Outdoor Connections 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.
PDF document: Education Outside the Classroom (1.5 MB)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 Connections Research Programme 2005-06
Find out about the various research projects undertaken by the Outdoor Connections development programme, and their status as at May 2006.
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.
Round-table discussions from Outdoor Connections National Conference
Read the conclusions of the round-table discussions held at the Outdoor Connections National Conference in February 2006, including discussions on: the hazard of not learning to take risks, supporting teachers, quality or cost - is one easier to measure than the other?, and is outdoor learning relevant in the 21st century?
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.