Date of Award
1-1-1992
Document Type
Practicum
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
Paul Borthwick
Committee Member
Robert Webster
Keywords
ecology education, environmental education, interdisciplinary education, interdisciplinary program, learning strategies, outdoor education, outdoor resources, school curriculum, student engagement, wilderness education
Abstract
This practicum was designed to utilize local outdoor resources as a teaching tool and an extension of the classroom. The single goal was, that utilization of This instructional strategy become a permanent part of the school curriculum.
On-site research, conducted by the writer, coupled with an extensive review of current literature, produced a finding that the problem lay in the difficulty of implementing such an approach. An interdisciplinary program of environmental studies was decided upon as the vehicle through which the writer would transfer the situation that existed to the desired outcome. The curriculum for this program was designed around the notion of utilizing local outdoor resources as both, extension of the classroom and, a means to actively engage students in the learning process.
The findings of the practicum were positive. Use of local outdoor resources was successfully integrated into the curriculum and proved to provide a uniquely successful instructional strategy. Since the results of this project were constructive, this model can be recommended to similar curricular applications.