Class Reflection #2: Outdoor Education
Our outdoor education class welcomed Kristen Peirce as our guest speaker, who provided insight into her own experiences incorporating technology and outdoor education. In this class we were also challenged to find the six hidden QR codes within Finnerty Gardens to have us interact with the sources within the QR codes and reflect on ways as future educators, we too can incorporate technology and outdoor ed.
What?
Before our scavenger hunt began, we stood in a circle just outside the gardens to acknowledge the land and think about the guiding questions – What can we do before going into nature regarding the use of tech? What can we do in the environment during? And what can we do after?
Kristen then took the floor and talked about her experiences, where she reminded us to be prepared for tech not to work, as it is ironically a part of using technology. She also explained that kids are now coming into classrooms already knowing how to use technology, so part of our role as teachers is to teach them how to use it intentionally. She then explained the uses of technology in outdoor settings, then told us that “as teachers we are and can be very flexible in terms of resources – but this is also a challenge”, aka all the information is around us, but it might not be in “textbook format” anymore, therefore starting from square one gathering resources. Apart from that thought, there is so much opportunity for outdoor education in BC, and we should utilize the beautiful land in which we learn, teach, and experience.
After this talking circle, me and my group went into the gardens taking in the scenery, we found the sixth QR code first and watched the video link it took us to. Then we continued our search, honestly more focused on how pretty the garden was and came up with an idea from a social media trend we saw – where each person would pick a colour, and take photos of things mainly containing that colour. Mine was yellow and provided a challenge to finding yellow plants that weren’t just leaves, but it was still fun and I now have quite the photo collection. My group was able to find all six QR codes, with the help of other groups, and found spare time to make some art with fallen pinecones, connecting to the environment and the beauty of it.
We eventually returned to the talking circle just outside the gardens, and had one last opportunity to ask questions or comment. At this point, I was thinking about my own outdoor education experiences in school, and the most memorable years I had in outdoor education was when I attended NIDES (North Island Distance Education) up in Sd 71 (Comox) for grade 3 and 4. We spent a lot of time outside and connected to the land through Indigenous practices and acknowledgments, we also yearly had a tank of salmon eggs that would hatch and grow, learning about the salmon life cycle. Once they reached a certain stage, we would take a field trip to the salmon hatchery and talk about why it’s important and the environmental resource sustainability that also tied into Indigenous practices and knowledge on these hatcheries. Definitely an experience I won’t forget!
So What?
Outdoor education alone can become a key aspect in a students exploration of the world around them, being outside also provides extra benefits of wellness and reflection upon themselves and the land in which we learn on. Incorporating technology into this outdoor space can provide fun interesting opportunities for students to further engage in, and learn effective / intentional ways of using technology. Kristen mentioned that we can build a curriculum around the environment through math, socials, science, etc – building students range in literacy and adding a cross curricular aspect / integration to their learning, that may reach more students in understanding and connecting in-class topics to real world ideas.
Now What?
I really enjoyed this outdoor class and have / can take away some ideas on how technology and outdoor education can merge to bring the students a unique experience. The QR code scavenger hunt was very creative and an activity that I will add to my toolbox. Kristen also mentioned that “kids love two things, tech and mind / body breaks – the body breaks are a component that can easily be integrated outside the classroom environment by being outside (literally). The activity me and my group did during our visit is also a great one that could be implemented, where each student has something to take photos on, and they take picture of things with their chosen colour, letter or other categories the teacher or class come up with. I can even connect to my own outdoor experience from elementary and play with ways I could adapt or change the activities.
-Ev