The Bera Guide to Outdoor Learning - (Bera Guides) by Lucy Sors & Ruth Unsworth (Paperback)

About the Book

The BERA Guide to Outdoor Learning offers diverse perspectives on outdoor learning in all educational settings and advocates a teaching philosophy centred on immersive experiences, nature connection, play, dialogue and experiential learning, making use of place-based pedagogical perspectives.

Book Synopsis

Educational research worldwide has shown that outdoor learning is a positive element of educational practices, which benefits children's mental health and wellbeing, physical wellness, cognitive development.

The BERA Guide to Outdoor Learning offers diverse perspectives on outdoor learning in all educational settings and advocates a teaching philosophy centred on immersive experiences, nature connection, play, dialogue and experiential learning, making use of place-based pedagogical perspectives. This collection shows how outdoor, play-based learning can support the teaching in all educational contexts including Higher Education.

The theoretical framework for the future of research and practice in outdoor learning will benefit practitioners in both primary and secondary schools, school leaders, teacher educators and outdoor learning providers. Accompanied by case studies and vignettes, chapters exemplify how research in alternative and under-represented aspects of outdoor learning can support the development of curriculum and pedagogy to develop creative and meaningful learning experiences for all children to deepen their learning across a 'broad and balanced' curriculum.

Review Quotes

The BERA Guide to Outdoor Learning: Place-Responsive Pedagogy in Educational Research and Practice offers an inspiring exploration of outdoor education through the lens of place-responsiveness. It is a timely and welcome contribution to the growing literature on outdoor learning that underscores the importance of taking education outdoors to provide children and young people with opportunities to directly engage and interact with the world around them. Organised in two parts, the book first blends theoretical insights with practical advice for place-pedagogy before moving on to provide examples of place-based pedagogy in action. With a commitment to experiential learning, this book challenges practitioners to slow down and thoughtfully engage students with their locality thus embracing outdoor learning as a transformative approach to embrace the transformative power of outdoor learning to cultivate deeper connections with place, community and self through place-responsive pedagogy. It is both a call to action and a reflective guide for those seeking to create meaningful, holistic educational experiences beyond the classroom.

We cannot underestimate the importance of Outdoor Learning in our primary schools. From Early Years mud kitchens to Upper Key Stage Two outdoor and adventurous residentials, the aims remain the same: to be active in the fresh air and feel good; to embrace new experiences and surprise ourselves; to exist in the moment and feel connected to our surroundings; to take notice and remember the simple things that give us joy. This book is essential reading for all educators who want to spread the word, reshape the curriculum and in doing so change young lives for the better.

About the Author

Lucy Sors is a senior lecturer at York St John University specialising in outdoor learning, inclusion and languages.

Ruth Unsworth is a senior lecturer at University of Glasgow, UK.