and foster more open and reflective conversations between students and teachers,’ says Louise van der Stok from Educational and Learning Sciences (ELS), one of the initiators within WUR.
‘By allowing students to gain more direct experiences with nature, they can also develop a stronger bond with the living world. This helps them reflect on the relationship between humans and nature within their own field of study.’
Enthusiastic lecturers, students, and collaboration on campus
A few years ago, a group of enthusiastic WUR lecturers knocked on the door of the Facilities Department asking if an outdoor classroom could be created. This led to an ACT (Academic Consultancy Training) student group, which investigated the wishes, needs, and motivation for outdoor education at WUR. Their research revealed that there is a great deal of enthusiasm. In collaboration with the Facilities Department within WUR and other stakeholders, including ecologists, an assessment was made of which locations on campus are suitable for this purpose and can be facilitated. Naturally, safety for both participants and nature was taken into account. Three outdoor learning spaces emerged from this. Classes will be held at these locations on April 7th. After April 7th, these locations can be reserved by lecturers via the TimeEdit scheduling system.
