UTV10NKU Outdoor Learning

Contents and structure

In this module, Outdoor Learning, students will use and further develop their understanding and knowledge of selected topics.  As the final product, based on a self-chosen but previously approved form of presentation, students will show:

• scholarly competence
• didactic competence
• social competence
• change and development competence
• professional ethical competence

Content

• Introductory seminar    
• Tutorials and development of project assignment for chosen target group
• Tutorials and formulation of presentation form
• Tutorials and work with project assignment and report   
• Execution of presentation

I) The study plan for this module is Outdoor Learning, 10 ECTS and is a separate course.

II) The study plan for this module can be a part of the course Public Health.

As a prerequisite to commencement, this course must have a minimum of 8 students.

Learning Outcome

After completion of the course, the candidate will have acquired the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student has knowledge about:

• the tradition of outdoor learning as a working method
• the local environment and the nature as arenas for learning and formation
• outdoor learning as a cross curricular didactic pratctice
• outdoor learning  in the school subjects Physical Education and Science

Skills

The student has basic skills:

• for how to move the teaching to an outdoors clasroom environment
• for hiking in the local environment, and in the nature nearby the local schools
• for staying outdoors, using some equipments for outdoor teaching, in a secure and sustainable way, together with other teachers and pupils at school

General competence

The student can:

• plan, participate, evaluate and reflect on outdoor learning as a working method together with teachers and pupils
• show scholarly, didactic, social, professional, ethical, change and development competence about outdoor learning

Entry requirements

None

Teaching methods

The module is based on introductory seminars where both students and teachers are contributors. Students may work in groups or pairs, but will be assessed and graded individually.

Students will receive tutorials in the following:

• Development of project assignment and target group
• Formulation of presentation form
• Work with project assignment

The presentation form, for example, may be: a speech, a lecture, a digital presentation, an artistic performance, a dramatic or theatrical performance, a study of a self-composed or own arrangement of an ensemble or choral arrangement, a concert, the adaptation of an indoor or outdoor area where kindergarten children or school pupils are invited to a didactic arrangement, a media contribution, a scholarly article, etc.

All presentation forms must be compiled in English. The scope, content and form will be dependent on the type of presentation form chosen.

The module will be composed of seminars, group work, group and individual tutorials, and individual student work. The electronic study support system Canvas will be used. The project may be linked to the practical field.

The teaching is outdoors in the local environment and in the nature.

Compulsory learning activities

• Diary (individual) about the relation to nature
• 3 tasks (in groups or pairs) about Outdoor Learning: I) Outdoors about Physical Activity, II) Outdoors about Outdoor Learning, III) Outdoors about hiking in the nature nearby the campus

Assessment

The exam is individual, and consists of three parts. A tutor will be assigned for each student.

1. Assignment: Content, theory, plan for practice, use of Equipments and refelections.

2. Practice: Outdoor Learning as a working method.

3. Oral component: Link to Outdoor Learning in different subjects in Norway and the students own country.

Grading scale A-F. The exam paper must be in English.

If the exam is not accepted, the student must hand in a new paper or an edited version within three weeks.