Teaching and Learning

Our vision for all of our outdoor science programs is that they will be:

• Student-Centered

  • Students will be doing most of the work of learning - observing, exploring, collecting data, writing/drawing, discussing, arguing from evidence - Instructors are facilitators of this/guides on the side vs. sage on the stage

• Nature-Centered

  • Whenever possible, lessons will revolve around direct interactions with the natural world vs. games or activities

• Grounded in a Sense of Place - with acknowledgment and appreciation for all that this means. Lessons should be directly connected to the local environment and will be more relevant to students in that way

• Meaningful and Memorable

  • Learning should connect to them personally

  • Adventures should be had!

• Aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

  • In NGSS, using science process/scientific thinking is key, vs. memorization of facts

  • To begin to address NGSS in outdoor education, regardless of the topic, make sure students are engaged in practices, exploring science ideas, and figuring things out during science instruction.

• Aligning instruction with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

• Teaching the way students learn, using the Learning Cycle

• Asking the right QUESTIONS to encourage interest, exploration, concept formation, application, and reflection

• Facilitating productive DISCUSSION where students can explore their observations and questions, hash out their ideas with peers, and learn to make arguments from evidence

• JOURNALING with students for deeper observations, application, and reflection of learning

• Making EXPLANATIONS from EVIDENCE

• Using positive MANAGEMENT methods to keep groups engaged