Outdoor learning research
Engagement with Scotland's National Parks and National Nature Reserves
This study was commissioned by Scotland's National Parks and Scottish Natural Heritage to understand barriers to groups accessing the two Scottish National Parks. Teachers from a wide range of subject areas express considerable support for outdoor learning. Costs are a less significant barrier than risk assessments, risk management, paperwork and administrative issues. Connections to Curriculum for Excellence are viewed as crucial to successfully implementing outdoor learning and school visits to National Parks. The study highlights key issues and suggests ways agencies can develop and support outdoor learning.
PDF document: Engagement With Scotland's National Parks (314 KB)Young people’s interaction with natural heritage through outdoor learning
This research, conducted by University of Stirling, was commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage and
Learning and Teaching Scotland.
At the same time as young people seem more separated from naturalized places researchers and professionals from a range of disciplines are drawing attention to the value of young people’s interaction with nature. Formal and informal outdoor learning are regarded as ways of addressing this. The report analyses two sets of data. The first comes from a survey of children and young people’s participation in formal outdoor learning through pre-school and school. The second set of data comes from interviews with young people themselves (ages 3–16) about their outdoor experiences more generally.
Young people’s interaction with natural heritage through outdoor learning
Outdoor Learning in Scotland: A Summary of Recent Research
This report is the culmination of an extensive research programme on outdoor learning in Scotland initiated and supported primarily by Scottish Natural Heritage, and Learning and Teaching Scotland through the Outdoor Connections development programme.
The report summarises seven pieces of research, making pertinent links across specific findings. These research projects gathered the views of young people, teachers, specialist providers, and representatives of Local Authorities on outdoor learning. The national scale and integrated nature of this research represents a major contribution to understanding education outdoors, and is of international significance. The research programme is best seen as a sound beginning rather than a finished work.
Outdoor Learning in Scotland: A Summary of Recent Research
Education Outside the Classroom
The House of Commons Education and Skills Committee produced this report in 2005. It examines a wide range of outdoor learning experiences, analyses the barriers that deter schools from teaching outside the classroom, looks at how schools could be encouraged to improve and expand their outdoor education and considers what action the government could take in this area.
Green Exercise: the physical and mental health benefits of green exercise
This report, produced by the University of Essex, examines the complementary roles of nature, exercise and diet in physical and emotional well-being and the implications of this for public health policy.
HMIE induction task
Read the results of the HMIE induction task, in which HMIE examined findings in their inspection reports that related to the quality of outdoor learning provision in Scotland.
Word file: HMIE task - outdoor learning provision made by schools 2005-2006 (32 KB)Outdoor education: the views of providers from different contexts in Scotland
Read the views of outdoor education providers throughout Scotland on the current state of outdoor education provision and how it could be improved.
Research into residential opportunities available for young people through schools
This report, produced by the Scout Association and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, looks at a range of factors in the provision of residential opportunities in England and Wales, including types of organisation offering residential opportunites; types of opportunity available and number of places; objectives of residential opportunities; evidence of evaluation systems; links to the curriculum; and access issues for particular groups, such as disabled pupils.
Recognition of young people's achievements in outdoor learning activities
This report asks in what ways, and to what extent, are young people's achievements in the outdoors recognised, both by SQA awards and by other selected award schemes.
School Grounds in Scotland Research Report
This report, published by sportscotland in conjunction with Grounds for Learning and Play Scotland, looks at current attitudes towards and use of Scottish school grounds in order to inform national debate on how to target resources more effectively, support new initiatives and establish best practice in Scottish education.
Teachers' approaches and attitudes to engaging with the natural heritage through the curriculum
This report, from Scottish Natural Heritage, examines the educational drivers which encourage teaching about the natural heritage outdoors; the factors to which teachers have responded when they made a decision to use the outdoors as a teaching aid; and the barriers which have prevented them from doing so.
Work placement opportunities for school pupils with outdoor activity providers
This report examines outdoor work placement opportunities in the Badenoch and Strathspey area. It aims to identify barriers that might stand in the way of both students and employers when undertaking these placements, and the best way to go about encouraging placement schemes in the future.