FRIW101 Experiential Education and Friluftsliv

Contents and structure

The course explores experiential learning and friluftsliv through three modules; Experiential learning, teacher role, and lastly outdoor education in culture. The course is built up around two multi-day excursions and several day excursions, as well as a student-led teaching project. Along the course, the students will move from participants to leaders in learning experiences in nature.

Module 1 Experiential learning, explores experiential learning and related learning perspectives as a teaching method theoretically and practically. After some introductory lectures, the students will reflect on learning in the outdoors in a multiday-excursion.

Module 2 Teacher role, explores teaching theories of experiential learning and looks at practical implications for leaders of learning in the outdoors. After some group work and seminars, the students will step into the teacher role and design learning situations for each other on day excursions.

Module 3 Outdoor education in culture, is about putting experiential learning in a cultural context and mainly by exploring how it is found in the Norwegian school system. The students will also make comparisons to their home countries school curricula. This part of the course ends up with the students leading a day of learning in nature through the course requirement experiential education project.

The course finishes with a multi-day excursion focusing on coastal friluftsliv and traditions. The students are responsible for designing and leading learning situations individually or in small groups.

Excursions:

• Day and multi day excursions
• Student planed excursion
• Costal excursion in sea kayak

Learning Outcome

After completion of the course Experiential Learning and Friluftsliv the student will have acquired the following learning outcomes, defined as knowledge, skills and general compentency:

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge about Norwegian outdoor education traditions and outdoor education in Norwegian school curriculum
• has knowledge about experiential learning and facilitations as methods in outdoor education
• has knowledge about children’s friluftsliv and natures impact on children’s development and learnin
• has knowledge about the teacher roles influence on learning in natural landscapes

Skills

The student

• can use pedagogic theory and didactic models to plan, lead and evaluate learning in outdoor education
• can adapt different teaching methods and teaching styles dependent on the situations demand
• can facilitate learning through use of landscap

General compentence

The student

• can reflect on own and others pedagogic practise and show self-awareness in a teaching role

Entry requirements

None

Recommended previous knowledge

Be prepared for overnight excursions in tent and be able to carry a backpack with own equipment on excursions.

Teaching methods

Lectures, group work and individual work. Student active learning forms such as project assignments and presentations are central in the course. The subject matter will as far as possible be integrated and experienced through practical teaching. Several day excursions and two multi-day excursions are a part of the course. The students will be involved in planning, executing and evaluating the excursions.

Compulsory learning activities

Excursions: Through the excursions the students will show their knowledge, skills and general qualification in experiential education. 

Experiential education project: Students will work in groups to plan, facilitate and evaluate an outdoor education session. This course requirement allows students to show their theoretical and practical skills in planning and leading learning through experiential education.

Assessment

Oral exam. Graded from A-F (A is best, F is fail). 

Examination support material

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